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What is Yuva '94?
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WHAT IS YUVA '94?
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There comes a time when every community must decide whether it will
preserve its culture, traditions and religious heritage. We at the
Hindu Students Council of America feel that our community has reached
this time. We must rise to the challenge of preserving one of the
greatest cultures ever to exist - our culture.
To do this, we have brought together people who have achieved, and people who
care. We have brought together the community leaders of the future, the
students, to meet with community leaders of the present, so that we can learn
from each other.
Hindu Students Council has entitled this conference "Empowerment for
the 21st Century." We hope that you leave with a stronger feeling of
community and personal empowerment - spiritually, culturally, socially
and politically. Yuva is a celebration. It is a celebration of our
generation. It is one of the most significant congregations of Hindu
American students ever to take place in America.
CRITICAL DIMENSIONS OF EMPOWERMENT
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"SHATTERING THE GLASS CEILING" - ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND IT'S PROMISE FOR INDIAN
AMERICANS
Over the past two decades, people of Indian descent have made
tremendous inroads into American industry as technicians, researchers,
and lower and middle managers. However, despite talent and drive,
Indian Americans with rare exception are allowed to ascend the
corporate hierarchy only so far before they hit the "Glass Ceiling."
This session examines private entrepreneurship as an alternative
paradigm to joining established corporations with a potentially
limited scope for advancement. This session will also explore some of
the tremendous opportunities and potential risks young entrepreneurs
will face in the competitive, dynamic and global marketplace of the
21st century.
- Raj Vattikuti, Founder and President Complete Business
Solutions Incorporated, Farmington Hills, Michigan
POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND IMPACTING THE AMERICAN AGENDA
The economic success of the Indian American community has been nothing
short of remarkable. As a counterpoint, the political influence
wielded by our community is in no way commensurate with it's economic
or professional status. The purpose of this session is to better
understand ways in which this generation of ambitious Indian Americans
can help shape the political landscape in the next century, and have
greater influence over the political changes that will impact us in
the United States and in India.
- Vani Singhal, Elected as Young Democrat, Washington DC
Democratic National Committee
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THE INDIAN FAMILY
HSC strongly believes that an important part of personal and group
empowerment is the willingness to confront important social issues
that face our community. This evocative session will deal with some
of the social problems that are frequently evaded by Indian Americans.
Topics will include domestic violence, substance abuse, child abuse
and other non-domestic crime such as the emergence of Indian gangs,
etc. Our goal is to stimulate thought and introspection around these
issues, and to provide a forum for broad-based community awareness and
social reform.
- Molly Chaudhuri, Assistant District Attorney Norfolk County, Massachusetts
THE ETHNIC EXPERIENCE
People of Indian descent first emigrated to the United States over a
century ago. However, Indians first began to join the 'American
kaleidoscope' in a significant way in the sixties, when large scale
immigration from Asia was again legalized. Despite economic and
professional success, issues such as integration versus assimilation,
leveraging economic success into political clout, and misperceptions
on the part of the majority community remain to be resolved. "The
Ethnic Experience" will focus on the experiences of other minority
communities
in dealing with these issues, and the lessons they provide
for Indian Americans.
- Dr. Norman Adler, Jewish Leader, Vice Provost, Northeastern Univ.
- Mr. Douglas, Leader of Korean-American Community
HINDU: "TO BE OR NOT TO BE?"
In the attempt to better integrate with main-stream American society,
many Indians see Hinduism as an impediment to achieving their social
and professional goals. As a result, some are very willing to
sacrifice their sense of religious identity for perceived long-term
benefits. A student panel will discuss this phenomenon, and present
their views on the merits of preserving one's faith in contemporary
American society.
- Panel of Students
HEALTH AND HAPPINESS - A WHOLISTIC APPROACH: UNITING BODY,MIND, AND SPIRIT
An integral aspect of individual empowerment is the maintenance of
physical and mental health. Western medicine has so far focused on
the alleviation of physical symptoms associated with a given illness,
while ignoring some of the mental and spiritual factors that may be
involved. "Health and Happiness - A Wholistic Approach" will focus on
the integrated approach to health and well-being that has been put
forward by traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda.
Discussions will include ways in which the individual can bring
together mind, body and spirit in order to lead a more healthy,
dynamic and peaceful life.
- Dr. David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastri)
Author of Several Books, Director of the American Institute for Vedic
Studies, Santa Fe, New Mexico
VEDIC HISTORY - SARASWATI TO GANGA
Part of empowerment is knowing one's history. Until recently, Western
historians and the Indian historians whom they influenced, have
portrayed the history of the Indian subcontinent as one of continuous
invasion and subjugation. The most famous theory is of the 'Aryan
Invasion' that supposedly brought the Hindu religion and the Sanskrit
language to India for the first time. This session will explore this
historical myth, analyze the assumptions on which it is based, and
look at recent archaeological evidence that contradicts this version
of the origins of Hindu Civilization.
- Dr. David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastri)
HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT
Recently the issue of human rights in the Indian subcontinent has
become a subject of debate and concern. Millions of people are forced
to live without many of the political and social rights that we
consider inalienable; police brutality and terrorism are two prominent
examples. This session will provide a global perspective on the
condition of the Hindu diaspora the world over, with a special
emphasis on the Indian subcontinent.
- Dr. K.L.Kaul, Former professor of Punjub University and Wayne State
University, MI.
RETHINKING GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT: ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT
World is searching for alternatives after the collapse of Communism
and after finding the inherent inadequacies of the Capitalistic
systems. Are we going to be victim of a greater economic, social,
political and environmental disasters? What's wrong in current systems
of economics and management? Here is a special session for us to
ponder over these issues.
- Prof. Romesh Diwan, Former chairman, Economics Department, Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute (RPI), NY Consultant to the United Nations
(UNCTAD) and MTI Author of , Visiting professor of many universities
including London School of Economics. Author of many books including
Alternative Development Strategies and appropriate technology
(Co-author Dennis Livingston) and Gandhian Economics.
- Prof. Sabine O'Hara, Graduate Management Institute at Union College,
NY. Dr. O'Hara has conducted research in environmental and ecological
economics, socio-economics,international economics, and social ethics
and had numerous papers published both in Germany and the U.S. She is
the past director of Public Policy of the NYS Council of Churches and
was representative at the UN Conference on Environment and Development
in Rio de Janerio, Brazil, 1992.
- Prof. S.K. Chakrabarty, Indian Institute of Management
(IIM),Calcutta. Chairman, Management Center for Human Values.
Proponent of "The Divinized Manager & Ashramized Business" He has
written six books on "Human Values and Corporate Transformation"
Fifteen books on Management Theory and Practices, Management
Development and Appraisal, Human Dimension and Financial Control etc.
THE VALUE OF SPIRITUALITY IN MODERN LIFE
This spiritual benediction will present some of the principle tenets
of the Hindu system, and will look at Hindu Dharma as an activist
philosophy as expounded in the Bhagavad Gita. We will give special
attention to balancing high personal ambition with social sensitivity
and concern for the well-being of others. This final address promises
to be an informative and inspirational end to a highly unique
conference.
- Swami Tadatmananda Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Saylorsburg,Pennsylvania
ART EXHIBITION
HINDU contributions to world culture and thought depicted in paintings
and posters on the development of Science, Mathematics, Language, Art,
Music, Architecture, Medicine, Health and other fields. Posters
illustrating the spread of Hindu culture and thought throughout the
world will also be on display.
GRAND CULTURAL
Show This show featuring youth performers will highlight the rich
musical and dance traditions of India. Items will include ancient
forms of dance like Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi as well as current folk
dances from different regions of India. Musical performances will
also include items from the classical and contemporary traditions. In
addition, there will be dance presentations from different parts of
the world influenced by Hindu culture. Artists from Indonesia,
Thailand, Sri Lanka, and the Caribbean will help make this evening
truly extraordinary.
WHAT IS HSC?
Hindu Students Council (HSC) is an international forum to promote
Hindu heritage. In the short span of its existence HSC has grown
rapidly and its programs have attracted thousands of students across
the United States and Canada. Presently there are thirty university
chapters of HSC. We offer a wide range of activities and leadership
opportunities and encourage students to participate in activities of
their interest. HSC is sponsored by VHPA, Inc.
YUVA 94 Registration HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS and parking available
on request at additional cost - please call.
For information please call:
Pankaj Merchia (617) 432-9029 pmerchia@student.med.harvard.edu
Murali Prahalad (617) 731-5476 mprahala@student.med.harvard.edu
Nishit Acharya (617) 266-9884
Poonum Agrawal (617) 629-9840 pagrawal@pearl.tufts.edu
Himali Kothari (617) 566-8522
Murali Kothandaraman (617) 427-4689 mkothand@lynx.neu.edu
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Friday May 27
6:00pm - 1:00am Kick Off Celebration
Saturday May 28
10:00am - 11:15am Inaugural Session
11:30am - 5:30pm Discussion Seminars with Guest Speakers
"Shattering the Glass Ceiling" - Entrepreneurship and it's Promise for Indian
Americans - Raj Vattikuti - President of Complete Business Solutions, Inc.
Political Participation and Impacting the American Agenda - Vani Singhal,
Elected as Young Democrat to Democratic National Committee
Social Responsibility and the Indian Family - Molly Chaudhuri, Assistant
District Attorney Norfolk, MA
Ethnic Experience - the story of other minority groups
Health and Happiness - A wholistic approach: Uniting Body, Mind, and Spirit -
Dr. David Frawley, Director, Vedic Studies Institute, New Mexico
Vedic History - Saraswati to Ganga - Dr. David Frawley
Human Rights in the Indian Subcontinent
Hindu: "To be or not to be?" - Student Perspectives
6:00pm - 7:30pm Banquet Dinner
8:00pm - 11:00pm Cultural Show
Sunday May 29
8:00am - 10:00am Yoga and Meditation
10:30am - 11:45am HSC Project Sessions
Seva (Social Service)
HSC Community Action Network
Status of Hindu Women
EVENING MOONLIGHT CRUISE UNDER THE STARS
