News

Hindu Forum Of Europe Meeting, 2012

30 March 2012

From 27–29 March, OCHS Director Shaunaka Rishi Das visited Belgium, speaking at the Hindu Forum of Europe on the future of Hindu education in the continent.

The two-day program was hosted by the Hindu Forum of Europe, an organisation founded in 2006 as the voice of Hindus in Europe. There were delegations from Belgium, England, France, Portugal, Holland, Hungary and Austria. The first day saw a meeting of the delegations while the second day featured a series of presentations at the European Parliament and was attended by a distinguished guest list.
 
Among the many important issues

Friends Event: Creation or Evolution: Hindu Perspectives

Leicester Friends Event
Saturday, 31 March 2012 - 6:30pm to 9:00pm

A talk by Dr Nick Sutton of the Oxford Centre For Hindu Studies

 
In recent decades religion has increasingly become involved in the debate over the extent to which scientific theories about the origins of the world and of life threaten the integrity of religious revelation. Such debates usually focus on Christianity and to a lesser extent Islam as these are religious traditions that emphasise the importance of scriptural revelation, but how do such questions affect Hindu teachings and Hindu ideas about the world?

Friends Event: Living as a Hindu in the 21st Century

Birmingham Friends Event
Saturday, 17 March 2012 - 5:00pm to 7:30pm

Living as a Hindu in the 21st Century, a talk by Shaunaka Rishi Das of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

 
In this talk we will explore the Indian ideas and principles that have formed the basis of the worlds oldest existing religion and examine why it still exists today. For centuries Hindu culture has proven to be very adaptable but can it survive the challenges of modern times. How do Hindus in Birmingham negotiate their lives in a multimedia age. Essentially, how cool is Hindu.

Friends Event: South Indian Religion, a lecture by Professor M. Narasimhachary

Leicester Friends Event
Saturday, 25 February 2012 - 6:30pm to 9:00pm

A lecture by Professor M. Narasimhachary, Shivdasani Visiting Fellow of the Oxford Centre For Hindu Studies 

 
These highly acclaimed lectures – brought to you each month - are presented by renowned, expert speakers from the Oxford Centre For Hindu Studies. They explore challenging issues connected to Hindu scripture and dharma which provide a forum for education and debate. The speakers actively encourage audience participation and interaction.

OCHS welcomes its new IT Officer

10 February 2012

The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies is pleased to welcome a new team member.

Following our Xmas appeal for funding to improve our infrastructure, Mr Satish Sharma donated himself and his prodigious experience in IT deployment.

 
Satish, who is also the father of one of our students, Vivek, is now our IT Officer.
He has worked tirelessly since he received our appeal, making multiple trips to Oxford to upgrade hardware and completely revamp our tiring network structure. 
 
We eagerly look forward to each visit as he always brings good humour and gifts including: 
  • New printer
  • Parts to repair one

OCHS Academic Director publishes on Importance of Religion

17 January 2012

Professor Gavin Flood, OCHS Academic Director and author of The Tantric Body: The Secret Tradition of Hindu Religion; The Ascetic Self: Subjectivity, Memory and Tradition; Beyond Phenomenology: Rethinking the Study of Religion; and the widely prescribed Introduction to Hinduism has published  with Wiley-Blackwell.

The Importance of Religion argues for the central importance of religion in modern times and how it provides people with meaning to their lives and guides them in their everyday moral choices.

Friends Event: Hindu approaches to religious pluralism

Leicester Friends Event
Saturday, 28 January 2012 - 6:30pm to 9:00pm

A talk by Lucian Wong Student of the Oxford Centre For Hindu Studies

Religious plurality is a pervasive feature of the multi-cultural society in which we live, presenting challenges and opportunities to persons of faith. The existence of multiple and divergent religious currents is, of course, nothing new to Hinduism. This talk will explore the ways in which Hindu texts and traditions address the issue of religious pluralism.

Friends Event: Hinduism & Christianity in Dialogue

Leicester Friends Event
Saturday, 17 December 2011 - 6:30pm to 9:00pm

Lecture by Shaunaka Rishi Das, Director of The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

 
Response by The Venerable Richard Atkinson, Archdeacon of Leicester
 
In this talk Shaunaka Rishi Das will outline some of the issues facing engaged Hindus and Christians as they develop their relationships. He will ask who writes the rules of dialogue and suggest ways of approaching relationships which may build good foundations for understanding, and a more profound practice of respect.

Sherwood Forest: Barclays cycle for the poor (of the OCHS)

29 November 2011

Fifteen bankers from the Barclays Non-Resident-Indian (NRI) banking team in the United Kingdom took part in a ten-kilometre bicycle and tricycle ride. The enthusiasm in supporting a good cause was inspiring. This transfer from the rich to the poor in a different age took place in Sherwood Forest, once home to the famous Robin Hood. The team were in high spirits and they all had a great time. We are pleased to report that no one fell of their bicycles.

 
Barclays employees around the world are encouraged and supported to give their time and skills to their chosen community causes.

Nehru Centre Event: Women in Hinduism

Nehru Centre Event
Friday, 9 December 2011 - 6:30pm to 7:30pm

A talk by Anuradha Dooney of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.

 
The roles of women in Hindu traditions are changing as they are throughout the rest of the world. What can stories of Sita and Draupadi, of Savitri or Sulabha contribute to  the contemporary challenges of chapati rolling ( or not!)  child-care and career-making.  This talk sketches a broad overview of varying female voices from selected Hindu sacred texts and explores their relevance to Hindu women today.
 
Anuradha Dooney was awarded her BA in Social Science, from University College Dublin, and her MSt in the Study of

Bridges and Barriers report launched at Lambeth Palace

25 November 2011

The OCHS ‘Bridges and Barriers to Hindu-Christian Relations’ report, compiled by Dr Jessica Frazier, was launched at the Hindu-Christian Forum (HCF) at Lambeth Palace on 23 November. The Hindu-Christian Forum was hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams. The event was introduced by the Chairs of the HCF: The Ven. Richard Atkinson, Archdeacon of Leicester, and an OCHS scholar, Ramesh Pattni, Interfaith Chair of the Hindu Forum of Britain. It was addressed by Andrew Stunell MP, Baroness Richardson, and Lord Popat.

Leicester Friends Annual Gala Dinner

22 November 2011

 

19th November 2011
FOCHS Leicester – The City Rooms
 
Our Leicester Friends of the OCHS (FOCHS) hosted a gala dinner on 19 November to celebrate the achievements and milestones of the OCHS and the Leicester FOCHS.
 
 
The lively night began with a reception for guests to meet and mingle.
 
The programme kicked off with a short presentation about the OCHS after which Shaunaka Rishi Das, Director of the OCHS, expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the Leicester FOCHS who have worked tirelessly since their incorporation in 2008 to support the OCHS by organising fun events