London Mayor hosts first event for Hindus
On Wednesday 9th May, Ken Livingston (the Mayor of London) hosted a reception for young Hindu professionals. The event took place at City Hall, and was organized at the behest of the City Hindus Network, with support from Hindu Council UK.
Generally the event was intended to highlight, celebrate and reflect on the contributions of Hindus living in London to the cultural and economic life of the city.
May 31st, 2007 at 8:44 am
how can i be invited next time?
May 31st, 2007 at 11:04 am
Potentially a very positive development. It is good to see the comments made here about Hinduism helping a number of successful City individuals in their careers, particularly in light of Rajesh Patel’s article on being ridiculed for one’s faith.
I agree that Ken Livingstone probably hasn’t ignored Hindus; he’s just been far too busy cosying up to Muslims at every given opportunity - a quick look through his campaign, speech and voting record show exactly where his priorities lie. Indeed, I recall when the Afghanistan campaign kicked off in late 2001/early 2002, it was found that some 200 odd British Muslims had gone to Afghanistan to fight for the Taliban; Ken Livingstone promptly issued a statement to the effect that those individuals, when they return to Britain, should not be charged with treason as many suggested, as they were acting in conscience against an understandable sense of injustice against the Islamic world. Oh sorry, was that me being racist and Islamophobic again..?
June 1st, 2007 at 1:45 pm
There are a lot of Hindu doctors in the NHS who holds significant posts and contribute positivly to the welfare of the society. It would be useful to assoicate them also in this network. I am prepared to work towards that. I request the Hindu network people to get in touch with me.
June 14th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Nush, Anand and anyone else interested: You can get in touch and find instructions on how to join the City Hindus Network on our website at www.cityhindusnetwork.org.uk
June 18th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
As a legacy of the days of the old boys’ networks, it is the nature of the beast that City networks exist ultimately to further the self-serving interests of their members by facilitating nepotism, providing contacts, etc.
That said, it is highly commendable that City Hindus Network has committed itself to using its membership’s collective clout to enable it to serve as a platform to represent the City’s Hindu community at various levels.
On a related note, particularly given the HFB’s highly acclaimed Parliamentary Experience Programme, I would be most interested to know what, if anything, the City Hindu Network is doing to encourage improved representation of Hindus in significant areas such as media/showbiz, sport, government, law enforcement, armed forces, etc.
June 26th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
The event hosted by City Hindus advocated the consumption of alcohol with ’soft’ alternatives for any embarassed hindus who felt out of place.
If City Hindus Network is truly representative of HINDUS (and not Indians) then please can there be some regard to Hindu values?
Would you expect to see alcohol being served at an event for professional muslims? Then why must Hindus make exception?
Members who protested were advised not to attend “as it may cause offence”. Rather than review or revise the policy of associating alcohol with Hinduism the twisted alcoholics at the helm of City Hindus subtly tell the Hindus who object to alcohol to get lost.
June 27th, 2007 at 6:49 am
Alcohol? Non Hindu? Total GARBAGE
READ YOUR History
Megastehenes Commentary - “The Hindus of Patilaputra (The Emblem of Hindu Might) took wine with every civility”
READ YOUR History
SOMA is the recommeded drink of the Gods
Veda Shakti
Pandit Deeno Sharma
June 27th, 2007 at 9:36 am
“Would you expect to see alcohol being served at an event for professional muslims?
Nope and that’s because Muslims have self-respect and don’t behave like they’re part of the British Raj like these type of Hindus do.I saw the pictures of these City Hindus with their champagne glasses with the Mayor and what a pathetic site that was .Last year at the Hindu Forum Ball the same thing happened there with bottles and bottles of booze all over the place while the aarti was being done. Lets face it most of these Hindu leaders and their members want a picture with an MP or some other cheap fame.If they want that then that’s ok but don’t use Hinduism as your platform.Its no wonder with this type of behaviour Hindus and Hinduism is seen as nonsense.I bet next time these sell-out Hindus will also be serving roast beef .Its about time real Hindus need to come into the scenes to get rid of the nonsense that represents us.
June 27th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
It is interesting that many of the same people who will decry as fascists and totalitarians any who seek to promote vegetarianism display an equally, if not even more, intolerant attitude towards alcohol. As a teetotal vegetarian myself, I am equally bemused by both arguments.
Might I point out at this juncture that the debate over alcohol at City Hindus Network events has already been and gone elsewhere in these fora - if interested, my own tuppence worth is included there also. In addition, it may be worth reading David Frawley’s piece on alcohol in Hinduism, which is also presented elsewhere on the Hindu Voice site.
In the meantime, I await a response from City Hindus Network to my question above reference improving the Hindu presence in important but traditionally under-represented areas. Many thanks in advance.
June 27th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
“It is interesting that many of the same people who will decry as fascists and totalitarians any who seek to promote vegetarianism display an equally, if not even more, intolerant attitude towards alcohol.”
When did anyone decry promoting vegeterianism as fascism ? It’s only when being told by the loony veggie fringe that you’re not a Hindu because you eat meat and not about the vegetarism itself.Go and read the posts again.To me any who Hindu drinks doesn’t make them less then a Hindu who doesn’t.
June 28th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Dev, I apologise if I misrepresented you or anyone else but that was my understanding of where the arguments were going in the vegetarianism debate - clearly, that debate got overheated and I’m sure much of what was said there was an overstatement of the case; these things happen. Anyway, I am heartened by your comment here and thank you for clarifying your position.
June 28th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Concur with Satya’s comment dated May 31st, 2007.
The comment by “What happened to the HINDU in City Hindus?” of 26th. June in an unpallatable one, and fails to take account that not all Hindus think like this. You dramatise the presentation of your thoughts somwhat.
You say ” ’soft’ alternatives for any embarassed hindus who felt out of place ” etc. - I am not sure that these people would be “embarassed” or feel “out of place”, just because there is alcohol being served which others do drink, with pleasure, and they. They I am sure would have soft drinks and take full part in the event at hand. I am sure that reverse is true of those drinking alcohol, who I am sure would not be “embarrassed” for them because of that.
Alcohol is served at Hindu wedding receptions today. It is personal choice - and does not devalue their Hindu values. What is wrong with that?
As regards “Hindu values” - These can be different to yours. Yours are more authoritarian, and “dictatorial” when you say “then please can there be some regard to Hindu values?” Did you mean in a way similar to those of the “Pusit Margi’s”?
Why are you drawing comparatives and parallels between Hindus & Muslims here? It is incorrect when you say “Why must Hindus make exceptions”. We are not. The City Hindus Network have done what is right in their view. People with “minority” views as yours could perhaps consider being a little more tolerant of others, albeit in a dignified silence of diapproval, or otherwise not attend the function.
City Hindu Network is representative generally of the very liberal minded, highly educated, modern and sophisticated Hindu professionals in the UK, and it is upto those with views such as yours to “fit in” if you so wish, or otherwise run the risk of exclusions from people of “your club”.
In my view, Indians are: Seikhs, Hindus, Buddhists, Christian Indians and Jewish Indians.
Hinduism embraces the preachings & philosophies of Seikhism & Buddhism and threfore, when I use the word “Hindu’s” it is used in the context of including the Seikhs & Buddhists in all respects.
Dev - disagree with you. Muslims have “self-respect” you say? Come come now Dev. Look at the wider picture of their behaviour and, you may reconsider the choice of your word from “self respect” to perhaps extreme? Just a thought. I have two young professional children, a boy and a girl, who both drink socially, and very much in limitation I may add. They maintain full self-respect under all circumstances.
Many of us enjoy a glass of champagne, and are meat eaters too. Pray Dev, why do you think that makes us pathetic? Having read your thoughts in other articles here, I find this “angry outburst” from you almost irrational. I hope this is food for thought for the both of you.
June 28th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
“City Hindu Network is representative generally of the very liberal minded, highly educated, modern and sophisticated Hindu professionals in the UK”
oh right, we didn’t know boozing is a requirement to be “liberal” now, sorry massa, forgive us backwards.
“In my view, Indians are: Seikhs, Hindus, Buddhists, Christian Indians and Jewish Indians.
Hinduism embraces the preachings & philosophies of Seikhism & Buddhism and threfore, when I use the word “Hindu’s” it is used in the context of including the Seikhs & Buddhists in all respects.”
Mate its “Sikhism” not “Seikhism”, and nextly what’s Indians got to do with this, you ommitted “Muslim Indians”, hmm wonder why?
if you don’t like em then that’s ok, but its interesting to see ass kissing of Christians who also seem to think theirs is the only true path and that heathen Hindus should all be shown the light.
Sikhs don’t accept they are Hindus, so why this obsession with them.
Anyway this is “Hindu Voice” not “Seikhs, Hindus, Buddhists, Christian Indians and Jewish Indians Voice”, understood?
June 28th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
“Dev - disagree with you. Muslims have “self-respect” you say? Come come now Dev. Look at the wider picture of their behaviour and, you may reconsider the choice of your word from “self respect” to perhaps extreme?”
Well according to them its self respect and someways I agree it is.
“I have two young professional children, a boy and a girl, who both drink socially, and very much in limitation I may add. They maintain full self-respect under all circumstances.”
Well not being funny but I don’t think that’s really a plus point to show your liberal credentials. How do you know your children drink to only a limitation.? Do you give them a breathalyser test every time they come through the door.? Don’t get me wrong and I’m not saying you but the truth is that many parents who do try to justify their children’s behaviour usually know deep down they have failed on some certain things but later try to camouflage as part and parcel of being liberal minded, highly educated, modern and sophistication of being a Hindu professional. .See if we apply that logic then you should also be liberal enough when your son comes home doped up or your daughter comes home with her boyfriend and uses the bedroom.
When you go out to clubs and events and see what many Hindu ‘professionals’ get up to then it does make you think if only their parents knew what was really going on or maybe they do and don’t want to face it.
Its no wonder Hindus are known to be sell-outs because they don’t seem to really understand what sophistication or being liberal is really about.
The reason I say this is because I’m in a profession which is known to be the most liberal and modern there is but even then I know very well where to draw the line thanks to Hinduism. There’s no law saying you have to follow the crowd to fit in. Unfortunately many Hindus do think you have to.
Like I said before I don’t look down on Hindus who drink because they are still Hindus but I’m not up for this as a sign of being progressive or being liberal because even many westerners don’t also drink. So that doesn’t mean that at Hindu event concerning Hindus you have to give out alcohol. I don’t think the Mayor and his associates would have been offended.
Now even though I’m a meat eater I wouldn’t want to see meat being served at Hindu event.
July 5th, 2007 at 12:57 am
Being a HINDU event…I feel that the absence of alcohol and meat is a must.
I cant help but think that Hindus in this situation were being typical Hindus by playing the “we are so liberal…look at us Ken we drink!…we are as westernised as they come!! ” card…
You see it everywhere……..
At uni, religious societies such as Sikh and Islamic organise events that are non alcoholic and generally pious..whereas Hindu socieities have been known to organise parties….organise garbas with alcohol around in abundance etc etc….uni history is replete with such stories. All because we are so “liberal”…so “western”…….etc etc.
whats wrong with a bit of piety now and again?
July 5th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
DB8 - What is Soma?
Have you read on consumption in CGM (The Greatest Indian Empire) or in Vijaynagar? Both were mixed diet of Finest Vegetables & Meats. Report by Megesthenes.
Have you seen children bear the weight of a poor diet failing in critical vitamin D and lactose issues? I have a mass of such instances.
Respect the Past. How many Hindus do know would
fly the banner of the Pig
at a Hindu Uni Function. NONE. Yet this was the standard that The Southern Indians flew and for Three Centuries wreaked Havoc on Moghul Forces. Point! We today choose to reflect a Ghandite / Gita impression of us. We do not look to elements that held our Honour in full colour. We choose to Ape Jain like issues. Driven by a Bhramin elite to protect their conflicting theories.
This conflict you will not find in the Rik Veda. This is a bold acquisitorial, non-preferential book of the Aryawarth (US). These lame outpourings re. alcohol & meat misdirect and the beauty of this world faith is lost.
PIETY?
Read the Rik Veda
When the Aryawarth again finds his Nobility he will be reading from the pages of the Rik Veda!
BTW this concern over meat and alcohol. Shouldn’t we be concerned more with the name given to us - Hindus - We are not this. We are the Aryawarth - The Noble Ones!
Pandit Deeno Sharma
July 6th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
I admit, im far from a scholar on Hinduism and the scriptures and my knowledge on Hindu histrory is lacking - though growing.
I for one EAT MEAT. Im not veg and never have been and im not against alcohol either but am teetotal myself.
My actual point Deeno is that Hindus dont eat meat or drink meat because it reflects our true past…it seems growingly we do it to fit in…to look and appear ultra modern…as if eating meat and drinking alcohol is somehow synonymous to being forward and liberal. When THIS happens, i dislike it.
Im very against a Jainism type outlook and am in favour of Hindus being what they should be…decent people who can and will defend their religion.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Dear Pandit Deenoo Sharma Ji
I read your coments of 5th July
What objection could there be in flying the standard of a pig in the uni function by any Hindu?
Perhaps you do not know that Bhagwan had taken one of its incarnation in that form in his Varah Avtar.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Man Mohan - Sir Excellent
Someone has been reading. Yes Sir the Avatar Vraha (The Boar)
Yet MM there is not a single body that dares to fly it now. I hold no objection to Vraha. Indeed I am about to have it tatooed on me.
Sir I wrote the book on the Avatars. Matysa, Kurma etc. If did not know of Vahra I should step down from holding the Rk Veda.
Veda Shakti!
July 7th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
The writer of ‘What happened to the HINDU in City Hindus’, is right.
If a Britisher ignores the Laws of the land and/or happens to be a habitual law-breaker, does he cease to be a Britisher? No; he remains so, but, nevertheless, is not counted as a good Britisher nor is he thought fit to represent them. Similar is the case with a Hindu. If he consumes prohibited foods or drinks, he does remain a Hindu, but is NOT considered a good Hindu, and hence unfit to represent them.
DEENO SHARMA ji has remarked, that describing Alcohol as un-Hindu is total garbage. Soma, he says, is the recommended drink of the Gods.
But, brothers, Hindus and gods are not synominous, nor is Soma an alcoholic drink. (‘Rik Veda’ also does not say it anywhere nor has described it as a recommended drink for us.) Then on that basis, how can drinking of alcohol be justified?
July 8th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Dear Deeno Sharma Ji
You have written, we are not Hindu’s;we are Aryawarth , The Noble one’s:-
Would you kindly tell how does the word Aryawarth mean in noble one’s and in which language?
It is neither so in Hindi nor in Sanskrit or any oither language of Hindustan.
July 9th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
You may know it as Aryavarth - It Is Sanskrit
Further
The root - Arya - Sanskrit “Noble”
Thank you for asking. A much more fruitful dicussion than alochol & meat.
Veda Shakti!
Pandit Denaught Sharma
July 9th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Just got back, and catching up with things:
Harish Duggirala “interpretes” what I say with his “understanding” of how he reads it when he says:
” oh right, we didn’t know boozing is a requirement to be “liberal” now, sorry massa, forgive us backwards ”
” ….but its interesting to see ass kissing of Christians who also seem to think theirs is the only true path…”
Ouch! I do not believe this was what I said, or implied as such. In that event, I would stand corrected.
“… and nextly what’s Indians got to do with this, you ommitted …” - Yes.
I am aware this is “Hindu Voice”, and no obsession on my part - Sikhism is an independent faith in its own rights. I spoke only in broad terms.
Dev - your thinking ….
People express their views here in the same way people have different “Hindu values”, which varies from person to person, as it does also from family to family, sometimes refered to as “sanskaar” - albtie good or bad.
Within the teachings of good sankars to our children from childhood, we maintain and teach a balance of “strict values” and a degree of “liberalism”, and the use of the word liberalism here is not generally interpreted in the way you express your thoughts above, but I accept that people have different interpretations of what any other may say.
What you point ou in para. 4, 5 & 6 does happen of course, but not as a general rule in the majority of Hndu families where children are brought up with good sanskaars, to know and be able to judge right from wrong, are mature and responsible youngsters who are able to behave, conduct themselves, talk are write so that they express their views with clarity, and yet maintain a certain “restraint” in how they speak or present their thoughts, verbally or in writing, and still be within the “maryada” of Hindu values.
Your thoughts as expressed above where you imply “parents in dispair” who camouflage etc., can of course be so, but in a limited number of families which may perhaps be where you draw your experiences from.
July 11th, 2007 at 7:59 am
Dear Pandit Deeno Sharma Ji
Thanks for telling the Sanskrit route of the word Arywarth.
But Pandit Ji , in which Sanskrit grammer book is it found? Where from did you get it?
I was a student of Sanskrit and I know that there is no such route. You forget also to tell, Pandit Ji, How Arywarth means to you also.
July 13th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
Pandit Deeno Sharma Ji
Please read ‘route ‘ as ‘root’.
Please read ‘Arywarth means to ‘you’ as ‘Hindu’ also.
Please accept my apology for the typographic error.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Ok I have given it 4days and no Scholar has stepped into this basic issue.
So here we go.
Man Mohan Ji
Check the Sankalp and you will find the truth.