Bhagavath Gita to turns “Bible in US Congress” !!!! Here is an amazing story from US. A respected friend of mine forwarded it to me. The first glance of it itself impressed me that it is going to be a silver line for all Hinds all over the world and nationalist forces within our country. The general fact is that Islamic fundamentalism of Al-Queda, L-e-T, Taliban, etc. is growing and posing threat to the egalitarian fabric of the humanity. Conversion drive of world church also does bring sense of insecurity among the Hindus. But, this story creates some relief. It looks like a beginning of the spread of our ancient culture, civilization and wisdom among the powerful society of the world. Naturally I thought that it should go to people after people, if possible to each and every citizen of our motherland. Therefore, I pray, let it be a tip of the ice berg….. let us wait for more of this sort. T.Satisan Chief Editor mahajyothis Bhagavath Gita is sacrosanct for 1st Hindu American Congress Woman’s Oath She is no Indian American; she has never seen India. But, last week she made a new record - Wednesday last, she became America’s first-ever Hindu-American Congresswoman. Tulsi Gabbard, a 31-year-old Democrat was just elected to the US House of Representatives from faraway Hawaii . She was endorsed by Hawaii-born President Barack Obama. She defeated her Republican rival by a landslide (80.6% to 19.4%). Gabbard, a practising Hindu, recites Bhagavad Gita verses quite often. She is expected to take oath in January as a newly-elected member of House of Representatives. She is reported to be intending to place her hand on a copy of Gita during her oath taking. If it happens it will be first incident of this sort in the history of the 223-year-old House. Hindu-Americans are excited about this. Gabbard was born in American Samoa; His father was a Catholic and mother a Hindu. She moved to Hawaii with her family when she was two. Her parents gave all their five children Hindu names — Bhakti, Jai, Aryan, Tulsi and Vrindavan. Gabbard loves to visit at the earliest and has pledged to work for closer US-India ties. She recently stated that there needs to be a closer working relationship between the United States and India. She was answering a question, ‘how can we have a close relationship if decision-makers in Washington know very little, if anything, about the religious beliefs, values, and practices of India’s 800 million Hindus?’ When Republican rival David Kawika Crowley attacked her Hindu faith during the campaign phase Gabbard defended it saying that her faith would be an asset in Congress. “Hopefully the presence in Congress of an American who happens to be Hindu will increase America’s understanding of India as well as India’s understanding of America,” commented Gabbard, when she was honoured by Indian-Americans at a recent fundraise campaign in Washington. *Gabbard’s victory was certain since she easily defeated her rival Mufi Hannemann in a party primary in August. Hawaii, being a predominantly Democrat strong hold, few doubted her chances against her Republican rival. *“Hindu-Americans have run America’s major corporations and universities, won Nobel prizes and Olympic gold medals, directed blockbuster movies, and even flown into space. But one profession has so far been out of reach: Member of Congress,” wrote the Washington-based Religion News Service, before Gabbard was declared the winner. Although there have been two Indian-Americans in the US Congress so far, neither of them were Hindus. Dalip Singh Saund, who was elected thrice from California back in the 1950s, was a Sikh. The second, Bobby Jindal, who was elected twice, beginning 2004, had embraced Christianity during his early age. *In 2002, at the age of 21, Gabbard became the youngest person to be elected to Hawaii State House. The very next year, she joined the Hawaii National Guard and was deployed to Iraq in 2004 as a medical operations specialist. She awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for her service. She currently serves as a Captain. Between her two deployments to the Middle East, Gabbard served as an aide to long-time US Senator Daniel Akaka. Gabbard, had fully embraced the Hindu faith as a teenager. And, she follows the Vaishnava path She has said that her faith helped her through her posting in Iraq, where there were daily reminders that she could be killed any time. She says, she mediates first thing in the morning and and ust before her sleep. Because, she says: “My essence is spirit, not matter, that I was not my physical body, and that I didn’t need to worry about death because I knew that I would continue to exist and I knew that I wll be going to God”. *******************************************************
Posted on: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 03:03:33 +0000
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