Nalanda International University Set to Open

Nalanda International University Set to Open in Fall 2012

Nalanda University, an ancient world University that attracted and educated world scholars to India for 700 years (497C.E-1197 C.E), laid in ruins for almost 800 years is set to reopen and revive the spirit of education and knowledge http://nalandauniv.edu.in/.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/09/opinion/09garten.html?pagewanted=all


Nalanda is a place of great intellectual heritage. Huen Tsang immortalized the university in his memoir of his travels in India and the Tang Empire Chronicled the texts Huen Tsang brought from India, which were later on translated into Chinese. As numerous other well known universities earlier, including the Taxila university, Nalada university of such great intellectual eminence and scholarship is destroyed in raids following the establishment of the Sultanate in Delhi. Alberuni painstakingly described how the unarmed monks were chased through the compound of Nalanda,  hunted down and trampled on by the horses, by the invaders seeking to find wealth. The armies then proceeded to loot and plunder the Gangetic doab.

Hopefully, Nalanda will bring back the age old memories to life and function as an independent knowledge center supporting merit, hard work and sincerity and gain international reputation of yore.

As stated in the University's mission as, "match the excellence of Nalanda of first millennium for the third millennium," may come true, and hopefully, the University will evolve  in to an international center for exchange and cultivation of knowledge of eminence for which it was known for in the past. Nobel Laureate, Amarthya Sen, the Argumentative Indian, Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, need to be commended for their hard work, dedication and successful completion of this project.

Asian Americans and Religion
 A recent Pew survey finds Asian Americans show diverse faiths, and among them Hindu Asians show a diversity of practices. While Hindus tend to attend formalized prayer services less, they practice more of individualized religious practices, such as meditation, pray at home shrine etc.


http://www.pewforum.org/Asian-Americans-A-Mosaic-of-Faiths-overview.aspx#hindus

A Great Resource on Asian Art
Please check the Asia Society Website for great pictures and data on Asian Art.


http://www.asiasocietymuseum.org/default.asp

What is History?

What is History?

Historians have offered a number of definitions to understand the nature, and meaning of History. History is the collective memory of a society. As a collective memory, it may not be remembered or expressed by all in the same way. Each group may hold a certain type of memory or source that it deems important. This brings forward two important points. Who then decides what is to be remembered, and what is a source of history? History may sometimes originate from the most unexpected sources. The poem, Ozymandias (please check the wikipedia link for the poems and background), clearly illustrates this issue.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozymandias

Shelly expressed his own view after he visited the exhibition of Egyptian antiquities in British museum. However, his friend, Smith, also expressed his own view of the same image, which is slightly different. Both of their views are of course different from the museum notes about the image. Except for the basic information about the name of the person (Ozymandiaz- a shortened name of Egyptian Emperor, Rameses), and place, these poems express the views of the poets. This brings forward the four views that collide into forming the history: 1. The Original Person's view, 2. The Cultural Successors view, 3. An Outside Observer's view, 4. A Layman's view
The Original Person's view, as gleaned from the inscription is only left in fragments, although the inscription claims to have built a great city. The original person's view is always positive, idealistic and a bit publicity seeking.
 The Cultural Successor's view, presents a reclaiming and re-owning the past, and lean towards idealist perspective again.
An Outside Obsever's view is represented by Shelly's poem and Smiths poem. It is also represented by the museum notes that both the poets may have used to reconstruct their views of the image. This represents the most common base of historical knowledge and works.
A Layman's View is paraphrased in Smith's poem, as that of a hunter passing by the the statue on his own expedition. This may represent a non expert view.

What is missing from above is the expert's view, in the form of historians notes. This is what is the most important part of history. A historian is expected to research and understand all the above types of view points, but record only the most objective history.

A historian is bound to experience and encounter all the above views during one's research on a subject. But the historian should always be careful to present only the most accurate and objective observations based on careful analysis of facts and figures and must not be wavered in to hasty judgement. Because, historians are charged with maintaining the most authentic account of the past to pass it on to the future generations.
1. Historians are then the keepers and maintainers of the public memory of society.
2.  Historians are charged with responsibility to maintain objective and appropriate history.
This then makes it a noble profession.

Therefore, the historians must practice their profession responsibly and not let their personal views be reflected in their historical research and writing.

Thapar's Interview Expresses Views on Historical and Contemporary India

Ancient India had never been examined as closely as Romila Thapar. Her views demonstrate her mastery of the subject as well as her concern for modern India. But totally misplaced with Marxist thought infused.

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/magazine/article3261226.ece

Tribute to the Irish on St. Patrick's Day!

The India- Ireland connection is ancient and mutual. Here is a tribute to that friendship!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFuVXzg_gkg&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=AV4oVf-d_DwKBYoEiXu55wxL4_FKmiO6_I

Delhi2Dublin music video by Apples.

What's in a Name? Hinduism and India

Indian? Which Indian?
Naming issues for India

What's in a name, some say. But the issue of confusion of names continue to dominate the history of India. No historian of India can navigate the history of India, without confronting these time consuming, and unending debates.

There seems to be a great confusion in names, this is true especially in the case of India, its name, people and faith.

There used to be only one India until Columbus decided to travel West and find another India, quite unknowingly. Now there is West Indies, and a variety of Indians- the so called Amerindians.

There is not so much debate about the name of Hinduism, although a minority of scholars debate if Hinduism is a religion or religions, or if Hinduism as a name is suitable to designate a religion. The West has a tendency to confuse anything concerning India, as noted in the case of Columbus and Indians. Therefore it is not a wonder that understanding India, its religion and culture causes some confusion.

Then there is the question of Aryan and Dravidian people of India. While evidence does not show any racial differences among the people of India, scholars still continue this debate.

The name of the country, people and their religion are all an issue for scholars. Is it because the scholars like to complicate simple things or is India too simple to understand that one had to find some issue of confusion?