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.

Banwari re-

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

Translated by P. R. Ramachander

Jeena ka sahara thera naam re,
Mujhe duniya valom se kya kam re

Your name is the help which makes me live,
What have I to do with people of this world.

Jooti dhuniya, joote bandhan, jooti hai ye maya,
Joota sans ka aana jaanaa, jooti hai ye kaya,
Oh., yaham saanch thera naam re, Banwari re

False earth, false ties, this illusion is false,
False inhaling and exhaling, This body itself is false,
Hey, the only thing that is truth here is your name, Hey Lord who lives in the forest.

Rang main there rang gaye giridhar, chod dhiya jag saaraa,
Ban gaye there prem se jogi, le ke man yek thara,
O, Muje pyara theraa dham re, Banwari re.

Oh lifter of the mountain, in my colour, your colour got mixed up, I have left the entire world,
I became a Yogi because of my love towards you, taking in my mind the one stringed lute,
Oh Lord, I deeply like your residence, Oh Lord who lives in forests.

Darsan thera jis dhin pavoom, har chintha mit jaaye,
Jeevan mera yin charanom mey aas ke jyoth lagaye,
Om Meri Baamhein pakad lo, Shyam re, Banwari re

On the day that I am able to see you, all my worries would be powdered,
My life is on your feet, please light up my hopes,
Oh Lord Hold my arms, Oh Lord who is black, Oh Lord who lives in forest.

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