Colonial Discourse and the Suffering of Indian American Children Book Cover.webp

Colonial Discourse and the Suffering of Indian American Children is now published after academic peer-review and available through open access.

In this book, we analyze the psycho-social consequences that Indian American children face after they are exposed to the school textbook discourse on Hinduism and ancient India. We show that there is an intimate connection―an almost exact correspondence―between James Mill’s ( a prominent politician in Britain and head of the British East India Company) colonial-racist discourse and the current school-textbook discourse. Consequently, this archaic and racist discourse, camouflaged under the cover of political correctness, produces in the Indian American children the same psychological impact as racism is known to produce: shame, inferiority, embarrassment, identity confusion, assimilation, and a phenomenon similar to racelessness where the children dissociate from the tradition and culture of their ancestors

This book is an outcome of 4 years of rigorous research as a part of our ongoing commitment at Hindupedia to challenge the representation of Hindu Dharma within Academia.

Alakṣmi

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Alakṣmi literally means ‘goddess of misfortune’.

The created universe, having been projected out of God and sustained by Him, is naturally identified with Him. Hence evil and good are both seen as a part of God.

If Lakṣmī is the goddess of wealth beauty and splendor, Alakṣmī, her opposite, is misfortune personified. According to mythological accounts she was also born during samudramathana (‘churning of the ocean’). Since she appeared earlier than Lakṣmī, she is also called ‘Jyeṣṭhā’ (the elder one).

A sage Dussaha (‘the unbearable’) by name, married her. According to another version it was the sage Kapila. Adharma (un-righteousness) was their offspring.

Alakṣmī is usually shown as an old hag riding a donkey. She has a broom in her hand. A crow adorns her banner. Her image finds a place in some temples. When propitiated, she can dispel evil and grant prosperity.She is sometimes identified with Lakṣmi herself.

Being a part and parcel of this creation and hence of our life, misfortune is no less divinely ordained than fortune. It is perhaps to teach this great fact of life that even misfortune is deified.


References[edit]

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

Contributors to this article

Krishna Maheshwari, Deval Sancheti

Explore Other Articles

Retrieved from "https://hindupedia.com/index.php?title=Alakṣmi&oldid=133529"