This Roundtable discussion at the World History Association Conference, examines the ongoing problems associated with the Aryan Invasion/Migration Theory, and the controversies involving the late-18th and 19th-century origins of this theory and its explicit service to European national and colonialist interests and agendas. This historiographical controversy centers on academic arguments that still dominate the field, […]
Dharma Chintana Ultimately, a civilization rests on its ability to transmit its values, goals and aims, priorities, practices, rituals, art, science and knowledge systems, spirituality, festivals and food habits, and indeed all that may be deemed to constitute its culture, with as much fidelity as possible from one generation to another. A unique distinguishing characteristic […]
After sustained engagement with the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity (OEOD), the University of California has issued a letter to Dharma Civilization Foundation, expressing both regret for ‘any misunderstanding’ as well as ‘continued interest’ in working with the Hindu community to establish Chairs at UCI. The full text of the letter can be seen […]
The UCI School of Humanities’ Ad hoc Committee (Download report) and the Humanities Executive Committee (Download Statement) have acted hastily to reject the gifts from Dharma Civilization Foundation, without any consultation with the donors. In part they have cited procedural issues; In part they have openly questioned the legitimacy of the Foundation. Whatever be their intentions, […]
A debate has been raging between proponents of the view that the Aryans migrated into India, and those who hold the opposite view. In this blog, I do not attempt to resolve that debate; indeed, I make no claims about the historical reality of an ethnic group, whether called “Aryan,” “Indian” or “Indo-German.” Rather, I […]
This year, 2018, Dharma Civilization Foundation has resolved to revitalize and renew the Hindu University of America, Florida. This project shall be DCF’s flagship project at least for the coming few years. In any case, creating and sustaining a University is no small task, and certainly not for the faint of heart. It needs long-term […]
The UCI School of Humanities’ Ad hoc Committee (Download report) and the Humanities Executive Committee (Download Statement) have acted hastily to reject the gifts from Dharma Civilization Foundation, without any consultation with the donors. In part they have cited procedural issues; In part they have openly questioned the legitimacy of the Foundation. Whatever be their […]
Dear Friends & Supporters of DCF, Seasons Greetings and best wishes for a Happy & Prosperous New Year! 2015 has been an eventful year. First and foremost, 2015 saw the passing of Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati (1930-2015), who attained Mahasamadhi, on the banks of the Ganga on September 23, 2015. Here is a garland of […]
Over the past few days, media outlets have covered a boycott petition led by some University of California Irvine (UCI) faculty and students. This petition has cast aspersions and doubt on the motivations and intentions of the Dharma Civilization Foundation (DCF). DCF rejects the accusations put forth both by the petition and the people who […]
There are fundamentally three motivations for funding the study of Dharma in general and Hindu Dharma in particular, in main-stream academic Universities that underlie the work of Dharma Civilization Foundation. I. Engage the students of the diaspora. We believe that an intellectual engagement with the authentic teachings of Hindu Dharma is often […]