Day, Date & Time-slot: 7:30-8:30pm (BST) on Mon June 27, 2022
Location: This was a teleconference held over Zoom. Its video recording is available here:
- The 3-min prelude to the talk can be accessed here
- 0:00-03:10 … Welcome
- 03:10-11:10 … Hindu community doesn’t donate to a Hindu university
- 11:10-23:15 … What is Hindutva?
- 23:15-29:50 … Scriptural authority in Hindu thought
- 29:50-40:00 … Hindu universities have a harder path than Jewish/Islamic universities
- 40:00-41:40 … What can people do to help HUA?
- 41:40-47:50 … Bias among Indians towards humanities & social sciences
- 47:50-48:58 … Concluding remarks and thanks
Abstract: This talk gives an overview of the challenges faced and the contributions made by the Hindu University of America (HUA) in executing tasks towards the fulfillment of its mission. HUA is a non-profit educational institute based in Orlando, FL in the USA. The mission of HUA is to provide education in knowledge systems based in Hindu thought involving critical inquiry, ethics, and self-reflection. Committed to fostering the culture and traditions of Hindu Dharma in an atmosphere of academic excellence and freedom, it prepares students for service, leadership, and global engagement. Promoting dialogue across disciplines, cultures, and civilizations, while enabling self-discovery, conscious evolution and harmony, HUA aims to set the standard for the study of Hindu Dharma. The institute offers undergraduate and graduate level courses in the ancient language of Sanskrit, Hindu Philosophy, Yoga, Ayurveda, Jyotish medicinal chemistry in addition to enrichment classes.
Speaker’s Biosketch: Mr Kalyan Viswanathan is the President of the Hindu University of America (HUA). He received his Master’s Degree in Computer and Information Science from Ohio State University and his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology and Science. He has studied the texts and traditions of Hinduism from an Advaita Vedānta perspective through a 21-year association with Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Founder of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam group of institutions and the first Convener of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha. He serves as the President of the Dharma Civilization Foundation (established in 2012) based in Los Angeles, CA. He is also the Founder and President of the Sanatana Dharma Foundation (established in 2007) based in Dallas, TX. In his prior career, he was a global practice director for Tata Consultancy Services.
