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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.

Basti

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Basti literally means "cleansing the pelvic region’.

The aim of human life is to get spiritual illumination. This can be achieved only by strenuous sādhanā or spiritual discipline. The body is an invaluable instrument in this process of sādhanā.

Body may wear out before time due to impurities in the internal systems. The science of Haṭhayoga has devised several simple methods for correcting the internal disorders through cleansing processes. They are six in number and are called ‘ṣaṭkarmas’ (ṣat = six). The second of these six is ‘basti.’

Basti is the process of cleansing the intestines. It is of two types :

  1. Jalabasti - It is practiced in water. Jalabasti is yogic enema, practiced in navel deep water, by sitting in utkaṭāsana and alternately contracting and expanding the anus muscle (the sphincter).
  2. Sthala or śuṣka-basti - It is practiced on land. When the same is practiced on land, it becomes sthalabasti (sthala = land, ground) or śuṣka-basti (śuṣka = dry). However, paścimottānāsana is recommended for this basti.

Gastric troubles, wind troubles, constipation, cough and bile complaints are said to be cured by these two bastis. It is advisable to practice them under the care and guidance of an expert.


References[edit]

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

Contributors to this article

Krishna Maheshwari, Deval Sancheti

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