International Understanding: Foreign Students Need Help in Adjusting to Campus Life

The article appeared in The Journal Gazette, Saturday, November 25, 2023

Link to the original article: https://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/columnists/foreign-students-need-help-in-adjusting-to-campus-life/article_cc0667b8-8ad3-11ee-a6c0-c7c86722616e.html 

The Tale of Two 9/11s: Honoring Loss, Inspiring Hope

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon impacted the psyche of America and the world in a way that very few other events have. The images of the two towers collapsing, the people fleeing in terror, and the devastation that was left in the wake of the attacks are burned into our collective memory. The 9/11 attacks were a shock and a wake-up call to the reality of Islamic terrorism in the Western world. Two decades later, these attacks continue to shape our world today. It's not that 9/11 was the first terrorist attack on America – it wasn't. But the scale and coordination of the attacks, as well as the brazenness of using commercial airliners as missiles, was on a level that no one had seen before. The destruction of the Twin Towers, in particular, was something that people couldn't wrap their heads around. For many, it felt like the world as they knew it had ended. 

In this short post, I would like to urge the world to remember a different 9/11, one that can help move the world away from the prejudice and hatred that fueled the 9/11 attacks. 9/11 is a historic day in world history not just because of the terrorist attacks but also because on this day in 1893, Swami Vivekananda gave his famous speech at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago. This was a truly momentous event because it marked the first time that a Hindu monk had addressed a Western audience. Vivekananda, though initially nervous, bowed to Maa Saraswati -- the Hindu goddess of learning, and began his speech with "Sisters and brothers of America!" a common salutation (at least in India), but the authenticity with which he spoke those words struck such a chord with the 7000 plus audience that they gave him a standing ovation that lasted for over two minutes. This was an incredible feat, considering that, at the time, most people in the West knew very little about Hinduism and India.

In his speech, Vivekananda spoke about the unity of all religions and the need for religious tolerance. He said, "I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth."

Vivekananda's words ring even more true today in a world that is still reeling with religious hatred and intolerance that are rooted in supremacist religious ideologies. The 9/11 attacks were a brutal reminder of the consequences of such hatred. But, as we remember the innocent lives that were lost on that fateful day, let us also remember the words of Swami Vivekananda and recommit ourselves to building a world that is based on the Sanatana Dharma principles of respecting the dignity of all life, seeing the divinity in all beings, and working for the welfare of all irrespective of religious affiliation. Let us strive to create a world where supremacist religious ideologies cannot take root and fester. Instead, let us encourage a world where respect for pluralistic traditions and promoting religious tolerance are the norm. Only then can we hope to achieve true peace in our world.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Swami Vivekananda's speech at the 1893 Parliament of World Religions was a watershed moment in bringing Hinduism and India onto the global stage. At a time when few in the West knew anything about Hinduism, Vivekananda powerfully conveyed the spirit of universality that lies at the heart of India's ancient wisdom tradition. Just as the 9/11 attacks shaped the world we live in today, Vivekananda's historic address on that same date over a century ago impacted world history as well. His eloquent advocacy of religious tolerance and human fraternity resonates now more than ever in a world still struggling with religious divisions and strife. 

Two decades after the horrific 9/11 attacks, we would do well to keep Vivekananda's message alive. Those words of wisdom can serve as a guiding light as we work to heal divides, end prejudice, and build a more just and inclusive world order. Vivekananda's speech reminds us that when we recognize our shared humanity, embrace pluralism, and accept all faiths as true, we open the door to mutual understanding and cooperation. The road ahead requires perseverance and courage. But if we hold fast to these ideals, we can yet realize the dream of peace and harmony between all nations and peoples. The light of Vivekananda's universalist vision still shines brightly, helping illuminate the path forward even on the darkest of days.

Diwali: Reflections from the 4th of July Celebrations in USA

Yesterday was the 4th of July, the Independence Day of America. Those who have lived in the USA know that the day is celebrated with a lot of fireworks (among other things). People burst crackers at home, but even the local cities throughout the country organize huge fireworks shows on this day. People gather around large open spaces, such as parks or playgrounds to enjoy these public fireworks events. This year, my city of Fort Wayne postponed its official fireworks show for a later date because of safety reasons related to the COVID-19 outbreak, but individuals happily burst away crackers from their homes. All the (double glass) windows of my apartment were closed, and the air-conditioner on, but still, I could hear the non-stop barrage of firecrackers from outside late into the night.

It may seem like I am complaining, but I am not. People got to celebrate their culture and traditions, as long as those traditions don’t hurt other people or animals. Now, I stopped lighting firecrackers a long time ago because of its environmental impact, but the damage from firecrackers can be considered relatively minimal and temporary. Thus, such traditions could be allowed to continue, when they occur only once a year and if people are taught to celebrate the occasions responsibly.

In India, this once-a-year time of bursting crackers comes during Diwali. Although the original tradition was to light only diyas (lamps made from clay that have a cotton wick that is dipped in ghee or some vegetable oil), once Indians had access to gunpowder (estimated to be somewhere around 1400 AD), people also started using fireworks to celebrate Diwali. Over the last few decades, with increased incomes, the use of fireworks during Diwali has skyrocketed. This obviously has also had a negative impact on the air quality, albeit only in the short term. This has given many self-proclaimed “environmentally-conscious” celebrities a reason to ask for bans on fireworks during Diwali.

For a long time, I sided with these celebrities, but in recent years their hypocrisies have been too stark to ignore. For example, they celebrate weddings in their families with a huge amount of fireworks but preach others about how the same fireworks during Diwali scare dogs (and other animals) and damage the environment.

I see no American celebrities trending on social media speaking against the use of fireworks during the 4th of July celebrations. Then, why do so many Indian celebrities deride Diwali? Why doesn't Priyanka Chopra, who now lives in America, not say anything about the 4th of July firecrackers but speaks so derisively about Diwali’s fireworks?

As I have already mentioned, I personally don't burst crackers (because of the noise and air pollution) they cause, but personal choices apart, the systematic campaign against firecrackers every year during Diwali seems to be nothing else but campaigns against all Hindu traditions and festivals. This year some Indian celebrities even ran campaigns against the celebration of Holi because it caused “wastage of water”.  All this while they themselves waste thousands of gallons of in their bathtubs and personal swimming pools. And I don’t even need to mention that these animal- and environment-loving celebrities never speak up against the horrible traditions of certain other religions that kill millions of animals every year and waste millions of gallons of water to clean up the mess created by it.

So, what is the way forward? It is certainly important to point out the hypocrisy and Hinduphobic biases of our celebrities and Indian governments and courts that initiate and implement bans against Hindu traditions. But we need to do more. First, we need to take pride in our animal- and environment-friendly traditions. It is beyond the scope of this post to list all these traditions, but I can say with confidence that there is no other tradition in this world that is more compassionate and environmentally conscious as the traditions that emerged from the Indian sub-continent. And we need to take this forward. In context of firecrackers, we should campaign for the manufacture and sale of only those varieties that are made from environment-friendly materials. All the Chinese junk that gets sold and purchased during these festivals must stop.

Firecrackers made from environment-friendly materials in India

While growing up as a kid in Odisha, we only used Tala Phootka (firecracker made of dried palm leaf) during Diwali. And there are many other such options, made from clay pots, jute strings, and bamboo twigs [see collage above for examples]. We should call for a ban on all other forms of firecrackers that use non-biodegradable materials. Coming to Holi, all chemical-based colors should be banned, and its use be made punishable. The traditional colors used in Holi were all made from plant-based materials that were actually good for our skin.

The Islamic and European rulers who ruled over India for centuries instituted systems in place that progressively undermined the pride we had in our traditions. And the assault continues today in name of "secularism". The flaws that have seeped into our practices (e.g., the use of firecrackers made out of plastic or the use of chemical colors during Holi) are not the fault of Hinduism but our shameless embrace of cheap materialism. We need to educate ourselves about the philosophy and history of our festivals. We need to celebrate our traditions unapologetically and do it by actively adopting and campaigning for the environment-friendly ways of celebrating our festivals. This way, we can also be an example for the rest of the world, as we were for millennia. If you have doubts, watch the video below.

Drop here!

Deliciously Sustainable

It happened about a month ago. As I do on most evenings, I walked over to my friend Rama's place to hang out, and play with her dog Maggie. Usually my friend's house is very clean, but on that particular day strands of hay were strewn all over her living room. She and her husband had just moved in a bale of hay from Lowe's. My friend was sitting on the floor hunching over a wicker basket, twisting small bunches of hay, and placing them inside the basket. As I entered the room, she turned towards me and gave me an excited smile, the kind of smile that you rarely see in adults. It was the kind of radiant smile that you see in young kids when they are engaged in some kind of creative play, like building a castle out of dirt, for instance. It was obvious that my creative friend was again up to something, but what? She asked if I could guess what she was making. I first thought may be it was some kind of shelter for Maggie to keep her warm in the winter, but then the basket seemed too small for her. Or may be it was some new art idea that she had come up with, but what exactly was she making? I could not think of anything. I gave up. Keeping me under suspense, she said I better wait and watch then. So I waited, saw the product taking shape in front of my eyes, and finally tasted the absolutely delicious rice that she prepared with it.

My friend is a great cook, but never before had her rice tasted so good. It was the best tasting rice I had had in a very long time, and its texture was perfect. The rice tasted so good, I felt like I could eat a lot of it even without the help of any side dish. In some strange way, the hay box had transformed regular rice into a delicacy. My friend had prepared a cooker out of hay and the wicker basket. I could not believe that a cooker which seemed so rural and primitive could prepare such tasty rice. And then I remembered the sheer delicacies which my mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother prepared using the so called "primitive" methods of cooking. I realized nothing beats the old, slow methods of cooking. And here was a technology which allowed slow cooking without the extra-energy demands that usually involve slow cooking.

The principle was very simple. To cook the rice my friend brought rice to a boiling point on a regular stove. Then she turned off the stove and moved the hot vessel containing the boiling rice into the wicker basket that was lined with a thick layer of hay on all sides. She covered the vessel with its lid, and then placed on top of it another lid made out of hay. Basically the vessel was covered on all sides with hay. Hay being an excellent insulator trapped the heat that was there in the vessel, and made the rice cook in its own heat within 40 minutes.

My friend got her idea about the hay cooker from a video she watched on AID's (Association for India's Development) website. Many of my friends in Bloomington volunteer for AID. Surely, many AID members in US must have seen the video, but no one ever thought of preparing a hay cooker here in US. Because the hay cooker was being promoted in a rural village in India, it must have seemed like a rural thing that was not applicable in the context of a developed country like the USA. But my friend saw beyond the context, and with support of her husband had just succeeded in her experimentation with the hay cooker. The proof of the brilliant success of the cooker was of course the yummy rice on our plates.

Now my friend regularly cooks in her hay cooker, and not just rice but a wide variety of dishes. I have attached a few pictures of some of the delicious dishes she has prepared in her hay cooker. Because of the initiative taken by her, a lot of people in Bloomington have now got excited about the hay cooker. You too can try it in your own home!!

Benefits of the Hay Cooker:

1. It saves energy. Stove time is reduced by approximately 60-70%. That makes it very environment friendly.
2. Save money. Because you save energy, you automatically save on electricity/cooking gas bill.
3. Cooks tasty and nutritious food. There is very minimal loss of nutrients in the hay cooker. Contrast this to the traditional cooking where a lot of nutrients get lost in steam. The slow cooking of the hay cooker prevents loss of the natural nutrients in food. This is probably what makes the food cooked in hay cooker so tasty.
4. Serves hot food anytime. This is one of the best benefits of the hay cooker. If you leave the hot food vessel inside the hay cooker, it will keep the food hot for about 6-8 hours. All this without additional electricity. In other words, you can eat hot fresh food anytime without having to put your food in the refrigerator and then microwaving it.
5. No burning or overcooking. You can burn your food in the traditional cooking method if you forget to turn off your stove on time, but it is impossible to burn your food while using the hay cooker.

For more pictures, follow this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/ramacousik/HayCooker?feat=directlink

Meditating on Hollywood

Who said Hollywood is all glamor and materialistic? Hollywood is probably more spiritual than the greatest saints the world ever had. It follows Hindu and Buddhist philosophies to the core. The biggest evidence for this are the Hollywood movies themselves. In Hollywood, stories never end. They just lead to sequels and prequels. That is life in full circle there. Every end becomes a new beginning, and every beginning another end. Then, look at those 'glamorous' actors and actresses who are reborn in every new movie with a different look and personality. If an actor is a tyrannical king in one movie (read life), in the second he may be a timid simpleton, in the third a suave corporate executive, and in the next just a lowly rat or a grasshopper. Often when in the role of an animal or insect, the actor (read soul) does some really great deeds, which wipes out his bad karma from being a tyrant in a previous movie, and he is reborn as a human being again. Of course, there are some actors who just do the same thing over and over again, but that happens in the cosmos of life as well, when some souls do not learn anything from their current births. It is no wonder then that these actors are usually the muscle rippling action stars, who do not see anything beyond their physical prowess.

Anyway, friends, next time you see me watching a movie, know I am not just watching a movie. Instead, I am meditating on the mysteries of life—mysteries which you can only hope to understand through Hollywood. Hollywood is the microcosm of life. It is the microcosm of the entire universe. Oh, but I got to stop here, because it's time for my next round of meditation. There is no point in I just preaching about Hollywood; you have to experience it yourself. You have to meditate, if you do want to get enlightened. Just remember to breathe well while you are meditating. There is no reason for any 'bated breath' here.

Hungry Men & Food Prices

President Bush recently commented that there is a rise in food prices in US because people in poorer countries have started eating better and more. These comments are of course ill-informed and in bad taste. Per capita food consumption is highest in the US. Developing countries such as India and China trail far behind in per capita food consumption. Check out the comparison graphic in the New York Times article, "Indians Find U.S. at Fault in Food Cost" for more details. I have personally witnessed the huge amounts of food that is wasted by students in American school cafeterias. I have no statistics, but I surmise that the amount of food that is wasted daily in the schools of America alone, may be enough to feed millions of hungry mouths in in Africa and Haiti. Let's respect food. Let's take only that much in our plate that we can eat, and not waste even a single morsel of food. Even better, let's eat only the amount that we need to eat, because some of us "can" eat a lot, and do eat a lot. Help in the the eradication of obesity and starvation from this world.

Flier Napkins

I was telling you about I doing nothing for a week after the completion of Fall-2007 semester. That included checking my mailbox. I realized I hadn't checked my mailbox for over a week when one of my classmates called to request me to pick mails from her mailbox during the winter break. She and her husband were going out of town to meet their families. When I did check my mail day before yesterday, I noticed my mailbox was almost gagging. No, I'm not so popular; my box hardly had any personal mails; the box was mostly filled with junk mails, and fliers from different shopping establishments. The number of fliers probably peaks during holiday season, but it's not like businesses don't send any fliers during other times of the year. I wonder how many hectares of forest must be getting cut for this purpose. Of course, individuals have the option of subscribing to advertisements only through electronic mail. I have myself done that for few businesses like Walmart, Bestbuy and Circuit City. However, it is difficult to stop all fliers. Most people don't want to take the trouble of unsubscribing to fliers. Additionally, some people actually enjoy going through the colorful fliers. Others like taking advantage of the coupons and deals that show up in these advertisements.

I don't know the statistics, but I am sure that the local advertisements and junk mail must be contributing to significant amount of deforestation. I am tempted to say that such advertisements should be banned, but I know it won't work because both the corporations and customers benefit from such advertisements. The next best thing would probably be recycling. However, recycling though an effective means to reduce global warming, involves a lot of initiative from everyone. It requires effort to find out and separate what can and cannot be recycled. The even bigger problem is that many cities don't have fully functional recycling programs. Recycling works only for conscientious and concerned people, but unfortunately all of us don't have those characteristics. That is the reason, recycling despite potentially being one of the most effective methods to protect our environment, has not worked at a global scale. For example, at my university, I still see people printing on one side only, or throwing used paper in trash instead of the recycle bin.

Coming back to fliers, I propose that advertisements be printed on paper that can be used as paper napkins or toilet paper. I am not a huge fan of paper napkins and toilet paper. I believe in washing instead of dry wiping. Handwashing is more hygienic than just wiping ones hand dry, and can prevent a lot of upper respiratory tract infections and gastrointestinal tract infections. However, I also realize that paper towels have their advantages in terms of convenience, and that the majority of Americans use them habitually. Hence, fliers that could double up as paper napkins will not only save forests, but will also save consumers a few dollars every month on the cost of paper towels. The consumers will be grateful and more loyal to the business establishment that starts this practice. That seems like a win-win solution where everyone benefits without any extra cost. The business establishment that starts this practice, in fact, may save money because paper used in napkins I think is cheaper than glossy papers. I guess businesses may worry that the pictures of their products may not look as glossy as they do now, but isn't the matted look more classy? But do use good and non-toxic colors in your advertisement napkins; you don't want your customers' face to be smeared in mercury red or prussian blue.

Recycling will be more effective when the motivation behind it is not just on moral grounds but on grounds of economics and convenience. The best recycling is when a single product offers multiple uses, thereby obviating the need to buy or use multiple products.