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YOUTH
Culture On Campus
Young people do not need to deny their Indian roots on campus
Culture On Campus
Dharmesh Mistry invites young people to enhance their identity and self esteem at University T TINDU YOUTHS SUCCEEDING WITH and wide both within the Samaj and the students in the UK but also from
top city firms and achieving the wider community. On a national level members of Hindu Students Council
best results in academic NHSF (UK) has been involved in USA, Hindu Students Forum institutions seems to be common news numerous activities. We have provided a (Netherlands), and Akhil Bharatiya today. However, we appear eager to Hindu voice at governmental committees Vidyaarthi Parishad amongst others. blend in with this western society without and in the media and been involved in the NHSF provides a proactive, maintaining our own identity and culture. organisation of cross-community events innovative and interactive method for Is the influence of the Hindu Community such as the recent Hindu Youth Festival in Hindu youth to not only activate visible or are we content to have simply London. NHSF provides a non-sectarian themselves but those around them, and blended into the woodwork? Why is it platform for Hindu Youth to preserve thereby promote Hindu unity across our that the voice of the Hindu is rarely heard their culture value and tradition, as well as community. A prime example of this is in the media? Why is it that we are to educate themselves and others. Two seen in the launching of Sewa Week - a anxious or often feel suppressed in regular events in the diary of students, are week where students are educated on the expressing our opinions and views? the National Annual Youth Conference concept of Sewa and prompted to give
It is to address such questions that the and the National Annual NHSF Lecture. something back to the wider community. National Hindu Students Forum (UK)-a The Youth Conference gives an Last year, NHSF raised over £60,000 body representing Hindu youth at opportunity for discussion and towards the Indian Earthquake appeal. institutes of education across the United development of ideas through a series of This money has been used to build six Kingdom - was born and remains so lectures and workshops, whereas the schools in villages in Gujarat. active today. Now in its tenth year, NHSF annual lecture has become a forum for In becoming a nationally recognised (UK) was set up in 1991 at two speakers of international standing to body, and hence representing Hindu institutions in the UK and to date has address Hindu youth from all over the students in the wider community, NHSF opened branches in 40 academic centres UK. Speakers have included Mark Tully, has developed links with all other major across the country. With more and more Konraed Elst, and this year Francois national student organisations. These Hindu students remaining in education Gautier spoke at the London School of include the National Union of Students, through to university, the need for a body Economics. NHSF (UK) events have Union of Jewish Students and British such as NHSF providing a home away picked up contemporary issues relevant to Organisation of Sikh Students. This is from home is becoming more and more Hindu youth and their search for a our vision in action, a vision where Hindu evident.
modern identity rooted in their cultural youth are not only educating themselves A variety of cultural, social and heritage.
about their culture, values and tradition, educational activities are used to motivate We also publish a wide range of but becoming actively and proactively Hindu students to protect, preserve, contemporary and educational material. involved in our community. practise and promote our Dharma. The longest standing of these is HUM, Unified in our actions we then come which is a journal with contributions not together to form a national body with a only from students but also from elders Dharmesh Mistry is chairperson of NHSF loud voice for students; a voice that is and academics from around the globe. UK. He is a student at the University of becoming increasingly heard in circles far | Subscriptions come not only from Warwick. Visit www.nhsf.org.uk
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Jain Spirit . March - May 2002
Jain Education Interational 2010_03
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