Hindu Press International

Source: http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080054257&ch=6/24/2008%205:13:00%20PM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, INDIA, June 24, 2008: In Kerala, a controversy hauls over a seventh standard social studies text. The chapter “Life without religion” has raised staunch opposition from religious leaders in Kerala, both Hindu and Muslim. Religious groups and opposition parties allege that the chapter undermines the role of religion and had been deliberately included to propagate the Marxist ideology.

“Not only this particular chapter but the entire text book should be banned,” said a Muslim leader.

The Kerala government says the text book has been prepared based on the National Curriculum Frame Work 2005 formulated by the UPA Govt. It is meant to inculcate secular ideas among students.

Source: http://www.hinduismtoday.com/hpi/2008/6/28#3.shtml

KAUAI, HAWAII, June 27, 2008: HPI has learned of a new movie,  ”Dancing with Shiva,” written by Jenny Lumet, directed by Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia) and starring Anne Hathaway (The Princess Diaries, The Devil Wears Prada, etc.) and Debra Winger. The meagre information available says it will start filming in September in Stamford, Connecticut, USA.

The simple plot summary available on the Internet Movie Database (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1084950/plotsummary) states:

“Dancing With Shiva” is a contemporary “drama with an aggressive sense of humor” about the return of an estranged daughter to the family home for her sister’s wedding. Kym’s (Hathaway) reemergence throws a wrench into the family dynamics, forcing long-simmering tensions to surface in ways both hilarious and heartbreaking. “Dancing With Shiva” paints a colorful, nuanced family portrait and is filled with the rich characters that have always been a hallmark of Jonathan Demme’s films.

If anyone knows anything about this movie, kindly e-mail ar@hindu.org.

http://www.hinduismtoday.com/hpi/2008/6/28.shtml

Sandalwood perfumes even the axe that hurls it down. The more we rub sandalwood against a stone, the more its fragrance spreads. Burn it, and it wafts its glory through the entire neighborhood. Such is the enchanting beauty of forgiveness in life.
   Swami Chinmayananda (1916-1993)