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YOUTH INITIATIVES : HINDU STUDENTS COUNCIL

The Global Dharma Conference was a complete youth initiative by the Hindu Students Council (HSC) and the Network of Hindu Minds (NetOHM). HSC is a forum on North American campuses to promote understanding about Hindu Dharma. Started in May 1990, HSC spans today over 70 college campuses, including a chapter in Trinidad, with hundreds of members all over the United States an Canada and network over entire globe.

Through several service and educational projects HSC provides opportunities for the growth of an individual into a better spiritual being and become part of the great Indian heritage. HSC also provides support and platform for discussions, conferences, and community service to organizations and speakers who work towards peace, harmony and coexistence. HSC has  been quite successfully working towards the assimilation of Hindu youth into the mainstream North American society while influencing the American culture with the universal Hindu values and systems.

The core objective of the HSC to organize the Global DharmaConference was to create dialogue on subjects like dharma, and to show how the most ancient of philosophies is most relevant in the cuuent world order.

Says Rishi Bhutada, HSC volunteer,” We have brought together 2000 people and this is the first completely youth generated effort, mobilising volunteers from all over the world”.

“Dharma is what brings peace, harmony and progress”, says Kanchan Banerjee, Conference Chairman and National Co ordinator Hindu Students council. Chandan Bandopandhyay, one key HSC leader said: “The Dharma conference is just the beginning of a long term plan to promote harmony and peace in the world by promoting the concept of Dharma”. Another key

HSC leader Rakhi Israni said, “Dharma conference is indeed one of the most impacting events in North American history, when it comes to youth and spirituality.” An understanding of ‘dharma’ and the world’s religious traditions plays a crucial part in the varied forms of human spirituality, but also the influence that religion has on social institutions and politics. Knowledge of ‘dharma’ enables you to develop your knowledge and understanding of living religious traditions that have exercised an important influence on world affairs. Dharma is a global concept, and needs to be addressed in a global setting. The study of ‘Dharma’ reveals many interesting characteristics of a society in transition. As more and more Hindus move from India to other countries around the world, the youth must understand teachings in a whole new context.

In the fast pace multicultural social setting in the United States where the difficulties of making a religion speak to youth are complex, HSC has successfully transcended the barriers of caste, creed, color and religion. With more and more white, Afro-American, Hispanic and Native American Youth joining its activities, HSC has now evolved from the efforts of few to a movement of masses.

Information Dourtesy : Priyank Jaiswal, Media Co ordinator, HSC

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