Feedback from the user who’s family attended the SSV for the first time.
From: Devendra Singh
Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2005 10:20 PM
Subject: HSSNJ: Making/Keeping our kids Hindus – HSS camp
I have always said that frequest visits to Bharat are required to bring our children face-to-face with our culture in action. It is impossible to grow sweet mangos in America. If we want to taste ‘real’ ashahri,we have to go to Bharat. The cultural fertilizer is just not available in USA for the growth of our children by Hindu way.
But the second best thing is to send our children to Hindu camps. Last week,my children attended weeklong Hindu camps in upstate New York organized by Hindu wayamsevak Sangh (HSS), commonly known as Sangh. I am o impressed by HSS’ vision,methodology,and passion by which there volunteers dedicate their time and energy to instill moral values,discipline,and commitment to a cause in children,that I am compelled to write this e-mail to recommend each and every parent of these list groups who has teenager/s to seriously consider sending them to the next HSS camp. HSS also runs weekly classes called ‘Shakhas’ where physical and mental exercises are taught to young children ages 13 and up so that they can grow-up as strong Hindus. Character building and instilling discipline in children are the main aims of HSS. Children are empowered with proper knowledge,courage,and pride so that they can become teachers and pass on the learned echniques to others
Even after a week of intense training at the camps,none of the children had a trace of visible tiredness or boredom. The leadership and positive confidence that I saw in teenagers at HSS camps are usually not seen in children in our Hindu society. Each and every child goes through a well thought-out and tested curriculum on a daily basis at the camps and emphasis is placed on learning techniques the right way. Children are placed in groups according to their skill level with the view that each succeeding year will prepare them for the next physical and mental level of camp curriculum. Eventually,each child will become proficient in ALL areas of mental and physical disciplines. The idea is not to make child excel in only one area but to make him/her an all-rounder,so when his/her services are needed there are no shortcomings in any field.
I immensely enjoyed a skit developed and performed by children. This was one of the best skit I have ever witnessed. I saw confident children puntual of time and willing to do anything asked of them. Organizational and leadership skills developed under the HSS program are second to none. One quality in
children that I was struck by was their humbleness and respect towards their elders.
I do not know what else to write about these just concluded HSS camps in NY (Albany-boys, Troy- girls). Once your children attend HSS camps,they will want to go there again and again and you will appreciate and agree what I have written here. The camps are also suitable for adults for improving their mental and physical endurance. I highly encourage you to take
advantage of the services offered by this visionary organization. For further information,please contact the following HSS individuals active in NJ/Delaware area:
Yelloji Mirajkar – mirajkary@yahoo.com
Keshav Dev – keshavdev@gmail.com
Shyam Gokhale – shyam@gokhale.com
Regards
Devendra.