HINDU CONFERENCE IN INDIA

3. Hindu Conference Concludes in India
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AHMEDABAD, INDIA, January 18, 2006: The fourth Vishwa Sangh Shivir (VSS) concluded in Ahmedabad on January 1, 2006, with a ceremony that included an impressive display of various forms of yoga, prayers in unison by hundreds of Hindus, and a speech by Shri Sudarashan, head of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). But perhaps more impressive is the message that the 510 attendees from 32 countries took home with them. Jeffrey Armstrong, also known as Kavindra Rishi, one of the 85 attending from North America, described the event in a very eloquent way, saying "One often hears the words: 'Vasudeva Kutumbakam,' but this gathering was the very core of the beautiful and inspiring family of the eternal Supreme Being. It was as if ambassadors from around the world each came bearing the seeds of their own special garden of Divine flowers."

The delegates, who were together for a week, included NRIs from around the world, champions of Hindu Dharma from within India and, perhaps most significantly, the newly emerging non-Indian Hindu community from global communities everywhere. Prominent attendees from the USA included Dr. Ved Nanda, Provost and Vice Chancellor of the University of Denver and President of HSS-USA; Dr. Bhisma Agnihotri, former ambassador at large for NRIs; Brahm Agarwal Chairman of Hindu University; Jyotish Parikh, President of VHP of America; Dr. Mahesh Mehta, Vice President VHP International; and Dr. Radheshyam Dwivedi, President of International Center for Cultural Studies-USA.

Talking about the problems of Hindus living abroad, Shri Nilkesh Mehta from UK pointed out that the Hindus living in the metropolitan culture of UK are finding it difficult to maintain their cherished identity as Hindus. Shri Pravesh from South Africa stated that the Hindus of South Africa are being "deprived of the philosophy and history of Bharat," but that through the constant efforts of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) and the local residents, the government agencies have started extending cooperation to Hindus. Smt. Bhavana Upadhyaya from Norway expressed the need for a more accurate history of India to be taught there. But although identifying common problems was an essential first step, delegates went on to share various activities that, in different areas contributed to solutions to these problems. For instance, Shri Darshan Soni of America told how, through the HSS, they are enlightening the college students about the Bharatiya culture and Dharma.

Sujatha Amin, freshman at George Washington University who had attended the event with her family in 1995 and 2000, stated "It was a great opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with Hindu youth from various parts of the world. Our bonds strengthened by exercising and playing games together and by participating in the concluding ceremony parade