Hindu Students Council holds successful 2005 Annual Meet in Atlanta

  
 

Press Release

For Immediate Release

For more information:

Contact Rishi Bhutada at 832-797-5147 or rbhutada@alumni.upenn.edu

 

Meet pictures (Photography by Vinod):

1.      HSC Meet participants participate in a Puja at the 2005 Annual Meet in Atlanta

2.      HSC members celebrate after a Puja at the 2005 Annual Meet in Atlanta

3.      HSC members at the 2005 Annual Meet in Atlanta

 

 “By doing selfless service, one attains spiritual growth.” Dr. G.V. Raghu, founder of the Hindu Temple of Atlanta, gave this message that was echoed throughout the 2005 Annual Meet of the Hindu Students Council (HSC), held in Atlanta, GA on March 4th-6th. Over 80 participants from 26 universities came from all over the United States to learn about Hinduism and plan HSC’s agenda for the upcoming year at the Impact Conference Center in the Global Mall. During the three day event, HSC members formed strong connections with each other, developed strategies and future goals for HSC, and emerged energized about Hinduism in their own lives and communities.

 

The event kicked off on Friday night, with creative storytelling and games allowing participants to network with each other. Jason Eisensmith, a chapter officer at the University of Pittsburgh, said, “Everyone made us feel very welcome. I was nervous at first, but within a few minutes I felt right at home.” Yoga and meditation on Saturday morning, led by Mona Joshi and Mandar Rahetkar from the Art of Living Foundation, awakened the body and focused the mind on the weekend ahead.  The heart of the Annual Meet then started, as participants heard Dr. Raghu’s talk on selfless service and saw a presentation that overviewed HSC and its various projects, including service work and regional coordination of activities, as well as its new group for young professionals, the Network of Hindu Minds (NetOHM). HSC’s service team, NetSEVA, shared the outcome of the recently completed Tsunami Memorial Day on January 26th, a nationwide coordinated project that saw HSC chapters hold vigils and fundraisers for the victims of the deadly December tsunami.

 

In the afternoon, participants divided into two groups based on their experience in HSC, so they could learn about “Hindu Contributions to the World” and “Hindu Dharma – A Global Renaissance”, presented by Nikunj Trivedi and Ravi Raghavan, respectively.  Local Hindu community leaders, Dhirendra Shah and Dr. Ravi Sarma, gave talks on preserving Hindu identity amidst the American culture. Skills and qualities of good leadership in Hindu organizations were passed onto the senior HSC members by Gokul Kunnath, founder of the United States Hindu Alliance (USHA). Following the afternoon presentations, the students had a unique opportunity to individually participate in an instructed puja held in the Global Mall’s Shiv Mandir.  Remarked Jayanth Iyengar, chapter president of Washington University in St. Louis, “It was one of the most enriching experiences to actually sit down and do the puja along with the other participants, instead of just watching it being conducted.”  The night was capped off with a cultural show filled with amazing performances, and an exciting evening of Garba, Raas, and Bhangra.

 

On Sunday, the participants delved deep into planning HSC’s strategy for the upcoming year, focusing on chapter activities, service work, NetOHM, and public relations. “I’ve been to leadership seminars before, but this one put it into a Hindu context, and that will help me in strengthening my chapter and our activities,” commented Neha Verma, a chapter officer at the University of Texas in Austin. Students discussed ways to improve HSC chapters at local campuses, as well as network within the broader Hindu community, and came away energized about the upcoming year. The Annual Meet concluded with a feedback session on Sunday afternoon, sharing suggestions for the future and thanking the hosting team at Emory University and Shiv Aggarwal, owner of the Global Mall, who generously donated the use of its conference center for the entire event. The hosting team also benefited from the hard work of Dinesh Chanchalani, who co-founded the HSC chapter at the University of South Carolina and is now a volunteer for Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh in Atlanta. Vishaal Gupta, chapter president of Emory University in Atlanta and the Southeast regional coordinator, stated, “The annual meet was truly an inspiration for the work we as HSC officers and coordinators do. It reminded us of the reasons why we care about Hindu society and Hinduism in general.”

 

All in all, the members of HSC emerged from this meet with enthusiasm and direction, and pledged to make a difference at their campuses and in the Hindu community at large. Samir Rawal, the new HSC president, declared, “HSC is growing and vibrant. We’re making great strides, and within 5 years, HSC will be a premier organization in the community. This is a second and third generation Hindu-American movement, and Hindu students understand that.” With this recognition by the students of HSC as a movement, the participants also cultivated a bond of unity. Chinar Talati, a chapter officer at the University of Florida, put it best: “I drove here alone from my university. When I go back, I’m driving back with a family.”

 

HSC is an international forum providing opportunities for college students and young professionals to learn about Hindu heritage through various activities, events and projects.  HSC presents ample opportunities for self-development at the spiritual and professional level via campus study groups, seminars, lectures, workshops, conferences and camps.  With over 74 chapters and inspired organizations around the world, HSC is the largest Hindu Youth organization outside of India.  For more information, please visit www.hscnet.org or email us at hsc@hscnet.org.