World Hindu Conference 2000, Trinidad
Friday, August 17 - 20, 2000, University of the West Indies

Conference Theme: Aatmano Mokshaarthaartham Jagadhitaaya Cha - For Self-Emancipation and World Welfare



Conference Convener:         Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)
Conference Date:                Friday, August 18 - 20, 2000
Conference Place:               University of the West Indies, Trinidad
Keynote Address By:          Param Poojaneeya Seetharamiah Sudarshanji, Sarsangchalak
                                            (Chief) of the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Conf. Declared Open By: Pujya Shankaracharya Divyanand Teerthji Maharaj (Bharat)
Presenters:                         Pujya Sudarshanji, Pujya Ashok Singhalji, Pujya Shankaryacharya Divyanandaji, Prof. Subash Kak,  Prof. Radheshyam Dwivedi, Prof. Shankar Tattwawadi, Dr. Greesh Sharma, Swami Aksharananda, Swami Murugananda, Swami Sathyananda Saraswati, Swami Chidanand Saraswati, Swami Shudananda, Swami Brahmadeo Upadhyaya, Dr. Reginald Griffith, Dr. Kumar Mahabir, Dr. Vijay Naraynsigh, Dr. Ramnarace Ramnarine, Dr. TV Divivedi, Dr. Dharamaj Nanan, Dr. TKN Chary, Dr. Bhupendra Kumar Modi, Shri Ravi Dev, etc.

Main Events of World Hindu Conference 2000

(1) Launch of World Hindu Conference - April 15, 2000 by His Excllency, Prime Minister Basdeo Panday of Trinidad,
                                                                     Pujya Swami Aksharananda, and Shri Ravi Maharaj.
(2) Reception - The arrival and reception of His Holiness, The Shankaracharya, Swamis, leaders, scholars and delegates.
(3) Inaugural Ceremony - August 17, 2000. The opening and blessing of World Hindu Conference by His Holiness, 
                                            The Shankaracharya.
(4) Courtesy Call - Meeting with the Indian High Commissioner
(5) Formal Opening of Academic Sessions - Opening by Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Ralph Maraj.
(6) Cultural Programs - August 18, 2000 - Goswami Tulsi Das by Shekar Sen at Central Bank Auditorium, Port-of-Spain
                                        & August 19, 2000, Learning Resource Center, UWI.
(7) Yuva Manch - August 19, 2000, Learning Resource Center, UWI.
(8) Sankalp Yagna - Decentralization of the Conference into 25 venues in Trinidad and Tobago.
(9) Closing of the Academic Sessions - August 20, 2000.
(10) Vishaal Hindu Sangam - Closing ceremony and marathon Hindu rally, Divali Nagar, Chaguanas.

Launching of WHC 2000
Sukha Shanti Bhakti Mandalie, Warner Street, Freeman Road, 
St. Augustine, Trinidad, West Indies, Saturday April 15, 2000 

The conference was launched on Saturday April 15, 2000 by His Excellency, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Shri Basdeo Panday, Hindu scholar and monk, Pujya Swami Aksharanandaji of Guyana, and Shri Raviji Maharaj of Trinidad - chairman of the conference coordinating committee.

In this page:
(1) Opening Message from Pujya Ashok Singhalji of VHP

Speeches at conference launching on Saturday April 15, 2000 at Sukha Shanti Bhakti Mandalie, Trinidad:
(2) PM Basdeo Pandayji of Trinidad and Tobago
(3) Pujya Swami Aksharanandaji of Guyana
(4) Shri Raviji Maharaj of Trinidad

Lectures presented at WHC 2000 at the University of the West Indies:
(5) THE WISHING TREE: The Presence and Promise of Hinduism by Prof. Subhash Kak

MESSAGE FROM PUJYA ASHOK SINGHAL JI, WORKING PRESIDENT, VISHWA HINDU PARISHAD (VHP)

Pitri Yagna – the duties towards the family, the community and the National traditions;

World Hindu Conference 2000 was launched at SUKHA SHANTI MANDIR, St. AUGUSTINE, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO on APRIL 15, 2000, 6:30 p.m. The following transcript is the address of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.

50 LOCAL HINDU ORGANISATIONS HAVE CONSENTED TO THE CONFERENCE. THE LAUNCH EVENT WAS CHAIRED BY DR. PRAKASH PERSAD – SECRETARY OF THE CONFERENCE.

Address of His Excellency, Prime Minister, The Honorable Shri Basdeo Panday

My Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Namaste! Had it been solely for the will of man, I would have been in Cuba at this very moment. But man proposes, God disposes. I am happy, truly happy, to be here with you this evening. I wanted very much to take part in this Launching of World Hindu Conference 2000. So contrary to all plans less than 24 hours ago, I was mid-air between Havana and Caracas. I was on my way to Venezuela to make a midnight connection to Trinidad last night. I arrived at Piarco International in the early hours of this morning, and in time for this function. I was not going to miss being with you for anything. I am thankful that I have been brought safely back to you.

As you know, I had flown to Cuba on Tuesday for the South Summit. Well over 100 countries were represented at the Summit, more that half of them by Heads of Government. While in Cuba, I had the opportunity of meeting with Leaders from around the world. You will be pleased to know that Trinidad and Tobago’s flag is flying high in world opinion. Your country and your Government are uniformly held in high regard in the international community. We are admired and envied for our economic performance and for the harmony which we enjoy in our renowned diversity. Trinidad and Tobago is widely seen as a model for the management of diversity through a committed policy of inclusion. Inclusion, as you know, is my essential policy in politics, and in governance.

My Brothers and Sisters: The practice of inclusion is a recurring theme in any external discussion about Trinidad and Tobago. It is a contradiction that here, in our country, there is such an obsession with exclusion, when in principle and in practice our society functions and remains intact because we successfully manage diversity, and we have so manifestly implemented the policy of inclusion. In a sense, the policy of inclusion is now the critical issue, globally. The most critical issue facing the world today is the management of diversity. Wherever you look in the world, today, be it Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe the bloody internecine conflict has one single cause the failure or the inability to manage diversity, whether that diversity, stems from differences in race, ethnicity, tribal affiliation, religion, culture or region.

Hinduism can provide a basic for world tolerance, acceptance, appreciation of one another and peace. It is said in the Srimiad Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4 verses 7&8 where Lord Krishna is speaking to Arjuna says: Yada Yada hi dharmasya ... etc. This is the basis of our belief in the avataric succession: If we genuinely and truly believe this then how can Hindus not accept Christ, Mohammad, Swami Dayanand Saraswah Saint Kaabir and other manifestation of God in whatever form God chooses to manifest himself/herself.

This single verse is the basis for inclusion and international peace. Without peace no country can prosper. No society embroiled in conflict can improve its economic, social or cultural well-being, since wars and conflicts dissipates both physical and human resources, matural and spiritual. The matter of inclusion is as relevant in India and in the Indian Diaspora as it is in Trinidad and Tobago, and elsewhere in the Caribbean.

The immediate relevance of my theme of inclusion is underlined this evening by the presence here of more than 50 separate Hindu Organizations. To have mobilised all of these groups for this event is an impressive demonstration of the effectiveness and the leadership provided by Shri Ravi Ji and the members of the organizing committee of World Hindu Conference 2000. The staging of the World Hindu Conference in this country defines Trinidad and Tobago as a nation of considerable significance not only to the Hindu Diaspora, but also to the World community.

Increasingly, our country is being acknowledged as a leader in the enlightened management of pluralism, as experts in the art of managing diversity by the practice of inclusion. Last year, the World Orisha Congress was held in Trinidad and Tobago.

A congress of "The First Nations" of the World is planned for Trinidad and Tobago for August. The First Nations embrace indigenous peoples in various countries of the world who have been displaced by immigrants. First Nations includes the Caribs in Trinidad and elsewhere in the Caribbean, the Amerindians of South America, the Native American Indians of the United States and Canada, as well the Aborigines of Australia, and many other peoples, in other countries. There is a particular obligation on every ethnic and religious group in every plural society not only to share the same space, but to share philosophies with the wider community. That is essential if diverse groups are to get along with each other.

My Brothers and Sisters: World Hindu Conference 2000 will bring to Trinidad and Tobago and to the region, a heightened awareness of the role and influence of Hinduism on world thought and culture. Hindu culture has a strong global influence, and indeed a significant local presence. The theme of World Hindu Conference 2000 is quite timely:

"Self Emancipation and World Welfare." This links you, the individual, with the Universe. How better to link than to accept all as equal in the eyes of God! This theme is intended to elicit special efforts from and impose particular obligations on every one of us. A person consists of his faith, we are told; whatever is his faith, so is he.

As we prepare for World Hindu Conference 2000, we must reflect on the sacred tenets of our faith. From intense thinking must come being! Religion is a way of walking, not just a way of talking. We must not only talk the talk, we must walk the walk.

My Brothers and Sisters: There is a sense to some, that the Hindu Motherland, India, may have, at times, abandoned her children, who nonetheless, remain fiercely loyal to her.

The late Prime Minister of India, Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, told Hindus in Africa and Guyana that they ought not to continue to look to India for sustenance. Another former Prime Minister of India, Morarji Desai, told Indo Trinidadians essentially the same thing.

On a visit to Trinidad before becoming Prime Minister, the then Minister Desai told an audience at the West India Club that in the way that a girl child after marriage should give her love and loyalty to her new family, so too should the descendants of Indian ancestry give their greatest love and loyalty to their homelands outside of India.

But My Brothers and Sisters: all that is gradually changing. There appears to be a fresh new wind of Hinduism blowing across the Universe, with the children of the Diaspora sharply in focus. Now, there is a growing unity among the Hindus of the world, wherever they may be in the Hindu Universe. From the 17th to the 20th of August of this year 2000, Trinidad and Tobago will be at the centre of that universe. We will be host to a galaxy of Hindu thinkers, scholars and Holy men. Our local Hindu leaders, including all who are present this evening, will add radiance to that galaxy. World Hindu Conference 2000 will explore contemporary global issues with a view to defining the challenges ahead and developing strategies for success. The outcome to these activities is a self reliant, self sufficient, self emancipated Diaspora which possess the capacity to contribute significantly to the countries in which they live, and to the welfare of the world.

Today, India has no option but to take pride in her children who are scattered all over the world.

My Brothers and Sisters: A discourse on Hinduism, such as the World conference will undertake, will by definition, include an examination of India’s influence on world thought and culture. It is held that the major catalyst to the expansion of that influence beyond the boundaries of India, and into the West was Swami Vivekananda. Rabinranath Tagore has said that if you want to understand India, you must study Vivekananda.

Let me remind you of what Swami Vivekandanda wrote in 1894. I quote: "I am thoroughly convinced that no individual or nation can live by holding itself apart from the community of others, and whenever such an attempt has been made under false ideas of greatness, policy, or holiness, the result has always been disastrous. The Swami’s impact on the way India related to the world, and the way India was perceived by the world is significant. He encouraged India to go forth to the world with thought, with ideals, with spiritualism, with Hinduism.

Today the Hindu Diaspora is estimated at a mere 30 million of the close to 1 Billion belonging to the Hindu faith. These Hindus are to be found in North America, Europe, Africa and Australia, and elsewhere of course in the Caribbean, notably in Guyana and in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Conference will examine such issues as Globalization, Sustainable Development, the Environment and Information Technology, matters that have a permanent priority on my own agenda as Prime Minister.

My Brothers and Sisters: I am particularly pleased that Shri Ravi Ji and the members of the organizing committee for Hindu World Conference 2000 have addressed Technology on the Conference programme. Evidently they agree with Albert Einstein that Science without Religion is Lame, and that Religion without Science is Blind. It is evident that there is no blindness among you.

We can all take early pride in winning Hindu World Conference 2000 for Trinidad and Tobago. We should also take pride in the unparalleled demonstration of Hindu solidarity that is in evidence today. When your own house is united and strong, it is only then that you can help others. Let us work together to convince the world that here in Trinidad and Tobago, Hinduism is flowering in all its glorious dimensions, and that we are making a decisive difference in our country, that is to the good of all.

My Brothers and Sisters: Let us embrace the world, even as we strengthen our faith.

And let us recall the words of Swami Vivekananda, written over a century ago, that to hold ourselves apart from the world will bring no benefit. To do this makes the Universe less than it can be.

In doing this, we also to make ourselves poorer, much poorer, than we need be, or that we were meant to be. The Africans have a saying, I consist of one word : Maskhane : Let us build one another together. Thank you, my Brothers and Sisters. And may Bhagwan Bless you all.

Address of Pujya Swami Aksharanandaji

World Hindu Conference 2000 was launched at SUKHA SHANTI MANDIR, St. AUGUSTINE, TRINIDAD and TOBAGO on APRIL 15, 2000.

The following is a transcript of Swami Aksharananda’s address - 1,600 words- approximately 15 minutes in length.

Honorable Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Basdeo Panday Ji, Ravi-Ji, heads of various Religious organizations represented here, and sisters and brothers in Hindu Dharma. I am indeed very humbled by this gesture to have me invited here to make this brief presentation. I think it is very important for us to recognize that at this juncture in the history of this region such an event should take place and that it should take place in the country of Trinidad and Tobago.

You have a leadership at this time in your country that is of great pride to Hindus all over this region especially to my country Guyana. We are all very happy to know that Trinidad has taken the lead to have this event done here and that so many of the Hindu religious organizations have decided to participate. That is indeed a momentous sign of things to come.

Each of the great civilizations of this world, especially those that have survived through several millenniums, has what can be considered foundational ideas on which they are established and on which they continue to survive. The Hindu civilization has a number of such important concepts and ideas that give it life. One of these ideas is the idea of Dharma. There is hardly any other culture or civilization in the world that is so deeply connected, almost obsessed with any concept or idea as the Hindus have been with the idea of Dharma.

Tonight I would like to talk a little bit about a different concept though, I think an equally important one that is not so much explored, but which I believe to be also a foundational one in Hindu dharma. Unlike Dharma there is not a single lexical term with which we can capture this idea. But to use the words of the Bhagavad Gita we can call it avibhaktam vibhakteshu. ‘Avibhaktam’ means that which is undivided, which is whole, a unity and vibhakteshu is that which is divided. In other words, in a simple English translation, it can be translated to mean "unity in diversity."

If we look from a Hindu perspective at the idea of Ultimate Reality, we find that there is one fundamental under-girding idea of the oneness of all reality and existence. Every young boy and girl who begins to study Hindus and there thinking and thought would come to recognize this important point that Hinduism is grounded on this idea of the oneness of all existence.

Sometimes however, we tend to ignore the opposite side of that oneness, which is also the multiplicity of existence. In that great mantra, that great poem that we have that is known as the Vishnu Sahasranaam, Bhagavan Vishnu is called two names in verse 91 eka and na eka. Bhagavan Vishnu is described as that which is eka or one and that which is, na eka - not one. And so I think one of the visions that the Hindus have presented to the world of ultimate reality is a vision of multiplicity, is a vision of ‘manyness’.

If we look at the sacred land of India we see a topography, we see a climate of tremendous diversity. If we look at the racial types of India perhaps we can find in India every kind of people found in different parts of the world represented in India.

If you look at the main religions of the world, a long time ago long before mass migrations took place to different parts of the world, India was already the home and continues to be the home and the sanctuary of many of the great religions of the world, many of which religions have been persecuted in their own lands.

And within Hinduism itself, if you examine it carefully, of course, you will see this amazing diversity. Linguistic outlook among Hindus is full of diversity to such and extent that some people wonder out loud time and time again that whether India as we know it today can survive or not, because of this great diversity.

The philosophical perspective that we have in Bharat for thousand of years is one also, that presents a multiplicity of perspectives and of visions and so there is not any single one view which we can say that dominates and conquers and takes over everything.

What can we say, might be the meaning of such a diversity? You know, in universities every time India comes to have an election academics and so on will gather and they will all ponder on one question, whether India will be able to survive this election? Because they believe in, they see a kind of a doom or fragmentation of the society. And, of course, again an again over the last 50 years or so India has proved an amazing kind of maturity that in spite of, or rather because of, its amazing diversities in every walk of life it has been able to maintain a link, a sutra that has held the country together. That has been so because I believe the Hindus have accepted the idea as a basic important idea of ‘unity in diversity’.

What does the idea of ‘unity in diversity’ mean? It also means that there is not an absolutisation’ or a universalition of any single idea to the exclusion of other ideas. The Indian sky, the Hindu land has been the land where every idea, especially if it pertains to ultimate reality, has always been welcome. And one can search the history of the country from end to the end and hardly find anywhere in its long history any human being persecuted because of his or her belief. So we have encouraged this diversity and we know that we in the Caribbean have also by a stroke of history been a meeting point, a gathering point of peoples of diverse parts of this world of different cultures, different traditions and different religions.

There is inter play between one and many in Hinduism. In that great famous mantra that we all love to quote, ‘ekam sad vipraah bahudhaa vadanti’ there is an opposition, an inter play that is set up between ‘ekam’ on the one hand and ‘bahudhaa’ on the other, ‘ekam’ meaning one and ‘bahudhaa,’ meaning many.

There is always a tendency for the ‘One’ in Hindu philosophy thinking, there is a tendency for the One to become many: ‘eko’ham bahu syaama,’ - ‘I am one may I become many.’ So we see therefore that there has been this amazing kind of diversity and I think that is one of the great gifts that the Hindus have to offer the world. Because at this time and in our recent history, especially in the last 100 years, there has been a rise of several kinds of totalitarian ideas which have forced people time and again into a single mode of thinking and behavior, with the most disastrous consequences for humanity.

We feel that with this idea of unity in diversity holds hope for humanity, and that Hindus should be proud to proclaim it to the world as the saving grace for humanity. But not only in terms of humanity… I think that imperative for us as Hindus also to re-ground ourselves in this concept and to learn more about it. We have an idea of working together, we have an idea of unity that is not a static concept but it is dynamic, it is unity in diversity. We feel in the words of the Bhavagad Gita, that all of this strung together, as many, many gems on a string – "maniganaa iva". All the ‘manis’ or gems are strung together on that sutra, on that string.

We believe that is how our organizations should operate…that there should be a common vision a common vow, to use to use the words of the mantra of the Atharva Veda, savrata bhutva. Even though we are all different and that we may have different approaches our vow must be common. Our outlook, our perspective, our orientation must all be geared towards one thing and that is the protection and promotion of Sanatana Dharma.

Regardless of how different we are, because this has been our experience, it has been our historical experience, we have been different in many ways in a variety of perspectives and outlooks, but we have been able to maintain the ground of unity and this is the great gift Hinduism has to offer to the world. And this is the great gift that Hinduism has to offer to this region.

And so I would like to exhort you my brothers and sisters that we begin to explore again this idea afresh and to see first and foremost how is it as various Hindu organizations, we can work together for the common good. Because whenever Hindus have become grounded in their Hinduism, when Hindus have become more convinced of their Dharma then this world would has always tended to gain from that. When even India was a great country when India was strong, when ever India was grounded in its own culture and its own vision, the world looked up to India the world gained. India was the visha guru. I am saying today that once we Hindus become strong then we would not be a gift to ourselves but to this country and the countries of this region.

So then I again would like to thank you all very much for inviting me to participate in this program. Hari Om Shanti.

Address of Shri Raviji Maharaj

SUKH SHANTI MANDIR – SAT 15, APRIL, 2000, CHAITRA Y 5102 (approx. 15 minutes in length)

These are momentous times…

Hindus must seize this opportunity to explore its full potential. We must engage these times and apply our aspirations with full vigour.

And what is the Hindu aspiration?

Swami Vivekananda has put it in a wonderful sutra, "AATMAANO MOKSHAARTHAM JAGAD HITAAYA CHA". For the sake of our self and for the welfare of the world." This is our theme for the conference.

For dreams were ours, but never the denigration of others, nor the conquest of material nature. The Vedas urge us, in fact, to cultivate: "MITRASYA CHAKSHUSHAA SAMEEKSHAAMAHE" - May we all look upon each other with the eye of a friend."

By the same token, Hindus have never been instructed to turn away from any challenges- physical, intellectual or spiritual. In fact, we have challenged ourselves, swayam eva mrigendrata – achieve all through self-effort.

1) Five Pandavas, in spite of being little in numbers faced the might of the Kauravas. That’s why Mahabharata is our shastra

                            2) RAAVAANu RATHI BIRATHI RAGHUBEERAA - Barefooted Rama faced the might of  Ravan with his army. That’s why Ramayana is our Katha.

3) Our Indentured forebears, came here as chattel. With no resources, they negotiated their own Mahabharat admirably and reconstructed a Hindu world from fragments.

Notwithstanding the hegemony, they have done well.

Pavitra Jaimungal’s pichakaaree of 1995 puts it this way, "From a plantation, they built us a nation."

Hindus stand challenged today. And the journey has started, to nurse back our physical stamina, to rediscover our spirit of adventure, to recapture our inventiveness, to revive our intellectual virility, to plumb our spiritual depths. The yagna is on; to consolidate our rich diversity around core values and to establish a strong and benevolent world presence in the noble tradition of Jagad Janani – Mother of the World, and Jagad Guru – World Teacher. Each Hindu must now extract the ideals of the four varnas to embrace an integral life;

                            the will to labour – of the shudra

the bill of wealth of the vaishas,

the drill of the warrior – kshatrias

the skill of intellect of the Brahmin

And the spirit of all.

This indeed is the making of the Hindu individual and THE Hindu society in the image and likeness of the Supreme Purusha as presented in the Purusha Sukta of the Vedas.

Hindus must now come face to face with themselves in order to evaluate how experiences measure with its own idealism and rise to take charge of its destiny. We must also work out how, without compromising our values, we will engage the challenges of other civilizations, religions, cultures, forces and world issues. Today, it is quite clear that Hindus are impatient with the sense of diminished self-esteem, inflicted internally and through external forces. The instruction of the Gita has become a clarion call for Hindus, "UDHARED AATMAN AATMAANAM"… - "we must lift our self by our own efforts, and let us never fall again. We indeed, are our own friends and our own enemies."

We need to invest in a vigorous unity and resolve. In times of kali yuga, SANGHE SHAKTI KALIYUGE – UNITY IS STRENGTH. The times and these reasons summon all Hindus to congregate so that we may experience our viraat, our larger self. And when we meet, we must speak confidently and with clarity, to inspire, to guide, to support and most of all, to find a oneness amidst our own magnificent diversity.

Let us create an opportunity so that, like Nachiketa of the Upanishads, we may experience SHRADDHA AVIVESHA - seized of a confidence and urgency to face all challenges and realize our highest potential. And let this opportunity be the world Hindu Conference 2000, come August 17 – 20, 2000. And we of Trinidad and Tobago will host this historic event.

THIS CONFERENCE IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES TO HINDUS FOR THE FORWARD MARCH TO A NEW ERA FOR THE FULFILLING OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY:

Aatmaano mokshaartham jagadhitaaya cha - For our own emancipation and for the welfare of all. This is an invitation to:

WORLD HINDU CONFERENCE 2000

The theme is: AATMAANO MOKSHAARTHAM JAGADHITAAYA CHA
FOR THE SAKE OF OUR SELVES AND FOR THE WELFARE OF THE WORLD

Ma Ashok Ji Singhal – Working President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad sees the chosen theme as, "very appropriate and timely." He says, "Doing good to the world with a spirit of worship and thus paving the path for one’s own emancipation and enlightenment, is the most appropriate means of Saadhanaa for this age of speed, stress, mental strain and spiritual aspirations.

In order to context the spirit of the theme spiraling in widening embrace from our own Hindu self to the wider world, we have structured the sub themes in five spirals;

Broad Themes:

Hinduism face to face with itself

The Hindu Caribbean Experience

Hinduism face to face with other religions, cultures, issues and forces

Hinduism and Contemporary World Issues

Fulfilling the Hindu Mission for the World

Sunday – 6.00 - 9.00 pm – An experience of Hindu Sangam

For Hindus of the Caribbean, it must be a special occasion that Hindus of the world will be looking in our direction. In fact, one of the reason for the conference is precisely this.

You see, many Hindus who happen to come to the Caribbean are often shocked to see so many people of Indian Origin and Hindus here. They are further shocked to witness a full Hindu calendar after 155 years.

This was the experience of Ma Ashok Ji Singhal – President of Vishva Hindu Parishad during his visit to the Hindu Caribbean with Ramayan Sagar Swami Brahmadeo Ji. He had said, "Hindus of the world are not aware that there are so many Hindus here. We must do something about this. Hindus of the world must know of this wonderful country and about their Hindu brothers and sisters living here."

That was the starting point; to announce the Hindu Caribbean to the World.

In return we have to receive the Hindu World here.

* And there will come Hindus-men, women, youths and children, just to meet you

*And there will come Hindus-artistes to celebrate us.

*And there will come Hindus-scholars to deliberate on matters of Hindu history, Hindu thought, Hindu experience, Hindu dreams, Hindu feelings, Hindu work in different parts of the world, Hindu family and of our spirituality, a spirituality leading man from animality, to humanity and from humanity to divinity.

EXPERIENCE SO FAR

Our effort over the past few months have been mainly with the organisations. It has been a revealing experience. It was slow, as it should be, and the reception has been mostly positive.

I must report to you that there is, in the community, caution, but there is a willingness. I must report to you that community memory is long, but there is willingness to let things go and let things grow. I must report that there is an increasing goodwill arising. If not good will, there is increasing application of common sense, that as a people we must engage a willingness to co operate and operate with the entire Hindu Parivaar in mind.

On March 25, thirty one Hindu Organisations participated in an election to elect a Local Organisation Committee to manage the conference. Working for this was an education, the coming together was a revelation, the possibilities now are promising.

The conference has provided a serendipitous experience in the coming together of some 50 organisations for the purpose of World Hindu Conference 2000. Today members of approximately fifty organisations are present to bless the launching of the World Hindu Conference 2000.

If this alone could be achieved, it is enough. But one may be inspired to think of what more unexpected harvest lie in the path of this conference. We humbly ask of all of you, to bless this effort, to support, to co operate, to contribute, to participate and to make World Hindu Conference 2000 a landmark event for Hindus in particular and for our beloved nation in general.

We will like to remember the ancestors of all our peoples of Trinidad and Tobago with gratitude.

In particular we will like to remember with gratitude, all contributors to our development and all our Hindu ancestors, Indentured Ancestors, Ancient Acestors for our identity and heritage.

While the Chairman Services will appreciate all for their contribution, I will like to thank all organisations who kindly consented to meet with us, for their reception, their patience and cooperation from the first day with SWAHA up to today as we meet organisations whom we did not contact before.

In particular I will like to thank the members of the First Local Organising Committee for the stone breaking exercises. I will like to thank Swami Brahmadeo Ji, Ma. Ashok Ji Singhal and Bahan Anjlee Pandya Ji of Vishva Hindu Parishad.

In particular, I will like to thank the Amrika Ranjeetsingh, a youth whose services at the Conference Secretariat has been unwavering. I will like to thank her parents for allowing her to gives us her services. Thank you Amrika. Om

World Hindu Conference, Trinidad, August 20, 2000, University of the West Indies, Trinidad

LECTURES:

THE WISHING TREE: The Presence and Promise of Hinduism
by Professor Subhash Kak

America is a country of great spaces and great appetites--- both material and spiritual. The machines that are the foundation of America's material wealth compel conformity to their rhythms, leading to alienation, carpal tunnel syndrome, and angst about meaning. Americans are the most church-going nation of the world, but they are increasingly becoming aware of the limitations of organized religion and now they seek psychologists and religious masters. Indian spirituality, an unbroken sequence that goes back to hoary antiquity, holds a special fascination for the American. It is a spirituality that is non-sectarian, universal and unconnected to ritual. Addressing the deepest questions of meaning and knowledge, it seems to speak to man's innermost concerns in this age of science.

Those, especially in the cities, who learned about India from these textbooks soon came to hate their past. After independence, the Nehruvian socialists seized control of institutions of education and the process set forth by the British was much accelerated. It is only now, fifty years after political independece, that an objective understanding of the foundations of Indian culture is emerging.

The Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The original Mahabharata dates to the Mahabharata War. A series of enlargements made it attain its size of 100,000 verses about two thousand years ago. The Ramayana is epic verse that deals with events earlier than those of the Mahabharata.

How do we know that this translation is wrong? Weren't the ancients primitive and even though the statement that the sky is one thousand cow-heights sounds ludicrous to us, it may very well have been believed then. We can be sure of our meaning by seeking independent evidence from other texts. These other texts tell us that the sun (taken to be halfway to the sky) is about 500 earth-diameters from the earth, so the second meaning, the commonsensical meaning, is the right one. The Greeks and the Babylonians also took the sun to be at this same distance. Nevertheless, the textbooks base their histories on the first meaning!

When I was a boy, I heard my father tell me about his extraordinary experience during his years of quest. He chose to mention some of these in his fragmentary autobiography, Autumn Leaves. I heard and marvelled but didn t know what to make of it. I shut my eyes and tried to envision everything or nothing but it didn t take me far. So I chose science.

Note:

For more information on the material in the essay, see the following books:

1. O. Alvarez, Celestial Brides: A Study in Mythology and Archaeology. Stockbridge, 1978.
2. G. Feuerstein, The Yoga Tradition. Prescott, 1998.
3. G. Feuerstein, S. Kak, and D. Frawley, In Search of the Cradle of Civilization. Wheaton, Illinois, 1995.
4. D. Frawley, Ayurveda and the Mind. Twin Lakes, 1997.
5. S. Kak, The Astronomical Code of the Rgveda. New Delhi, 1994,2000.
6. A. Napier, Foreign Bodies: Performance, Art, and Symbolic Anthropology. Berkeley, 1992.
7. T.R.N. Rao and S. Kak, Computing Science in Ancient India. Lafayette, LA, 1998, Delhi, 2000.
8. H. Zimmer, Philosophies of India. New York, 1951.

Highlights of WHC 2000

(1) Conference was sponsored by Vishwa Hindu Parishad
(2) Two of the most respected global Hindu leaders were present at WHC 2000: Param Pujya Sarsangchalak of the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), KS Sudarshanji and Head of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Pujya Ashok Singhalji.
(3) In Trinidad, where the WHC 2000 was held, at least 25 local Hindu organization gave their cooperation and support.
(4) A number of Hindu Mahatmas were present at WHC 2000. They include: Pujya Shankaracharya Divyanand Teerthji Maharaj (Bharat), Pujya Swami Chidananda Saraswatiji (Bharat), Swami Sathyananda Saraswathyji ( Bharat), Pujya Swami Aksharanandaji (Guyana), Pujya Swami Murugananda Saraswati (Bharat), Pujya Swami Bramhadeo Upadhyaya (Surinam), Pujya Swami Prakashananda (Bharat), Pujya Shuddhananda Saraswati (Bharat)
(5) Conference was launched by three Caribbean Hindus: His Excellency, the PM of Trinidad and Tobago, Shri Basdeo Panday, Pujya Swami Aksharanandaji of Guyana, and Shri Ravindranauthji Maharaj of Trinidad.
(6) A number of outstanding academic scholars spoke at the conference: Professor Subash Kak, Professor Radheshyam Dwivedi, Dr. Shankar Tattwawadi, Dr. Greesh Sharma, Dr. Reginald Griffith, Dr. Kumar Mahabir, Dr. Vijay Naraynsigh, Dr. Ramnarace Ramnarine, Dr. TV Divivedi, Dr. Dharamaj Nanan, Dr. TKN Chary, Dr. Bhupendra Kumar Modi, Shri Ravi Dev, etc.