CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, August 31, 2018 (India West by Ashok Easwaran): — A century-and-a-quarter after Swami Vivekananda’s rousing speech to the World Parliament of Religions here in 1893, the World Hindu Congress has declared its objective to re-connect the 1.1 billion Hindus worldwide with their common heritage and their spiritual link to people of all other denominations. For three days, beginning Sept. 7, about 2,300 delegates will converge at the Westin Hotel in Lombard, a Chicago suburb, to deliberate, introspect and draw out a plan of action in keeping with the World Hindu Congress conference motto derived from Chapter 37 of the Hindu epic Mahabharata: Think Collectively, Act Valiantly and from the Rig Veda: Stay Together, Express Together.
Many religious leaders are scheduled to attend the Hindu Congress conference. A video message from the Dalai Lama, who had to drop out due to frail health, will be screened. Speakers in the various events include Indian American Prof. Ved Nanda of the University of Denver; Lord Jitesh Gadhia, the youngest Briton of Indian origin in the House of Lords; Swati Dandekar, a former legislator from Iowa; Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois; Columbia Prof. Arvind Panagariya, a former economic advisor to the Indian government; and actor Anupam Kher. Organizers of The Hindu Congress conference indicated that Hinduism’s core message is timeless and unchanging. “There will be no spiritual discourses,” conference convener Abhaya Asthana said in an interview. “The aim is to use the essence of Hindu philosophy, dharma, to inform how we come together (in the diaspora) as men, women and youth — in politics, education and commerce.”
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