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.

Thum ho Matha

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

Translated by P. R. Ramachander

Thum ho matha, Pitha thum hi ho
Thum ho Bandhu, Sakha thum hi ho

You are our mother and you are our father also,
You are our relation and You are our friend also.

Thumhi ho Sathi, Thumhi share,
Koi na apna siva thumhare,
Thum hi ho Nayya thum hi khevaiyaa,
Thum hi ho bandhu, sakha thum hi ho

You are only with us, and you are our help,
Except for you, I do not have anyone who is mine,
You are our boat and you are also our boatman,
You are our relation and You are our friend also.

Jo khil sakhe naa vo phool hum hai,
Thumhare charanum ki dhool hum hai,
Daya ki drushti sadaa hi rakhnaa,
Thum hi ho Bandhu, sakha thum hi ho

We are not that flower which can bloom,
We are dust underneath your feet,
Please keep on us always your sight of mercy,
You are our relation and You are our friend also.