Unique Hindu Baccalaureate Service enters third year at University of Nevada
Hindu Baccalaureate Service (Dikshant Utsav), held for the first time in Western USA at prestigious University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) in May 2008, enters third year next month.
Organized by acclaimed Indo-American leader Rajan Zed in collaboration with Indian Student Organization of UNR, it will bless graduating class in the traditional Hindu style according to ancient scriptures, complete with applying tilak (religious mark) on the foreheads of graduates.
Besides keynote address by a Hindu monk, it will also include blessing prayers by Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, Baha’i, Tao, Confucian and Native American religious leaders. Well known musician Jim Eaglesmith will chant a kirtan number in Sanskrit with audience following him in the chant.
Starting with ‘Gayatri Mantra’ (the most sacred verse from oldest scripture Rig-Veda dated around 1,500 BCE) recitation by Rajan Zed and traditional lamp lighting before the statue of goddess Saraswati, patron of learning and the arts; it will include blessing the upcoming graduates with wisdom fromVedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita—all ancient Hindu scriptures.
Special certificates will be given to graduates on the occasion with the parting advice as –satyam vada (speak the truth), dharma chara (practice righteousness), matrudevo bhava (treat your mother with great respect), pitrudevo bhava (treat your father with great respect), etc.
Washoe County issued a special Resolution to mark the significance of First Annual Hindu Baccalaureate Service of UNR. Next such Service will be held on April 11 at UNR. Various religious, political, and educational leaders of Nevada are expected to attend this Service.
Education in Hindu tradition has been deep rooted; Zed says and adds that after many important universities in ancient India, like Taxila, Nalanda, Sarnath, Amaravati, Banaras, Kanchi and Ujjain; great Indian universities also flourished in medieval period, like Odantapura (745 AD), Vikramasila (810 AD), Somapura (480 AD), Jagaddala (1090 AD). The purpose of this Baccalaureate Service is to root the graduating class in divine spiritual and cultural tradition so that they have a spiritually meaningful life in addition to material success, Zed stresses.
The flagship institution of the state established in 1864, UNR is one of the top 120 universities in America for funded research, which spans issues relating to the environment, renewable energy resources, the life sciences and plasma physics. The University competes in 19 men's and women’s sports. Dr. Milton D. Glick is the President.
Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.
Details of the picture attached: Various religious, political, and educational leaders who participated in last year’s Hindu Baccalaureate Service.
University of Houston and Banaras Hindu University form partnership
The University of Houston, a public university in Texas (USA), and Institute of Technology of Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi (India) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation in instruction and academic exchange, according to reports.
This new relationship will reportedly include joint education programs at the graduate level, exchange visits of scholars and faculty collaboration in research and technology. Collaborative programs the two institutions will explore include dual degree programs in which degrees could be granted by both parties. The MOU agreement is reportedly for five years.
Welcoming this collaboration between two prominent education centers of USA and India, acclaimed Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that some other leading institutions of both the countries should also form partnerships so that students and faculty could share strengths the other partner offers. Learning brought more light to the mankind, Zed, who is chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, added.
University of Houston, founded in 1927, has over 36,000 students from 137 countries, a Noble Prize winner on its faculty, offers only graduate program of the world in “Space Architecture”, and boasts of over 3,500 CEO’s and actors Dennis and Randy Quaid among its alumni.
Founded in 1916, Banaras Hindu University, which has about 20,000 students from 34 nations, ranks among top in the country in academic and research output. Its objectives include “To promote the study of the Hindu Shastras”, “to promote the building up of character in youth by religion and ethics as an integral part of education”, etc. Its Institute of Technology, launched in 1971, has produced over 22000 undergraduates, 2700 graduates, and 650 doctoral degree holders. Institute’s “chorus” includes the words: “Keep your head on the clouds, don’t get lost in the crowds”.
Muslim-Hindu-Buddhist-Jewish leaders address Catholic youth rally of northern Nevada
In a remarkable interfaith gesture, Fifth Annual Catholic Diocesan Youth Rally held on March six in Reno, involving Catholic teenagers from all over northern Nevada, heard from area Muslim-Hindu-Buddhist-Jewish leaders.
Catholic teenagers listened intently in the chapel of Bishop Manogue Catholic High School to Muslim imam Abdulrahim Barghouthi, Hindu leader Rajan Zed, Buddhist priest William S. Bartlett, and Jewish rabbi Teri E. Appleby, explaining the tenets of their respective faiths, highlighting similarities. It ended with recitation of Gayatri Mantra (most sacred mantra of Hinduism from the oldest scripture Rig-Veda, dating to around 1,500 BCE) by Zed.
Father Charles T. Durante, Pastor of Saint Teresa of Avila Catholic Community of Carson City, who coordinated the interfaith event, said that in order to truly live in peace and harmony; we must strive to understand others. Bishop Randolph R. Calvo, in his message, said, “May this day be a real source of joy”, while Monique Jacobs, Director of Youth Ministry, called it a “day filled with opportunities to see, hear and meet God in each other.” Doug Stewart was the Director of the Rally.
About 400 participated in this Rally, where workshops were held on “The Church, Sex, and Teens”, “Spirituality”, “Rosary Making”, “Lies Young Women/Men Believe”, “Following Jesus: A Dangerous Adventure”, “Self image and image of God”, “Gang Prevention, etc. Josh Blakesly, composer from Louisiana, was the keynote speaker of the Rally, which also included music, dance, skits, mass with Bishop Calvo, etc.
Rajan Zed has congratulated the Catholic Diocese efforts of exposing their youth to other religions. “Religion is a complex component of human life. Dialogue helps us to see interconnections and interdependencies between religions and even similarities in doctrines,” Zed adds.
Catholic Diocese of Reno, established in 1931, covers 70,852 square miles spread in eleven Nevada counties in addition to Carson City. Before 1840, this area was under the Diocese of Sonora in Mexico, when it came under the jurisdiction of Bishop Moreno of California.
Details of the picture attached: At the Catholic Youth Rally, from right to left in the front row are Catholic pastor Father Charles T. Durante, Catholic teenager, Jewish rabbi Teri E. Appleby, Muslim imam Abdulrahim Barghouthi, Hindu leader Rajan Zed, Buddhist priest William S. Bartlett, and others.
By Peter Schrag
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