25 years in making, Encyclopedia of Hinduism unveiled in US
Press Trust of India | Posted on Aug 27, 2013 at 12:31pm IST
A 25-year quest by nearly 1,000 scholars to document and present one of the world's oldest living traditions came to fruition when the 'Encyclopedia of Hinduism' was unveiled in on Tuesday.
Hundreds of scholars, dignitaries, students, Hindu leaders and the public converged on the campus to witness the release of much anticipated and definitive 11-volume guide conceived, compiled and produced by the India Heritage Research Foundation.
Those present on the occasion included South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Indian Consul General in Atlanta Ajit Kumar and Gandhian . The two-day event coinciding with the release featured some of the top Indian scholars who discussed the significance of the encyclopedia and the richness and diversity of Indian culture that binds more than one billion people worldwide.25 years in making, Encyclopedia of Hinduism unveiled in US
The event is the launch of the international edition of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Tibetan spiritual leader had launched the Indian edition in 2010 in Rishikesh. Dr Harris Pastides, President of University of South Carolina, said that he was humbled to see the encyclopedia being launched in his campus.
"It is a deep honor to be participating in the American release of the Encyclopedia of . This is a remarkable work of scholarship and research. I hope that many in academia and in everyday life will turn to it as a resource to better understand the characters, the tenets, and the impact that Hinduism has had, and is having in the world," he said.
Consul General Kumar said India and Hindus all over the world are grateful to the University of South Carolina for the launch of the monumental work. The comprehensive encyclopedia has 11-volume work and it covers Hindu spiritual beliefs, practices and philosophy, and is the culmination of a 25-year academic effort.
The encyclopedia is written in English and includes about 7,000 articles on Hinduism and its practices.
The work also deals with Indian history, languages, art, music, dance, architecture, medicine, and women's issues. It contains more than 1,000 illustrations and photographs. The encyclopedia's volumes run from 600 to more than 700 pages.
Some 3,000 copies are being printed in first edition. Hinduism is the world's third-largest religion, with 1 billion followers, according to a Pew Research Center study. Christians number 2.2 billion and Muslims 1.6 billion.
US varsity launches celebration of India
By Arun Kumar | IANS India Private Limited – 27 minutes agoWashington, Aug 27 (IANS) The University of South Carolina launched CarolIndia, a year-long celebration of India, as it unveiled the international edition of the Encyclopaedia of Hinduism at a conference on one of the world's oldest major religions.
Hundreds of Hindu families travelled to Columbia in South Carolina, to watch Indian social activist Anna Hazare, Hindu spiritual leader Swami Chidanand Saraswati and university President Harris Pastides unveil the 11-volume encyclopaedia Monday.
Culmination of a 25-year academic effort, the definitive guide is conceived, compiled and produced by the India Heritage Research Foundation and published by Mandala Publishing, according to the university.
Hal French, professor emeritus of religious studies, who served as associate editor of the encyclopaedia since its inception in 1987, called the 25-year quest to document Hinduism a privilege.
The conference also marked the beginning of CarolIndia, a year-long celebration of India as part of the university' expanding internationalisation programme that would focus on a single country every year.
Robert Cox, director of the university's Walker Institute for International and Area Studies, said the university chose India for its first year because of the university's and state's increasing ties with the country and for its importance as the world's largest democracy and rising economic power.
Cox said his greatest hope is that university students come to think of India as familiar place, not an exotic one.
CarolIndia will feature film festival, lectures, concerts and exhibits. Among the many visitors to campus will be filmmaker Mira Nair. Students also will have the opportunity to engage with faculty with Indian research and teaching interests.
More than 1,000 scholars have contributed to the seminal work documenting one of the world's oldest living traditions.
Encompassing more than 7,000 articles with over 1,000 colour illustrations and photographs, the encyclopaedia also covers Indian history, civilisation, language and philosophy; architecture, art, music and dance; medicine, sciences and social institutions; and religion, spirituality and the role of Hindu women.
The Dalai Lama introduced the Indian edition in April 2010 in Rishikesh, India.
(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)
Social activist Anna Hazare,known as India's Mahatma Gandhi of the 21st century, greets President Harris Pastides.Kaleidoscope of India comes alive
By Peggy Binette, peggy@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-777-7704More than 150 Hindu families and scholars were at the University of South Carolina Monday (Aug. 26) for the official release of the much anticipated international edition of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism and launch of CarolIndia, a yearlong celebration of India.
Ritvik Nalamothu, 10, traveled with his father Vijendra Nalamothu from Cary, N.C., to watch Hindi spiritual leaders Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Anna Hazare and USC President Harris Pastides unveil the encyclopedia’s 11 volumes, a seminal work documenting one of the world’s oldest living traditions.
“I want to learn about Hinduism and all the aspects of it,” Ritvik Nalamothu said.
His father said he was happy to be able to share the experience with his son.
“I want him to know his roots and learn the right way. He has an interest in religions and has been learning about Greek mythology in school. Now, he can explore Hinduism and know where he and his parents came from. It is giving him a sense of identity,” Vijendra Nalamothu said.
Dilip Vakharia, a special projects manager at USC’s School of Medicine, said he’s proud of the university’s leadership in guiding the encyclopedia.
“This is something great. I want to find out more about Hinduism. I moved from New York to Columbia and have found a feeling of inclusivity and a welcoming of Indian culture here,” Vakharia said.
Austin McCullough, a senior majoring in political science, history and religious studies, went to India last May as part of course taught by Hal French, a professor emeritus of religious studies and associate editor of the encyclopedia. He said watching his university unveil the encyclopedia made his study experience more meaningful.
“The trip was an enlightening experience. Having experienced worship with Swami and his multitude of followers in Rishikesh makes hosting this incredibly influential and compassionate man here an incredible opportunity. The release of the encyclopedia and the years of connection between our university and this important project shows the global focus we have as a university and the continuing effort we put forward to furthering all fields of study,” said McCullough who serves as secretary of government relations for Student Government.
The unveiling was part of a daylong conference on Hinduism and the encyclopedia project that took place in Capstone House and drew many USC faculty, staff and students.
In addition to numerous talks, the event captured the vibrancy of Indian culture with a traditional Indian lamp lighting ceremony, music and food and art, which included bronze statuary from the Robert P. Smith Collection and a colorful 1863 map of British India from the USC’s newly acquired W. Graham Arader III Collection.
President Pastides said it was a deep honor for the university to host the American release of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism.
“This is a remarkable work of scholarship and research. I hope that many in academia and in everyday life will turn to it as a resource to better understand the characters, the tenets and the impact that Hinduism has had, and is having in the world,” Pastides said.
Hal French, professor emeritus of religious studies, served as associate editor of the encyclopedia since its inception in 1987. He called the 25-year quest to document Hinduism a privilege.
“Having studied the Hindu tradition as my major research area, it has been a real privilege to work in some small way with many others in producing a work, which may be the standard comprehensive rendering of Indian tradition for years to come,” French said. “The time and effort required adds to the gratification in seeing this really monumental project come to completion.”
French, along with Carl Evans, also a professor emeritus of religious studies, worked with three to five graduate students each year in the encyclopedia’s copy editing and article management process. The encyclopedia project was located at USC until 2003 when the project was transitioned to India for the final stages of work.
While the conference marked the conclusion of the encyclopedia, it also marked the beginning of CarolIndia. As part of its expanding internationalization, the university will focus a year’s worth of programming around a single country.
Robert Cox, director of USC’s Walker Institute for International and Area Studies, said the university chose India for its year because of the university’s and state’s increasing ties with the country and for its importance as the world’s largest democracy and rising economic power.
Cox said his greatest hope is that USC students come to think of India as familiar place, not an exotic one.
“Exotic places are mysterious, even frightening, and we sometimes avoid visiting them because of that. I would rather students come away knowing India, and know how people of Indian heritage share the same desires to live, love and build better lives for their children,” Cox said.
CarolIndia will feature film festival, lectures, concerts and exhibits. Among the many visitors to campus will be filmmaker Mira Nair.
“Her first film, ‘Salaam Bombay,’ is one of my favorites. I think of it as the original ‘Slumdog Millionaire.’ And, ‘Mississippi Masala’ showed how well she understands the experience of India immigrants in the Southern USA,” Cox said.
Students also will have the opportunity to engage with faculty with Indian research and teaching interests. This year that includes new College of Arts and Sciences professors Mari Jyvasjarvi Stuart, an expert in Hinduism and South Asian Studies, and Daniel Stuart, an expert in South Asian literature and cultures and Buddhist studies.
Dr. Meera Narasimhan, a professor and chairman of neuropsychiatry and vice dean at USC School of Medicine, organized the conference and launch of CarolIndia. She calls the encyclopedia a great gift and CarolIndia an exciting journey into India’s rich tapestry of culture.
News and Internal Communications
Encyclopedia of Hinduism unveiled in US
Columbia (South Carolina): A 25-year quest by nearly 1,000 scholars to document and present one of the world's oldest living traditions came to fruition when the 'Encyclopedia of Hinduism' was unveiled on Tuesday.
- See more at: http://post.jagran.com/encyclopedia-of-hinduism-unveiled-in-us-1377597184#sthash.iF2cndku.dpuf