News

Members of the professional and business communities have joined the newly-formed OCVHS Development Council. An inaugural meeting was held in the Regency Hotel, Kensington, London. The members of this Council are Mr Harish IK Patel, Mr Subhash Thakrar, Mr Hasu Manek, Mr Bharat Bhundia, Mr Nitin Palan, Mr Jayesh Popat and Mr Sanjay Gadhvi.

The annual Board of Governors meeting was held in June. The Board was sad to accept the retirement of Board member, Professor David Patterson and offered its heart-felt thanks for the wise counsel and advice he was always able to offer to the Centre's officers.

The Board of Governors of the OCVHS granted Emeritus membership of the Board to Professor Patterson in recognition of the very significant contribution he has made to the Board and to the development of the Centre since its inception.

Dr.Vidya Sayinath of the University of Madras acquired her degree of Doctorate in the System of Vedanta of Indian Philosophy. Her thesis refers to the epistemological aspect as elucidated by Sankara and Ramanuja. Her work highlights the significance of knowledge as expounded by the two philosophers, which served as the substratum for their Ontological structure. Presently she is engaged in the study of Ramanuja's Philosophy. This study examines the Concept of Devotion as the cementing factor of the various aspects of his System.

After the very successful Hindu Youth Festival 2001--held to create awareness of the OCHS; provide thought-provoking programmes for young people and attract potential donors to the Centre--the trustees agreed to host the youth initiative for one more year. This allowed the successful development to establish itself, leading to registration as a separate charity.

The centre welcomed six new students this year, a major boost in our student population. Below we outline their backgrounds and present focus.

The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, in response to requests from members of the Hindu community, offered an Introductory Hindu Studies course this year in London. The course was an experiment to test the interest in an adult education venture and to explore methods of teaching such a vast subject area. Mr. Harish IK Patel generously sponsored the lecture series.

Amanda Mills and Travis Chilcott, both of Mansfield College, successfully completed their Master of Study in Religion programmes. Amanda will pursue a D.Phil in Theology in Oxford and Travis will pursue his PhD at the University of California at Santa Barbara through the Religious Studies Department. His research interests are in South Asian religions generally and early religious practices of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition specifically.

by Bhavit Mehta

I thought I would share with you my feelings and experience from my recent visit to the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.

Mr Todd Walstrom, from Denver, Colorado, USA, has established an annual lecture, to be called the Wahlstrom Lecture. Mr Wahlstrom, a long time supporter of the centreis a member of our Benefactors Council.

During a recent visit to Oxford Mr Wahlstrom said, ìIt is important that Hinduism be accorded an excellence of academic study that compares with its profound contribution. I hope that these lectures help contribute to an increased understanding of Hindu culture and open it up for broad discussion.î

Trinity Term (Apr-Jun 04)

Shivdasani Fellowship

Professor S., Ramaratnam (Ph.D. Sanskrit, University of Madras) is Visiting Scholar at the Oxford Centre for Vaishnava and Hindu Studies during Trinity Term 2003. He is Principal of the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College in Chennai (Madras), India. His wide range of publications and research interests include Sanskrit grammar and poetry, and the practice and theory of Hindu domestic ritual.