‘The Conscience Network' launched in Bengaluru
The book talks of the lesser-known but significant role of the Indian diaspora in the U.S., whose growing influence and vocal opposition to the Emergency emerged as a powerful force. Some of the book's principal protagonists, including activist S.R. Hiremath, were present at the event.
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The Hindu
6 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Temples of social justice
Recently, a political controversy erupted in Tamil Nadu on the issue of diverting temple funds for building colleges. Beyond the political debates, the issue throws light on a unique social justice model around the regulation of secular practices associated with religion. This model, predominantly developed in the erstwhile Madras Presidency, draws strength from a 200-year-old legislative framework which continues till date. It has gained more acceptance in south India. As elections approach in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, clarity on the issue will help diffuse attempts to polarise voters around it. Religious endowments law Through the Religious Endowment and Escheats Regulation 1817, the East India Company set up the earliest legislative architecture around regulation of religious endowments. When the British Crown assumed direct control over Indian territories in 1858, Queen Victoria issued a proclamation stating that the sovereign would restrict interference in religious affairs. This was necessary as there was concern about losing face from the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny, which was triggered by religious issues. However, the withdrawal of the British government from religious affairs was not complete. In fact, in the Madras Presidency, various British officials argued for continued oversight of religious endowments. Finally, the British government settled for a balanced approach: the sovereign would not interfere with practices that were essentially religious, such as rituals, but would exercise control over the lands and secular aspects of the religious endowments. The idea of the government supervising religious institutions came to be crystallised when the Justice Party was elected in 1920. One of the earliest legislative interventions by the Justicites was Bill No. 12 of 1922: Hindu Religious Endowments Act. When it was introduced in the Madras Legislative Council, it faced opposition, mainly due to the provision in the law that allowed surplus temple funds to be diverted for other purposes. The nub of the issue was whether funds provided to a temple could be used for secular purposes. The matter was debated and settled in 1925, when the law was enacted. Since then, every revised version of the plenary law, including the current law — The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 — has retained the provision of surplus funds. Also read | Activist alleges 'criminal misappropriation' of temple funds by T.N. HR&CE Dept, Madras High Court calls for response Section 36 of the 1959 Act permits the trustees of religious institutions to appropriate any surplus funds for any purposes listed under the law, with the prior sanction of the Commissioner. 'Surplus' means any amount remaining after adequate provisions have been made for the maintenance of the temple and training of its officials. The Act also empowers the Joint Commissioner or the Deputy Commissioner to appropriate funds in cases where the original purpose has become impossible to fulfil. Endowments to temples have a long and rich history. Temples received lavish donations from the sovereign rulers from as far back as in 970 AD, when the Chola empire was at its peak. Historian Anirudh Kanisetti writes that Sembiyan Mahadevi, a Chola queen, made strategic donations of land and kind to temples. The practice continued during the Vijayanagara kingdom. Temples were not just places of worship; they were socio-cultural hubs and were also used for educational purposes. This is confirmed by the inscriptions on temple walls and the spacious mandapams (pillared halls) which were used to hold educational or cultural events. So the original intent argument would also support the theory of utilising temple resources for educational purposes. The 1959 Act has been tested and upheld by constitutional courts. Among the permissible uses of surplus funds under the 1959 Act is the establishment and maintenance of universities or colleges (Section 66). These educational institutions are also required to make available the study of the Hindu religion or Hindu temple architecture. Seen within this framework, building colleges from temple funds is not only legal, but a logical extension of these provisions. Social justice legacy The controversy around the use of temple funds cannot be restricted to discussing legal propositions, however; it also carries ideological and sociopolitical significance. In the pre-colonial era, the motivation for the rulers to support large-scale endowments was that the temples acted as channels through which State resources could be allotted for important welfare projects. Through colonial rule, the British East India Company and the Crown viewed sovereign involvement in the management of temple affairs as necessary for reasons of revenue and maintenance of local control. Over the last century, the Self-Respect Movement, which emerged from the Madras Presidency, viewed the regulation of temples and oversight of their resources as a critical feature of anti-caste reforms. Without this, there would have been no temple entry legislation in 1936 and 1947. Today, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are among the few States where governments have appointed priests from backward classes after a prolonged legal struggle. Ultimately, any argument against government control of temple affairs would be striking at the root of social justice. The role of the government in ensuring that surplus funds are appropriated in a lawful manner is settled. Any reversal of this would only result in a set back of the long legacy of social justice and religious reforms that south India has pioneered.
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
Donald Trump demands NFL football team Washington Commanders, Baseball team Cleveland Guardians name change. Owners have other ideas
President Donald Trump wants Washington's football franchise Washington Commanders and Cleveland's baseball team Cleveland Guardians to revert to their former names. Josh Harris, whose group bought the Commanders from former owner Dan Snyder in 2023, said earlier this year the name was here to stay. Not long after taking over, Harris quieted speculation about going back to Redskins, saying that would not happen. Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti indicated before Sunday's game against the Athletics that there weren't any plans to revisit the name change. President Trump said Sunday on his Truth Social site that 'The Washington 'Whatever's' should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team. There is a big clamoring for this. Likewise, the Cleveland Indians, one of the six original baseball teams, with a storied past. Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen. Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them. Times are different now than they were three or four years ago. We are a Country of passion and common sense. OWNERS, GET IT DONE!!!' Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Design Thinking Degree Artificial Intelligence Data Analytics MCA MBA Technology Project Management Management Operations Management Data Science Leadership Cybersecurity Public Policy Product Management Digital Marketing Finance Data Science CXO healthcare Healthcare Others others PGDM Skills you'll gain: Duration: 25 Weeks IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK PCP DTIM Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 22 Weeks IIM Indore CERT-IIMI DTAI Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Washington Commanders, Cleveland Guardians by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo Both teams have had their current names since the 2022 seasons. Washington dropped Redskins after the 2019 season and was known as the Washington Football Team for two years before moving to Commanders. AP FILE - Washington Commanders jerseys are displayed at an event to unveil the NFL football team's new identity, Feb. 2, 2022, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, file) Live Events Cleveland announced in December 2020 it would drop Indians. It announced the switch to Guardians in July 2021. In 2018, the team phased out "Chief Wahoo' as its primary logo. Reuters Jul 20, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio (4) rounds third base en route to scoring on a hit by designated hitter David Fry (not pictured) during the fourth inning against the Athletics at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images The name changes had their share of supporters and critics as part of national discussions about institutions and teams to drop logos and names considered racist. The Guardians are the fifth name for Cleveland's baseball franchise. It joined the American League in 1901 as one of the eight charter franchises as the Blues. It switched to the Bronchos a year later and used the Naps from 1903 through 1914 before moving to the Indians in 1915. Washington started in Boston as the Redskins in 1933 before moving to the nation's capital four years later. Washington and Cleveland share another thing in common. David Blitzer is a member of Harris' ownership group with the Commanders and holds a minority stake in the Guardians. FAQs Q1. What is name of Washington's football franchise? A1. Washington's football franchise is Washington Commanders. Q2. What is name of Cleveland's baseball team? A2. Cleveland's baseball team is Cleveland Guardians.
The Hindu
36 minutes ago
- The Hindu
NEP push in Delhi puts focus on Indian knowledge systems in teacher training
The Bharatiya Janata Party government in Delhi has pushed for the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasises the study of Indian knowledge systems (IKS) in schools. This has led to the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Delhi, to become 'more focused' on training its students on integrating IKS into their lesson plans, said Professor Abha Sharma, Principal, SCERT's Division. 'We had been trying to integrate it [IKS training in the two-year programme] for the past couple of years. But it became possible only after a push by the new government in Delhi to implement the NEP,' Prof. Sharma told The Hindu. She added that the training is aimed at teaching 'things that are not necessarily taught in books, in an attempt to create global teachers with 21st-century skills'. As an example, she cites a popular claim in India, 'We have always been taught that the Wright brothers flew the first aircraft. But the first aircraft was actually flown in India by Bapuji Talpade in Mumbai in 1895, eight years before the Wright brothers.' 'Chemicals in Mahabharata' As part of the IKS training, the students are also being taught about how Sushruta performed an eye surgery as far back as the 6th century and how certain chemicals are mention in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. The budding teachers are expected to use their training while teaching their respective subjects at schools to help 'students learn more about India's culture'. Prof. Sharma said that they began placing a greater emphasis on IKS training for the 2023-2025 batch, which graduated recently. 'We will now do it more comprehensively for the newer batches. The students will be trained on how to make their pedagogy plans using the pancha kosha philosophy,' she added. The concept of 'pancha kosha (five layers)' of consciousness has its origins in the Upanishads. The NEP, which aims to integrate IKS in all levels of education, states, 'The rich heritage of ancient and eternal Indian knowledge and thought has been a guiding light for this policy. The pursuit of knowledge (jnan), wisdom (pragya), and truth (satya) was always considered in Indian thought and philosophy as the highest human goal.' 'Will use it in school' Koushiki Chatterjee, who specialises in chemistry and was part of the batch that just passed out said, 'In the Mahabharata, Arjuna used certain chemicals as make-up to disguise himself as a woman. While teaching chemistry during an internship, I mentioned it to my students.' Deepali, a second-year student who will be teaching at a school in August as part of her internship, said, 'While teaching chemistry, I can teach students about the states of matter, and how ice melts, while touching upon the concept of annamaya kosha (the outer physical layer of the body, which is one of pancha koshas).' 'Pranamaya kosha (energy layer) comes into play when I am teaching students about how liquid changes to gas, as there is a transfer of energy,' she added. Similarly, Ms. Deepali said she will employ the concept of anandamaya kosha (the spiritual level) when asking students 'to reflect on where they see chemistry in their daily lives'.
