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.

Samvarta-smrti

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Significance of Samvarta Smrti[edit]

Samvarta-smrti seems to be a fairly ancient work. Samvarta is quoted by many authors of dharmaśāstras like Aparārka, Haradatta, Medhātithi, Viśvarupa and others. Almost his 200 verses have been given in their works. There is a printed text which appears to be an epitome of a portion of the original smṛti of Samvarta. The smṛti is in the form of Samvarta’s teachings to Vāmadeva and others.

Contents of Samvarta Smrti[edit]

The topics dealt with may be summarized as follows:

  • Rules of conduct for a brahmacārin
  • Prāyaścittas or expiations for various kinds of sins
  • Duties of a householder, a forest hermit and a sanyāsin
  • Special duties of a king
  • Few minor topics as the age of girls for marriage

Samvarta as per Mahābhārata[edit]

According to the Mahābhārata[1] Samvarta was a son of Añgiras. Bṛhaspati and Ucathya were his brothers. It is difficult to say whether this was the same Samvarta who authored this smṛti.


References[edit]

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