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.

Thiruvilakku Sthothiram (Tamil)

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

Translated By P.R.Ramachander

A lamp is lighted before the deity in temples and homes. In South Indian homes, the lamp itself is also worshipped as God.

Vilakke, Thiru vilakke, Vendan Udan pirappe,
Jothi mani vilakke Seedevi, pon maniye
Anthi vilakke, Alangara nayagiye,
Kanthi vilakke, Kamakshi Thayare,
Pasum pon Vilakku vaithu, panju thiri pottu,
Kulam pol ennai vittu, Kolamudan yethi vaithen.

Lamp, holy lamp, who is the sibling of the king,
Lamp which has flame, Goddess Lakshmi, Golden darling,
Lamp of the night, The decorated Goddess,
Lamp that is bright, mother Kamakshi,
I have kept a lamp made of gold, put a wick made of cotton,
Poured oil like a pond and lit it along with a rangoli.

Yethinen ney vilakku, endhan kudi vilanga,
Vaithen thiru vilakku, maligayum thaan vilanga,
Maligayil jothiyulla mathavai kandu magizhnden naan.

I lit a ghee lamp, so that my family will prosper,
I kept a holy lamp so that my home will prosper,
I became happy on seeing you in my house,
As the mother with light.

Mangalya pichai, madi pichai tharum amma,
Santhana pichayudan, danangalum tharum amma,
Petti niraya bhooshangal tharum amma,
Patti niraya pal pasuvai tharum amma,
Kottagai niraya kudiraigalai tharum amma,
Pugazh udambai tharum amma, Pakathil nillum amma,
Allum pakalum endhan andayile nillum amma.

Mother give alms of long life to my husband and children,
Mother along with Children give me also wealth,
Mother give me jewels that would fill up a box.
Mother give me milking cows to fill up my garden,
Mother please give me horses to fill the stables,
Mother give me a famous body, Mother stand near me,
And mother all the twenty four hours stand near me,

Namaskaram[edit]

Sevithezhunden, devi vadivam kanden,
Vacchira kiredam kanden, Vaidoorya meni kanden.
Muthu kondai kanden, muzhu pachai maalai kanden,
Chavuri mudi kanden, Thazhai madal choozh kanden,
Pinnazhagu kanden, pirai pole nethi kanden,
Santhudan nethi kanden, thayar vadivam kanden
Kamala thiru mugathil Kasthuri pottu kanden,
Kai valayal kala kala venna kaniyazhi minna kanden,
Thanga odyanam thaga thaga vena jolikka kanden,
Kalir chilambu kanden kalazhi peeli kanden,
Mangala nayigayai manam kulira kandu magizhnden naan,
Annaye Arum thunaye arugil irundhu karumamma,
Vanda vinayagathi Maha bagyam tharum amma,
Thayarum unthan thaladiyil Charanam endren,
Madahve undan malaradiyil naan paniden.

I saluted her by bowing at her feet and saw the form of the Goddess,
I saw her diamond crown, I saw her body shining like cat’s eye gem,
I saw in her lotus like face, the thilaka of musk,
I saw her bangles making sound and also shine,
I saw her gold waist along with belt shining with light,
I saw anklets in her leg, I saw peacock feathers decorating her feet,
I saw the goddess of goodness so that my mind is filled with joy,
Oh Mother, Oh great help, be near me and protect me,
Remove the bad fate coming to me and give me great luck,
I told that I am surrendering at your feet, mother,
Oh mother, I bow at your lotus like feet.

After reading this one has to prostrate 16 times, Then we should ask the boons that we want from Deepalakshmi (The goddess Lakshmi who is the lamp) again and again.

Sarva mangala Mangalye,
Shive sarvartha sadhake,
Saranye tryabike devi,
Narayani namosthuthe.

Oh Goddess who is a giver of all good things, who is peaceful,
Who is a giver of all wealth, who can be relied upon,
Who has three eyes and who is golden in colour,
Our salutations to you, Narayani