India Heritage Research Foundation

PROGRESS/STATUS REPORT
LETTER FROM THE CHIEF EDITOR

The Encyclopedia of Hinduism marks the first time in history that the urgent need is met for an authentic, objective and insightful reservoir of information, capturing both the staples and the spices of Hindu tradition and culture.

Left: Sharing the Encyclopedia Project with H.H. Shankaracharya Swamigal Jayendra Saraswatiji Maharaj, Kanchi.

Right: Discussing the Project and Inter-Faith harmony with H.H. Pramukh Swamiji Maharaj.

Left: Pujya Swamiji discusses the Encyclopedia with H.H. Swami Ranganathandji Maharaj, the spiritual head of the Ramakrishna Mission.

Right: Shri s. P. Hinduja, Shri G.P. Hinduja, Dr. L.M. Singhvi (High Commissioner, (UK), Dr. Rao (chief Editor), Dr. Sinha (CEO) and Pujya Swamiji discuss the Project.

Board of Editors and Administration meet in Madras.

EH Editorial conference in Rishikesh, India, 1997. Members of Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan express their enthusiasm for working with the Encyclopedia Project.

Left: India's Prime Minister, shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, lights the deepak with Pujya Swamiji, Dr. Sinha and Dr. K. Aggarwal at the official contract signing ceremony.

Right: Hon. Vajpayee delivers his thoughtful and enthusiastic address.

Left: Pujya Swamiji, Dr. Rao, Dr. Sinha and other key members of the EH team meet with Shri S. Ramakrishna, Director, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, in Bombay.

Right: Meeting at new Madras office, October 1999,with Pujya Swamiji, Smt. Seetha Chidambaram, Smt. Annapoorni Veerappan and scholars.

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Year

Encyclopedia of Hinduism

1993

Year of the Encyclopaedia
After travelling the world to select the best scholars for this monumental project, the Encyclopaedia team began its work in 1993 with a core group of 500 scholars. In a few short years, the number of scholars blossomed from 500 to over 1,000!

2005

June 1-15: Rishikesh
We had a final review conference. Nearly 40 top scholars (including Vice Chancellors of Universities, Principals, Heads of Departments, etc.) came to Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, where they read, reviewed and did final editing for the manuscript of the monumental project of the Encyclopaedia. By the grace of God and with Pujya Swamiji's blessings, we are truly nearing the end of this long, divine yatra for Sanatan Dharma.

Above: Scholars gathering in Parmarth Niketan in June 2005

August 6-12: New Jersey, USA
Following the gathering of scholars in India in June 2005 for the final review of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism, we had a gathering of Western scholars in USA. Eighteen scholars came from USA, Canada and Australia to review articles and offer changes. Further, a timeline was established for the completion of the work, and an executive editorial team was appointed. Other crucial decisions were made about the next stages of the work.

The conference was generously sponsored by Shri Chandubhai Patel and Shri Jyotindrabhai Patel of New Jersey.

Further, we had a full team of 8 volunteers working to do the data entry of all editorial changes and to keep track of the entries. Sujal Patel of New Jersey has with great devotion and seva bhaav, taken over the computer database of EH and has brought it up to a very systematic, professional, user-friendly format. All information is now at our fingertips which will make the final stage of this monumental work one that is easier, smoother and more flawless than in the past.

The conference was blessed by the presence of Pujya Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, the head of Hinduism today and successor to Pujya Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. He expressed his appreciation for the project and offered his help and assistance wherever necessary in its completion.

Further, during the conference, Dr. Rao was awarded a special award by Dr. MK Sridhar, on behalf of the Indological Society for his lifelong contribution to Hinduism.

Above: The scholars worked continuously from morning to evening every day for a week.

Above: Pujya Swamiji presents a shawl to Pujya Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswamiji

October 16, 2005:
H.E. The Hon. Governor of Uttranchal, the Hon. former Chief Justice, High Court of India, and Shri PP Hinduja visit Parmarth

His Excellency the Honorable Governor of Uttranchal, Shri Sudarshan Agarwal, the Honorable former Chief Justice High Court of India, Shri Venkatachaliahji, and Shri PP Hinduja came for Ganga Aarti to Parmarth.

Shri Venkatachaliahji is an honorary patron of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism project and he was very glad to hear how the project is progressing, closer and closer to its ultimate, historic completion. Pujya Swamiji also shared with him various other projects of IHRF's underway, including the widescale tsunami relief and also the Mansarovar/Mt. Kailash project.

Pujya Swamiji always says that he wishes every state in India had a governor like Shri Sudarshanji. He is the epitome of selfless service, integrity and commitment.

Below (clockwise): the Honorable former Chief Justice High Court of India, Shri Venkatachaliahji, an honorary patron of the Encyclopaedia of Hinduism, discusses various IHRF projects with Pujya Swamiji; the Honorable Governor of Uttranchal, the Honorable former Chief Justice High Court of India, Pujya Swamiji and Shri PP Hinduja perform the Divine Ganga Aarti; and later, have prasad together in Pujya Swamiji's garden.





November 25 - December 15, 2006 - Rishikesh An Encyclopedia of Hinduism editorial conference was held at Rishikesh, led by Dr. Kapil Kapoorji, Executive Editor - India and former Vice-Chancellor JNU University, New Delhi. For nearly 3 weeks, the team of scholars performed final review of articles for this monumental work which is nearing completion. We expect that by the end of 2007 this monumental, Herculean task, which has involved over 1200 scholars from across the world, will be in hands of the waiting world.

Pujya Swamiji offers special blessings to Dr. Kapil Kapoor and his team as well as to our dedicated Encyclopedia sevaks, Parimal, Thea and Roma