UMass opens Indic Center
By Stephen L. Cabral, Standard-Times correspondent
DARTMOUTH -- A conch shell echoed through the UMass Dartmouth auditorium during the lamp-lighting ceremony of the inaugural program for the Center for Indic Studies.
A photo of Gandhi and an image of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of learning, flanked the stage. Shambhu Shastry chanted in Sanskrit and Yogi Satayam delivered the benedictory remarks.
"The flame is a symbol of humanity's quest for perfection and harmony with the universe," he said. "It dispels the darkness and removes all negativity, including ignorance, evil and sorrow."
Chancellor Jean MacCormack formally acknowledged the new center and its staff, saying, "The mission of the Center for Indic Studies is consonant with our campus's mission and goals related to global awareness and diversity."
The chancellor also noted the multidisciplinary model of the new center. "It will join studies and activities from a variety of fields including, but not limited to, philosophy, religion, culture, science and politics," she said.
"Our Center for Indic Studies is the first of its kind in the United States in terms of its mission, goals and action plan," said professor Bal Ram Singh, the center director.
The center's mission is to highlight India's time-tested, eternal values for world progress, peace and harmony and to cultivate relevance of ancient India's human values through scholarly understanding and promotion.
Dr. Singh noted three specific goals:
The center's action plan that will be implemented by its 12-member staff. The Indian faculty are drawn from the departments of physics, computer science, business management, accounting, mechanical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, and biophysical chemistry.
The daylong opening included remarks by Mrs. Shashi Tripathi, the consul general of India, and a keynote speech by Dr. David Frawley, an expert on India.
The afternoon sessions featured a slide show by Robert Arnett, author of "India Unveiled." Professor Geraldine Gamburd of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology led a panel discussion titled "How Indic Traditions of Pluralism and Tolerance Can Help Reduce Global Conflicts and Violence."
The final session focused on women's issues. Pundita Indrani spoke on "The Role of Women or Family Systems in a Diasporic Indian Community." Kavita Paudwal and her group closed the program with a performance of Hindustani classical songs and bhajans.
Nearly 200 members of the local Indian community attended the proceedings. Several women wore colorful saris and many men wore their ceremonial white kurta pajamas.
There are nearly two million Indian-Americans in the United States. This community is expected to grow because 40,000 student visas are issued to Indian nationals annually. An estimated 75 percent of this population will seek and accept jobs in the United States. Indians currently achieve the highest education levels and per capita incomes of all immigrant groups.
Last Updated On: 3/29/06
