Hindu Organizations in Education, Health and Development Work
Posted on : 2, 3, 4 March 2010
This is to invite you to participate in an International Seminar on“Hindu Organizations in Education, Health and Development Work” being held on 2nd, 3rd, 4th, March 2010. The seminar is being organized by the Indic Studies Project, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies in collaboration with Nehru Memorial Museum and Library at Teen Murti House.This seminar is sixth in a series of conferences organized by a Network supported in part by the Arts and Humanities Council, UK to explore "The Public Representation of a Religion Called Hinduism."
Shankracharya designate, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati of Jyotirmath will deliver the inaugural address.
When you read the format of the conference in the attachment, you are likely to agree that this is perhaps the first of its kind seminar. In addition to academic papers, we have also invited a select group of faith practitioners and spiritual leaders, many of whom are scholars in their own right, to speak about the inspirational philosophy of their respective organizations and faith tradition. We hope that this experiment at creating a space for dialogue between scholars and faith leaders will lead to a fresh approach to study of our faith traditions.
The terms- “Hindu” "education" development" are being used in their broadest sense. For example, we include spiritual teachings in the term "education." Many of the practitioners speaking in the conference do not identify themselves as “Hindu” but prefer terms like Sanatan Dharma.
Among the scholar practitioners scheduled to make presentations are:
• Srivatas Goswami of Radha Raman Ashram, Vrindavan,
• Kripa Prasad Singh of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram,
• Nandita Pathak of Deendyal Research Institute and Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalya,
• Swami Agnivesh of Arya Samaj,
• Rajiv Vora of Swaraj Vidyapeeth,
• Shraddhalu Ranade of Sri Aurobindo Ashram at Auroville,
• Rajendra Singh of Tarun Bharat Sangh and Ganga Yamuna Satyagraha.
• Kiran Walia and Rajiv Khosla, followers of Ma Nirmala Devi’s Sahajyog.
• Shivamurthy Swamiji of Taralbalu Math, Karnataka.
Academic papers include the following:
• Gurus and Education: Hindu monastery (matha)-run schools in Karnataka” : Aya Ikegama.
• The Ashram as Utopia: The Fate of Tagore’s Santiniketan: by Sanjeeb Mukherjee;
• Engaging Faith for Work: The Role of Nivedita Girls’ School and Matri Bhavan of Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna-Sarada Mission : Subrata Bagchi;
• Annam Bahu Kurvita:The Indian Discipline of Growing and Sharing Food in Plenty: JK Bajaj.
• Pravritti & Nivritti: An Anthropological Account of Religious and Cultural Ways in the Care of the Elderly: Meenakshie Verma;
• Cultural Assimilation and Development: Study of Gahira Guru Cult among the Tribes of Chhattisgarh: Govind Chandra Rath;
• Hinduizing India through Colonial Education: by Vikas Gupta
• Under the Sign of Secular: Religion and Faith at Work: Deepa Reddy.
• Engaging the Practitioner: Boundary Politics in the Academic Study of Hinduism: Maya Warrier
Those presenting academic papers as well as scholar- practitioners have been requested to address the following set of questions:
• What is the self identification of the institution? What are the theological, core beliefs behind the founding of that particular institution?
• Reasons why the institution accepts or refuses to adopt the label “Hindu”? What is the distinctive religious/ spiritual, worldview that influences that particular institution?
• How do the religious beliefs, traditions and structures of the particular institution relate to the social, educational and developmental work that is being undertaken?
• Is its outreach limited to any particular group or sects? How is the institution different from "secular" educational and social work institutions?
• How are the spiritual values of that particular faith tradition represented in the teaching material used by the organization?
• To what extent are the services delivered perceived as religious in nature?
• What patterns emerge out of the mix of religious beliefs and educational and development activities?
• What is the financial support base of the organization?
We have kept adequate time for discussions after each presentation.
We hope you will find time to join in the deliberations on all three days.
The full schedule is as follows:
International Seminar on
Hindu Organizations in Education, Health and Development Work
Organized by the
Indic Studies Project, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies
in collaboration with
Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi
Dates: 2nd, 3rd, 4th of March, 2010
Venue: Seminar Hall, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Teen Murti House
Tuesday, 2nd March, 2010
9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m.Welcome and Introduction to the Seminar by Madhu Kishwar and John Zavos
Session 1:
1)10 a.m. to 10-30 a.m.Chair: Suresh Sharma
Keynote Address by Shankracharya designate, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati of Jyotirmath and Dwarka.
10.30 a.m. to 11.15 a.m. Discussion
11.15 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.Tea Break
2)11.30 a.m. to 12.00 p.m.Chair: Mridula Mukherjee
Presentation by Shrivatsa Goswami, Radha Raman Ashram, Vrindavan
12.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Discussion
3)12.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.Chair: Ravikant, CSDS
Presentation by Rajendra Singh, Tarun Bharat Sangh
1.00 p.m. to 1.30 p.m.Discussion
1.30 p.m. to 2.15 p.m.Lunch Break
Session 2:
4)2.15 p.m. to 2.45 p.m.Chair: Kapil Kapoor
Presentation by Subrata Bagchi: “Engaging Faith for Work: The Role of Nivedita Girls’ School and Matri Bhavan of Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna-Sarada Mission”
2.45 p.m. to 3.15 p.m.Discussion
5)3.15 p.m. to 3.45 p.m.Chair: Bhagwan Josh
Presentation by JK Bajaj-“Annam Bahu Kurvita: The Indian Discipline of Plentiful Sharing of Food.”
3.45 p.m. to 4.15 p.m.Discussion
4:15 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.Tea Break
6)4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.Chair:John Zavos
Presentations by Deepa Reddy “Under the Sign of the Secular: Religion and Faith at Work.”
and Maya Warrier: Engaging the Practitioner:Boundary Politics in the Academic Study of Hinduism.’
7)5.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.Chair: Madhu Kishwar
Presentation by Vikas Gupta: Hinduising Indiathrough Colonial Education
6.00-6.30 p.m.Discussion
7.30 p.m. onwardsDinner at Teen Murti Lawns
Wednesday 3rd March, 2010
Session 3:
7)9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. Chair: Susan Vishwanathan, JNU
Presentation by Rajiv Vora and Niru Malik: 'Swaraj Peeth Trust: The State of Hindu-Awareness and 'Hind Swaraj,’
10.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.Discussion
8)10.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. Chair: Shashi Joshi
Presentation by Aya Ikegame, “Gurus and Education: Hindu Monastery (matha)-Run Schools inKarnataka”
11.00 a.m. – 11.15 a.m.Tea break
9)11.15 a.m. to 11.45 a.m. Chair: Rakesh Pandey, CSDS
Presentation by Shivamurthy Swami ji, Responds to Aya Ikegame’s paper since it deals with his organization and makes his own presentation, “Thrust on Rural Education by Taralabalu Math in Karnataka.”
11.45 a.m. to 12.45 p.m.Combined Discussion on Aya’s paper andSwamiji’s presentation.
12.45 p.m. to 1.30 p.m.Lunch
Session 4:
10)1.30 p.m. to 2.00 p.m.Chair: Raman Srivastav
Presentation by Kripa Prasad Singh, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram.
2.00 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. Discussion
11)2.30 p.m. to 3.00 p.m.Chair: Deepa Reddy
Presentation by Nandita Pathak, Chitrakoot Gramodoya Vishwavidyalaya
3.00 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.Discussion
3.30 p.m. to 3.45 p.m.Tea break
12)3.45 p.m. to 4.15 p.m. Chair: Pralay Kanungo, JNU
Presentation by Shraddhalu Ranade, Shri Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville
4.15 p.m. to 4.45 p.m.Discussion
13)4.45 p.m. to 5.15 p.m. Chair: Maya Warrier
Presentation by Rajiv Khosla andKiran Walia: “Sahaj Yog of Ma Nirmala Devi
5.15 p.m. to 5.45 p.m.Discussion
Thursday 4th March, 2010
Session 5:
14)9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m.Chair: Shail Mayaram, CSDS
Presentation by Govind Chandra Rath, “Cultural Assimilation and Development: Study of Gahila Guru Cult among the Tribes of Chhattisgarh.”
10.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.Discussion
15)10.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. Chair: Dhirubhai Sheth, CSDS
Presentation by Meenakshie Verma, “Pravritti & Nivritti: An Anthropological Account of Religious and Cultural Ways in the Care of the Elderly.”
11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.Discussion
11.30 a.m. to 11.45 a.m.Tea break
16)11.45 p.m. to 12.15 a.m. Chair: Ashis Nandy
Presentation by Sanjeeb Mukherjee, “The Ashram as Utopia: The Fate of Tagore’s Shantiniketan”
12.15 p.m. to 12.45 p.m.Discussion
17)12.45 p.m.to 1.15 p.m. Chair: Abhay Dubey
Presentation by Swami Agnivesh, Arya Samaj
1.15 p.m. to 1.45 p.m. Discussion
1.45 p.m. to 2.30 p.m.Lunch
Concluding Session and Review of the Conference: 2.30-3.30 p.m.
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This conference is sixth in a series of conferences being organized by a Network for studying “The Public Representation of a Religion called Hinduism.The Network is supported in part by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, UK. http://www.arts.manchester.ac.uk/hinduism/
