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.

Durga Kavacham

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

Translated by P. R. Ramachander

Durga is the fierce form of Goddess Parvathi who protects every one.

Srunu devi pravakshyami Kavacham sarva sidhitham,
Padithwa padayithwa cha naro muchyathe sankadath., 1

Oh Devi, I am telling you the armour which gets you everything,
Reading or making others read, men get rid of all their sorrows.

Ajnathwa kavacham devi durga mantram cha yojayeth,
Sa cha apnothi balam thasya pancha nagam vrajeth puna., 2

If he who does not know, learns this Kavacham,
Along with the Durga mantram,
He would add to himself the strength,
Of the five serpents again.

Umadevi sira pathu, lalalde soola dharini,
Chakshshi kesari pathu, karnou cha dwara vasini., 3

Let Uma devi protect my head,
Let my forehead be protected by her who carries the soola,
Let the lion protect my eyes,
And let her who lives near the gate protect my ears.

Sugandha nasike pathu, vadanam sarva dharini,
Jihwa chandika devi, greevam soupathrika thadha., 4

Let she who is like incense protect my nose,
Let she who carries everything protect my face,
Let Chandika devi protect my toungue,
Let Soupathrika protect my neck.

Asoka vasini chetho, dhvow bahu vajra dharini,
Hrudayam lalitha devi, udaram simha vahini., 5

Let Asoka vasini protect my consciousness
Let Vajra dharini protect my two arms,
Let Lalitha Devi protect my heart,
Let my belly be protected by She who rides on a lion.

Katim Bhagawathi devi, dwavooru Vindhya vasini,
Maha Bala Jange, dhwe padhou bhoothalavasini,., 6

Let Bhagwathi Devi protect my hips,
Let She who lives on Vindhya protect my two thighs,
Let the very strong one protect my calf,
And let she who lives on all beings protect my two feet.

Evam sthithasi devi thwam trilokye rakshanathmika,
Raksha maam sarva gathreshu, durga devi namosthuthe., 7

Thus stands the devi who protects the three worlds,
Please protect all my body parts,
My salutations to Goddess Durga.