Aftermath 2012
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Hindu Students Conference
The University of Southern California Hindu Student Organization (HSO) is proud to announce the first-ever university affiliated conference for Hindu student leaders. This event, the Hindu Student Conference 2012, will bring together Hindu student leaders from several university campuses across California and some from out of the state for a day of dialogue regarding Hinduism in the present generation. The topics discussed and explored will include Hinduism's close ties with culture and tradition over time and its preservation through this in today's world, its value to contemporary religious thought, the development of a pan-Hindu identity historically and in the diaspora, Hinduism's adaptation over time and what it means to Hindus today, and Hinduism with respect to other religions. To reinforce this last point, we will be putting together an interfaith panel and discussing with them issues that we have discussed amongst ourselves through the day in the context of Hinduism. We hope to promote collaboration and communication between Hindus on campuses across the US through hosting this conference and provide a medium through which this communication can happen. Throughout the day, we will have several speakers, workshops, and breakout sessions as well as an interfaith discussion panel.
What We Have to Say About it...
CHANDNI RAJA - President, HSO
"We hope that this conference will serve as a steppingstone for future initiatives amongst Hindu youth across the nation. By creating this forum for dialogue, USC's Hindu Student Organization hopes to encourage Hindu students from various campuses to think about these questions of identity, culture, and service and share their thoughts with their own communities and each other. Our theme, "At a Crossroads," signals that the Hindu youth community is now, and will be in the future, at a crossroads from which we will make important decisions about the modern practice of Hinduism, creative ways to approach contemporary challenges, and the importance of interfaith cooperation and dialogue. This conference will definitely be an event to watch, both this inaugural year and in years to come."
PAVITRA KRISHNAMANI - External Chair, HSO
"The students in our generation are the leaders of the future - whether it be in religion, science, academia, or public service. The goal of most college conferences is to bring together these leaders to foster a sense of community and open up channels of communication. Numerous conferences accomplish this, but there has never been a college-pioneered conference for Hindu student leaders across the USA to come together and discuss issues that their group faces in today's day and age. We [USC HSO] venture into this uncharted territory by presenting this revolutionary conference in order to provide this type of enriching environment through a day of open discussion and insight from current leaders in the field."
BHARATHWAJ NANDAKUMAR - Director of Hindu Life, USC
"This conference will establish a medium to explore religions and help people explore ways to lead a better life. [It is] an initiative for USC to pioneer a platform for discussing Hinduism. The theme of the conference is a much needed topic of discussion and that in turn will make HSC a unique and worthwhile endeavor."
"We hope that this conference will serve as a steppingstone for future initiatives amongst Hindu youth across the nation. By creating this forum for dialogue, USC's Hindu Student Organization hopes to encourage Hindu students from various campuses to think about these questions of identity, culture, and service and share their thoughts with their own communities and each other. Our theme, "At a Crossroads," signals that the Hindu youth community is now, and will be in the future, at a crossroads from which we will make important decisions about the modern practice of Hinduism, creative ways to approach contemporary challenges, and the importance of interfaith cooperation and dialogue. This conference will definitely be an event to watch, both this inaugural year and in years to come."
PAVITRA KRISHNAMANI - External Chair, HSO
"The students in our generation are the leaders of the future - whether it be in religion, science, academia, or public service. The goal of most college conferences is to bring together these leaders to foster a sense of community and open up channels of communication. Numerous conferences accomplish this, but there has never been a college-pioneered conference for Hindu student leaders across the USA to come together and discuss issues that their group faces in today's day and age. We [USC HSO] venture into this uncharted territory by presenting this revolutionary conference in order to provide this type of enriching environment through a day of open discussion and insight from current leaders in the field."
BHARATHWAJ NANDAKUMAR - Director of Hindu Life, USC
"This conference will establish a medium to explore religions and help people explore ways to lead a better life. [It is] an initiative for USC to pioneer a platform for discussing Hinduism. The theme of the conference is a much needed topic of discussion and that in turn will make HSC a unique and worthwhile endeavor."