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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.

Puṇya

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Puṇya literally means ‘that which purifies’.

The words puṇya and pāpa are commonly found in the scriptures. Even the Ṛgveda has used the words punya[1] and pāpa[2] So also the Upaniṣads. Punya refers to the fruit of any good or meritorious action. Other words considered as its equivalents are:

  1. Dharma
  2. Śreyas
  3. Sukṛta
  4. Vṛṣa

Punya gives happiness both here and hereafter. The most common definition of puṇya is that which causes happiness to others, reducing their problems and difficulties. The dharmaśāstras and the purāṇas give detailed descriptions of punya and pāpa for the guidance of people in general.


References[edit]

  1. ↑ Ṛgveda 2.43.2
  2. ↑ Ṛgveda 10.164.5
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

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