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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.

Pitā

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Pitā literally means ‘one who protects’.

Pitā as per Taittiriya Upaniṣad[edit]

The Taittiriya Upaniṣad[1] declares that the father is next to the mother and should be honored like a god which is justified as he gives education and culture to his off-springs.

Pitā as per Smṛtis[edit]

According to the smṛtis, the father performs the upanayāna sacrament and imparts the sacred Gāyatrī-mantra to his sons. Whether the father has a sense of ownership over his sons has been a debatable point.

Pitā as per Dharmaśāstra[edit]

According some dharmaśāstra works, the following are pitās or ‘fathers’:

  1. Annadātā - one who gives food
  2. Bhayatrātā - one who protects from dangers
  3. Śvaśura - father-in-law
  4. Janitā - father
  5. Upanetā - one who performs upanayāna

Division of Assets of Pitā[edit]

With regards to the division of the ancestral property, he could unequally distribute it among his sons in the ancient days though in later days it became mandatory to distribute it equally. If he dies before clearing all his debts, his sons and grandsons were obliged to clear the same.


References[edit]

  1. ↑ Taittiriya Upaniṣad 1.11
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

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Deval Sancheti

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