Great Lakes Sambhag Vidyarthi Vikas Yojana (VVY)

4/2/2021 to 4/3/2021 

The Great Lakes Sambhag organized a two-day Vidyarthi Vikas Yojana (eVarg) virtually, during Spring break on April 2 nd and 3 rd . 19 Kishores and Kishorinis, ages 12-17 yr, participated throughout the duration of the two day varg.

This was a first ever virtual Kishore varg and due to this, Karyakarthas were a little unsure if they would succeed in keeping participants attentive and interested for such a long period. After much deliberation and planning an exciting and electrifying content was created. Experts on various topics were invited as speakers. Diverse intellectual group activities maintained the interest and enthusiasm of the participants until the end.

The varg began on the morning of Friday, April 2nd with an ‘ice breaker’ game conducted by Susmita Ji Singh. Sangh geet, “jīnā hai to garaje jaga meṁ hindu hama saba eka” was selected as our theme song. This was nicely sung by Kishorini, Eesha Ji Singh and followed by other participants. On Friday, we had a Boudhik on “What it means to be a Karyakartha'' by Mananiya Digant ji Das. That same night, we had Ratri Samavesh (Social hour) from 8 pm to 9 pm. Eesha Ji Bemra engaged participants with her innovative and fun games.

We had three hands on group projects –

a) How to come up with a Seva project based on disaster relief when a natural calamity strikes a community. Following topics were given, kids were very creative in how they presented their approach. 

• Fire Disasters, Tornadoes, EarthQuake and Natural Storms

b) To bring the entrepreneurial spirit in kids , we held a ‘Shark Tank’ like competition.

• Each team came up with a unique and innovative product and pitched it to our ‘Sharks’:
  • Awaken Mirror - (This device will be a reality soon)
  • Smart Pillow (With a tagline - Smart Pillow, Go with flow and Sleep some more)
  • S.K.E.N Care - (Who needs makeup when you glow naturally)
  • Holographic Phone

c) Application of Geometry and Science in constructing magnificent mandirs in Bharat.

• Each team was given one mandir to research : Meenakshi , Konark Mandir, Sri Kashi Vishwanath and Dilwara Temple (Mt. Abu) and they had to present information on, history of the temple construction, geometrical designs used, any other math applications utilized in its construction, and fun facts about it.

We started the morning of Saturday with varg geet, then followed with Shukshma vyayam, Yoga and Surya Namaskar by Santhosh Ji Khandelwal, and how to conduct eKhel was taught by Lekhya Ji Vaddepatti. Then, varg participants had a great opportunity to listen to Sriram Ji Raghavan of Samskrita Bharathi on a very intense topic “The 21st century formula for studying the Bhagavad Gita''. 

The highlight of the varg was a panel discussion on “Career Paths” moderated by Eesha Ji Bemra. The panelists were distinguished leaders and eminent personalities in their own field – Aparna Ji Soni (Asst. Prof), Tej Ji Pareek (Scientist and Entrepreneur), Sunjay ji Goel (Senior Institutional Investment Advisor), Padma ji Kuppa (First Hindu MI State House Rep). All the panel members talked about their inspirational journey as well as advised kids on what to look for in choosing a career path.

Last but not the least, there were two diverse topics that were presented during the varg – “China – past and present” by Kumar Ji Saket and “Civic Engagement” by Chandru Ji Acharya.

Our Kishores and Kishorinis thoroughly enjoyed all the group projects, boudhik sessions and daily shakha. We concluded the Varg with Samaroop ceremony on April 3 rd by welcoming Shrikanth Ji Basarkod, GL Sambhag Karyavah as Vakta for the event. Kishores and Kishorinis were given 2 minutes to reflect on the Varg. Each one of them made a great summary of the activities that they liked and enjoyed.

Shrikanth Ji left with a taste of coffee in Kishor(s) by this message of “What you really want is to be happy and the happiest people don’t have the best of everything.

They just make the best of everything. So live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly….and your life will be fully lived.”

All 19 Kishores and Kishorini have provided their feedback…we are publishing a few here.

Vihaan Shah – “I really loved these two days and it was a really fun learning experience. I learned many new things that I never knew before, I learned about career choosing, natural disasters, China and its history, Baghvad Geeta, Civic engagement, and many more things. This varg helped me be open minded and I made many new friends”.

Anjali Bodanki – “I really enjoyed this varg, it was very enriching and I would definitely do it again soon. My most favorite project was the shark tank project because we “made” a new product. It stretched the horizons of our imagination and I really enjoyed planning with my team. I especially enjoyed Sriram ji, and his talk on Bhagvad Gita. I would implement the new games in our Shakha, they were very fun”.

Amudhan Kalidasan – “I really enjoyed this Varg, and I found it very interesting. I learned information about things I wouldn’t have learned otherwise”.

Nikunj Khandelwal – “The VVY varg is one of the things that I will remember forever. It was a combination of groups, games, and lessons. The fun part of the varg was Khel in which we played games like finding objects in a person's background. My favorite was puzzle-solving. At first it was hard to work together but then we learned how to work together and complete the major of the puzzle”.

Haricharan Tadpatri – “What did I learn? Well I learned a lot of things from VVY. I learned how I can incorporate what I learn from Bhagavad Gita with the help of the speaker on saturday, and the gurukula app. The disaster challenge was also able to expand my creativity because my team was able to create a whole company in less than an hour, a feat I never thought I would be able to do.

Eesha Singh – “I thoroughly enjoyed this kishore varg. It was very interactive, engaging, and extremely relevant. The information we learned, the games we played, and the people I met are all unforgettable. Some things I’d like to highlight from the varg that I found to be my favorites were all of the group projects, the Bhagavad Gita baudhik, and the career panel discussion”. 

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) announces the seventeenth annual “Yoga for Health, Health for Humanity Yogathon” or “Surya Namaskar Yajna” (SNY). This program runs from January 18th to February 2nd, 2025. Participants across all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, nationalities, and faiths are invited to participate in the Yogathon to kickstart the New Year with health awareness and practice.

Surya Namaskar is a yogic practice done in reverence to the sun. Research shows several physiological and psychological benefits from Surya Namaskar when practiced regularly. They are performed as a series of 10 physical postures, flowing in a graceful, continuous sequence. The Surya Namaskar Yajna seeks to promote the practice and its benefits among all Americans aspiring for a fit body and balanced mind.

Since its inception in 2007, participants from 43 states have actively participated in the Yogathon through Yoga centers, community organizations, schools, and colleges, and also as individuals. Regardless of their faith and belief, these participants have performed over four million Surya Namaskars over the past several years. This is a testament to the success of the Yogathon in achieving diversity and inclusion in communities nationwide while promoting public health and well-being equitably.

 

Acknowledging this, community leaders and elected officials across the nation also appreciate this initiative and encourage their residents to participate in the Health for Humanity Yogathon and benefit from a healthy lifestyle. The Yogathon has received numerous proclamations from American mayors, governors, US Congressmen, and US Senators. It also found recognition in the Congressional records in 2017. The “Let’s Move” initiative of then First Lady Michelle Obama declared HSS as a partner in 2012 in cognizance of the Yogathon.

About Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS):
HSS is a 501(c)(3) voluntary non-profit cultural organization with over 230 chapters across the United States. HSS organizes service activities and community outreach projects to promote discipline, self-confidence, teamwork, and the spirit of selflessness. HSS also fosters a dynamic and flourishing Hindu-American community through civic duty, responsibility, and volunteerism, instilling lasting pride in Hindu heritage among its members. Learn more at www.HSSUS.org.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) announces the seventeenth annual “Yoga for Health, Health for Humanity Yogathon” or “Surya Namaskar Yajna” (SNY). This program runs from January 18th to February 2nd, 2025. Participants across all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, nationalities, and faiths are invited to participate in the Yogathon to kickstart the New Year with health awareness and practice.

Surya Namaskar is a yogic practice done in reverence to the sun. Research shows several physiological and psychological benefits from Surya Namaskar when practiced regularly. They are performed as a series of 10 physical postures, flowing in a graceful, continuous sequence. The Surya Namaskar Yajna seeks to promote the practice and its benefits among all Americans aspiring for a fit body and balanced mind.

Since its inception in 2007, participants from 43 states have actively participated in the Yogathon through Yoga centers, community organizations, schools, and colleges, and also as individuals. Regardless of their faith and belief, these participants have performed over four million Surya Namaskars over the past several years. This is a testament to the success of the Yogathon in achieving diversity and inclusion in communities nationwide while promoting public health and well-being equitably.

Acknowledging this, community leaders and elected officials across the nation also appreciate this initiative and encourage their residents to participate in the Health for Humanity Yogathon and benefit from a healthy lifestyle. The Yogathon has received numerous proclamations from American mayors, governors, US Congressmen, and US Senators. It also found recognition in the Congressional records in 2017. The “Let’s Move” initiative of then First Lady Michelle Obama declared HSS as a partner in 2012 in cognizance of the Yogathon.

About Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS):
HSS is a 501(c)(3) voluntary non-profit cultural organization with over 230 chapters across the United States. HSS organizes service activities and community outreach projects to promote discipline, self-confidence, teamwork, and the spirit of selflessness. HSS also fosters a dynamic and flourishing Hindu-American community through civic duty, responsibility, and volunteerism, instilling lasting pride in Hindu heritage among its members. Learn more at www.HSSUS.org

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS) has conveyed our following content in a formal email sent to the President and Vice President/Chief of Staff of Georgetown University.  Unfortunately, they didn’t acknowledge it or responded to a subsequent follow up, despite concerns expressed about misinformation published about a reputed organization that represents American Hindus on Georgetown University website, 

We are writing to bring to your attention the falsified material presented, and inferences drawn in the Factsheet about the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS) available on Bridge Initiative’s webpage hosted by Georgetown University's website. 

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS) operates as a legally constituted, independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States, adhering strictly to the nation's laws and confining its activities solely within the country. It has achieved a rating of 92% by CharityNavigator.org for financial health, which encompasses efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness, along with a strong commitment to governance practices and policies.

We are appalled that the factsheet about HSS lacks basic research and fosters animosity towards the minority Hindu community in the United States. It deviates from established standards of academic research and professionalism, despite using the university’s academic resources. Below is a list of deviations, misrepresentations, and inaccuracies that we wish to especially highlight -

1. The factsheet’s ‘Impact’ section does not state HSS’ connection to Islamophobia in the US or anywhere around the world. It also fails to link HSS’ social activities, programs, and teachings with Islamophobia anywhere.
2. The factsheet claims to be authored by the "Bridge Initiative Team," yet the hyperlink doesn’t publish any name of the author and leads to an error page stating, "Oops! That page can’t be found."
3. Also, an individual named Raqib Naik, mentioned as the collaborator, claims to be the author of this “report” on his X account. This same person’s X account shows Hinduphobic tweets over the years. From his previous articles and tweets, he appears to be an extremist, nurturing venomous hate towards Hindus.
4. The reference to the Hindu Education Foundation (HEF) in the factsheet as suggesting that Islam is inherently violent is a misleading representation. In reality, the HEF proposed a change about Mughal rulers, as stated in the article. Unfortunately, the authors of the factsheet chose to interpret historical injustices solely through a religious lens, thereby stigmatizing all Muslims.
5. The factsheet states, In an April 2023 piece for The Nation, a former participant from Boston, who attended Balagokulam in 2004 and 2005 when she was 11 years old, stated they left the program due to its Hindu nationalist curriculum. The article cited here does not mention that the “Hindu nationalist curriculum” drove away the family from the Balagokulam. Hence, this statement in the factsheet is a blatant lie. This referenced article also goes to the extent of ridiculing Yoga and other Hindu practices, and is, therefore, incredibly Hinduphobic.

Hence, we see this factsheet as a smear campaign against HSS’ law-abiding, rightful activities and consequently, an injustice to the minority Hindu community’s freedoms. It is disheartening that the Georgetown University administration allows the use of its official website and labels “the Bridge” as its initiative, but remains largely unaware of such activities, which poses a serious concern in the current climate characterized by the proliferation of hate-driven agendas with political motives. This situation imperils the safety and well-being of the targeted community, notably Hindu students at Georgetown University and the broader minority Hindu community.

We are proud of our continuous contribution to the American Society. As an American non-profit, HSS actively embodies a philosophy rooted in respect for all individuals, irrespective of their race, gender, faith, age, nationality, or ethnicity. Our partnership with Interfaith organizations is much appreciated. Our initiatives supported charity organizations in over 200 cities to reduce food insecurities. For the past 17 years, we reached out all across the US to bring health awareness through our Yoga for Health, Health for Humanity Program.  Our contributions, extensively covered in the media, have been lauded by numerous stakeholders, including first responders, law enforcement officers, charitable organizations such as food banks, school administrators, professionals, entrepreneurs, and lawmakers across the nation. Our commitment lies in advancing societal well-being rather than embracing a victimhood narrative driven by self-interest.

We urge you to review the contents and institute safeguards to prevent abuse of the Bridge Initiative platforms in harassing, defaming, and intimidating the minority Hindu community in the US and their institutions.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) announces the seventeenth annual “Yoga for Health, Health for Humanity Yogathon” or “Surya Namaskar Yajna” (SNY). This program runs from January 13th to January 28th, 2024. Participants across all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, nationalities, and faiths are invited to participate in the Yogathon to kickstart the New Year with health awareness and practice.

Surya Namaskar is a yogic practice done in reverence to the sun. Research shows several physiological and psychological benefits from Surya Namaskar when practiced regularly. They are performed as a series of 10 physical postures, flowing in a graceful, continuous sequence. The Surya Namaskar Yajna seeks to promote the practice and its benefits among all Americans aspiring for a fit body and balanced mind.

Since its inception in 2007, participants from 43 states have actively participated in the Yogathon through Yoga centers, community organizations, schools, and colleges, and also as individuals. Regardless of their faith and belief, these participants have performed over four million Surya Namaskars over the past several years. This is a testament to the success of the Yogathon in achieving diversity and inclusion in communities nationwide while promoting public health and well-being equitably.

Acknowledging this, community leaders and elected officials across the nation also appreciate this initiative and encourage their residents to participate in the Health for Humanity Yogathon and benefit from a healthy lifestyle. The Yogathon has received numerous proclamations from American mayors, governors, US Congressmen, and US Senators. It also found recognition in the Congressional records in 2017. The “Let’s Move” initiative of then First Lady Michelle Obama declared HSS as a partner in 2012 in cognizance of the Yogathon.

About Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS):
HSS is a 501(c)(3) voluntary non-profit cultural organization with over 230 chapters across the United States. HSS organizes service activities and community outreach projects to promote discipline, self-confidence, teamwork, and the spirit of selflessness. HSS also fosters a dynamic and flourishing Hindu-American community through civic duty, responsibility, and volunteerism, instilling lasting pride in Hindu heritage among its members. Learn more at www.HSSUS.org.

HSS mourns the passing of its America Sanghachalak (President) Prof. Ved Prakash Nanda on Monday, January 1st, 2024 in his hometown Denver, CO. He was surrounded by his close family and HSS volunteers.

Born in 1934 in Gujranwala of the undivided India, Prof. Nanda underwent an arduous immigration to the Punjab state in India along with his family during the partition of Pakistan from India. He went on to build an exemplary career starting from M.A. Economics from Punjab University, Law degree from Delhi University in India, and LLM from Northwestern University and subsequent postgraduate work from Yale University in the US. He was a champion of Human Rights and a successful International Law professor at the University of Denver Denver’s Sturm College of Law since 1972. He was also Honorary President of the World Jurist Association, former honorary Vice President of the American Society of International Law, and a member of the advisory council of the United States Institute of Human Rights. He was widely published, having authored or co-authored 24 books in various fields of international law. He was a regular columnist for the Denver Post and wrote on a wide range of topics including human rights and international relations. In 2006, the University of Denver Denver’s Sturm College of Law alumni founded the Ved Nanda Center for International and Comparative Law in his honor. He has also received a number of awards including the Gandhi-King-Ikeda Award for Community Peace Building in 2004 and the Padma Bhushan in 2018 by the Government of India.

The cause of preserving Hindu Dharma and integrating Hindus in America was dear to Prof. Nanda and he advocated it lifelong with his infectious smile, humor, and compassion. He started the first shakha in the US in 1961 at the University of Chicago. Since 2001, after becoming president of HSS, Prof. Nanda constantly traveled across the country to meet, guide, and inspire HSS volunteers. He took initiative to reach out to the opinion makers of the society for various Hindu-American causes.

He also served as the Chairman of the Board of Hindu University of America. He was the chairman of the board of trustees at Hindu Temple of Colorado and also remained active in interfaith activities in Colorado.

He leaves behind his daughter, Anjali, son-in-law, granddaughters and extended family. On the demise of our beloved Nanda ji, we express our heartfelt condolences to his family and acquaintances and pray to the Almighty that the departed Atma be absorbed in the Divine light.