Colonial Discourse and the Suffering of Indian American Children Book Cover.webp

In this book, we analyze the psycho-social consequences faced by Indian American children after exposure to the school textbook discourse on Hinduism and ancient India. We demonstrate that there is an intimate connection—an almost exact correspondence—between James Mill’s colonial-racist discourse (Mill was the head of the British East India Company) and the current school textbook discourse. This racist discourse, camouflaged under the cover of political correctness, produces the same psychological impacts on Indian American children that racism typically causes: shame, inferiority, embarrassment, identity confusion, assimilation, and a phenomenon akin to racelessness, where children dissociate from the traditions and culture of their ancestors.


This book is the result of four years of rigorous research and academic peer-review, reflecting our ongoing commitment at Hindupedia to challenge the representation of Hindu Dharma within academia.

Anekāntavāda

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Anekāntavāda literally means ‘theory of several assertions’.

Jain logic and metaphysics have developed a theory technically called ‘anekāntavāda,’ ‘syādvāda’ or ‘sapta-bhaṅgīnaya’ according to which seven assertions are possible with regard to everything. Though these assertions are seemingly contradictory, they are possible.

The theory derives its name from the fact that ‘ekānta’ or one absolute assertion cannot be (‘na’) made about anything (na + ekānta = anekānta). Since the possible statements contain the word ‘syād’ (‘may be so’), it is called ‘syādvāda.’ Since the number of such alternatives or possibilities is seven it is also called ‘saptabhaṅginaya’ (sapta = seven, bhaṅgī = mode, naya = standpoint; seven modes of expression from different standpoints). The object, like a ghaṭa or jar can now state the theory as follows:

  1. Asti
  2. Nāsti
  3. Asti, nāsti
  4. Avaktavya
  5. Asti, Avaktavya
  6. Nāsti, Avaktavya
  7. Asti, Nāsti, Avaktavya

The word ‘syād’ (‘may be’) indicate the possibility is added everywhere (e.g., syād asti, syān nāsti and so on). The word āsti’ ( = is) when used with regard to any object affirms its existence from the standpoint of its (sva) rupa (form), dravya (material), kṣetra (place) and kāla (time).

Similarly the word ‘nāsti’ (= is not) denies that existence from the standpoint of another (para) form, material, place or time. When these two are taken together, it becomes ‘avaktavya,’ unspeakable or unpredictable. For instance, the jar in front of us in this room exists as jar here and does not exist as a cloth or elsewhere or at a different time.

The seven possible assertions are obtained by a permutation and combination of the statements (1) to (4).


References[edit]

  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore