Month: October 2013

Chicago IL : Hari Om Mandir organized its annual ‘Fund Raising Dinner-2013’ at India House-Banquet hall, Schaumburg, IL on Saturday, September,28 from 6.00pm to 11.00 pm. Close to 200 devotees, friends, and well-wishers attended the event. We had a great combination of entertainment and fundraising. Every one present took interest in making this a successful event. Fundraising Chairman Indrajit Sarkar, greeted everyone present and thanked both the boards for their continuous support. He also took a moment to remember all the founder members who provided their hard work and contribution to provide us such a beautiful place of worship. He also spoke on the progress of the temple this year and thanked all the devotees for their generous donation. Board of Trusty , Chairman Mr. Ayodhia Salwan, recognized the efforts put in by the fundraising committee led by Chairman, Mr. Indrajit Sarkar to make this a memorable event. The entire committee deserves appreciation for their nonstop dedication. He also congratulated Mr. Brij Sharma, the President of the Executive Board, and his entire council for their hard work. They continuously conducted new programs for the benefit of devotees. He also talked about the arrival and installation of Shri Shiromani Bhagat Hanuman […]

Chicago IL: University of Chicago (UC) held a public program on Sunday afternoon, October 6, 2013 at the UC Rockefeller Memorial Chapel (RMC) to announce the first two recipients of the Swami Vivekananda Chair, funded to the tune $1.5M by the Indian Ministry of Culture. Addressed by swamis from the Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago (VSC) and two UC professors, the event also amounted to an endorsement of the appointments by the large assembly of Hindus, who have been celebrating Vivekananda’s 150th Birth Anniversary throughout this year. Held in collaboration with UC Spiritual Life Office and support of the Committee on Southern Asian Studies, befitting music and song was provided by UC’s Sur Musafir, Bengali Association of Greater Chicago (BAGC), and the Unity in the Dunes Church Choir (UDCC). Soon after SV’s famous “Sisters and Brothers of America” address at the Parliament of World Religions (PWR) in 1893, he had been invited to speak on “Modern Schools of Hinduism” at Cobb Hall, where the UC had begun classes after its inception in 1891. In her welcome address, RMC Dean Elizabeth Davenport underlined the Chapel’s role as spiritual and ceremonial center of UC and how befitting it was as venue for […]

Chicago IL: Rajiv Malhotra, President of Infinity Foundation, is well-known in USA and India for his fulltime championing, funding, and articulation of Hindu causes. His most recent book, Being Different: The Hindu Challenge to Western Universalism, which is being translated into several Indian languages, is the focus of widespread public debate. He spoke on Sep. 28, 2013 at the Jain Center in Chicago about the book he is completing on various challenges to the legacy of Swami Vivekananda (SV). His essay on “Vivekananda’s Ideas – Two Revolutions in Western Thought” appeared this year in Vivekananda as the Turning Point: The Rise of a New Spiritual Wave (Advaita Ashram). Malhotra spoke to Asian Media USA on the occasion of University of Chicago’s (UC) public announcement on October 7 of the two recipients of the Swami Vivekananda Chair. What is unique about SV’s legacy? Rajiv: For India, SV modernized the way traditional Hindu dharma could be applied in the context of his time, thereby making Hindu dharma relevant. For the US and the world, he opened the door to pluralism beyond Judeo-Christianity, a novel idea in the West at his time. What is the state of this legacy today? Rajiv: SV has […]

Chicago IL: Many Hindu organizations joined hands on September 28, 2013 under the banner of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHP-A) to celebrate Swami Vivekananda’s 150th Birth Anniversary at the Jain Mandir in Bartlett, Ill. All the speakers, including the eagerly awaited Baba Ramdev, eulogized Vivekananda’s mission, and insisted on the need to fulfill his vision in the light of contemporary challenges. Dignitaries and devotees alike had left early morning in buses to visit the Art Institute to pay obeisance to Swami Vivekananda’s plaque before listening to Baba Ramdev’s speech there. Jain Society President and committee members welcomed the Baba. 16-year old co-MC Nirav Virani recounted the origin of Vivekananda’s characteristic pose, arms folded across the chest, to his turning around abruptly to confront the pursuing monkeys at the Durga Mandir of Banaras. This posture of self-confidence in meeting all challenges that the Swami wanted to instill among Hindus was portrayed on the banners adorning the stage. Program began after 11 am with MC Anju Lal presenting in both English and Hindi. Shree Narayan Chandok introduced VHP as existing in USA since 50 years. In addition to founding the Hindu Students Organization, VHP has pioneered the Hindu Mandir Executive […]

Chicago IL: Some 30 religious organizations joined hands on September 27, 2013 under the banner of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHP-A) to celebrate Swami Vivekananda’s 150th Birth Anniversary at The Meadows Club, Rolling Meadows, Ill. These included Gayatri Gyan, Manav Seva, Hari Om, Shree Jalaram temple. Among the speakers at the banquet were Swami Sharanananda (Chinamya Mission), Stephen Knapp, Jeffrey Armstrong, and Subramanian Swamy. Distinguished guests included Raja Krishnamurthy, Swati Dandekar, Rajiv Malhotra, Nimish Tolia, Bharat Barai (grand sponsor), Ashish Sen, and Ratan Tata. The three MCs were Parth Mangrola, Birva Trivedi, and Harshil Patel. Event chairman Harendra Mangrola introduced Vivekananda. Theresa Mah read out a message on behalf of Illinois Governor Pat Quinn commending the Swami for having secured Hinduism’s place on the map of the world religions. There were video recorded messages of support from Sri Sri Ravishankar and Dr. Pranav Pandya head of Gayattri Shanti Kunj (Rishikesh). A message from Mohan Madhukar Bhagawat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was also read out. President Obama’s speech before the Indian Houses of Parliament in November 2010 was shown: “Instead of succumbing to division, you have shown that the strength of India—the very idea of India—is […]

Chicago IL: The annual Chicago South Asian Film Festival (CSAFF) treated movie buffs downtown over the entire weekend of Friday, Sep. 20, 2013 to the most recent wave of features and shorts by Desi and American film-makers from the subcontinent, North America (especially Los Angeles), and Europe. The opening (“Oass”) and closing night (“Club 60” and “The Reluctant Fundamentalist”) features were screened at the Showplace Icon Theater, and the rest at festival partner Columbia College’s Film Row. On Saturday morning, several film-makers participated in a press conference at Film Row, ably moderated by local Producer Snehal Patel, to speak about their respective creations, choices, techniques, and receptions. Debut Director Abhinav Shiv Tiwari’s US Premier of “Dew Drop” (Oass) portrays the disturbing plight of South Asian girls caught up against their will in the flourishing merciless flesh trade. The Hindi movie is fictionalized around the true story of Kiku, a Nepali abducted at the tender age of eleven from her idyllic rural playground by a trusted aunt under false pretenses to be drugged, raped, practically imprisoned, and brutalized in realistically portrayed Delhi brothels, before managing to escape through sheer perseverance. It was scripted and fleshed out with materials drawn from pan-South […]

Chicago IL: The Midwest Asian American Center (MAAC) hosted an informational fundraiser that conferred awards on distinguished members and offered an evening of food and entertainment. The dinner, which allowed MAAC board members to meet 400 people under the same roof, was held at India House Banquets in Schaumburg, on Friday, September 27, 2013. Six government departments set up booths in the lobby to provide the public information about their respective services for “community awareness” was this year’s theme. They were the Secretary of State mobile unit provides services as renewal of driver’s licenses, State ID, change of addresses, and vehicle plate stickers. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), represented by the Director Lori Petropolis and Public Relations Officer Amy Stern; Department of Human Services, represented by Jean Miller and Sara from Illinois Coalition of Immigrant Refugee Rights, explained Medicare and Medicaid; Attorney General’s Office, represented by Eric Salsado, to warn against consumer fraud and identity theft; Cook County Clerk’s office; Social Security office, represented by Doug Nyugen, advised seniors facing reductions in their supplementary income. MAAC Executive Director Vandana G. Dalal welcomed the guests and introduced Emcees Laurie Martin (MAAC board member) and Noman Khan (from Yeh Cheez entertainment). […]

Chicago IL: Members of Gandhi Trust of Skokie, Illinois, along with company of many dignitaries admirers, celebrated Gandhi Jayanti on the occasion of his 144th birth anniversary on October 2nd 2013, Wednesday. The event took place at the memorial of a larger than life statue of Bapu located at Heritage Park, Skokie, Illinois. The event kicked off by offering flowers and singing Mahatma’s all-religion prayers, lighting candles and reciting Bapu’s famous quotes, and speeches including paying homage to Father of the Nation. The favorite hymns of Gandhi were also recited on the occasion. The event was highlighted by the presence and blessing of Bhagvan Sri Sri Sri Viswayogi Viswamjee Maharj, founder of Viswayogi Institute of Medical Sicense in Gantur, Andhra Pradesh, India. Swamiji took special time to attend the ceremony during his world tour. He meditated and offered prayer and gave brief speech indicating the significance of Gandhi Jayanti celebration which transcends beyond commemorating Mahatma Gandhi’s birth and his life. He emphasized to follow and renounce violence and entirely devote themselves to Gandhi’s philosophy and principles of Ahimsa i.e living a life by following non-violence. The day now is also commemorated by many nations and cities including city of Skokie, […]