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.

Brāhma-vivāha

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Brāhma-vivāha literally means ‘marriage of the brāhma type’.

Out of the ṣodaśa-sanskāras or sixteen sacraments recommended in the dharmaśāstras for the dvijas (the ‘twice- born’), vivāha or marriage is considered not only very important but also the basic since all the other sacraments depend on it.

Out of the eight forms of marriage listed in the works, the brāhma is the best. It is called ‘brāhma’ since it is sanctioned by the Vedas (Brahma = the Veda) or is in accordance with dharma (Brahma = dharma), the moral law sanctioned by the holy books and sacred traditions.

In Brāhma-vivāha form of marriage, the father of the girl bedecks her with the best of clothes and ornaments and gifts her to a worthy young man, learned in the Vedas and of good character. Before doing so, the bridegroom is invited and honored properly.


References[edit]

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