Lively discussions, workshops mark HYA Conference

The second Australia Hindu Youth Conference was held on August 7, with over 200 young people participating in the event organised by Hindu Youth Australia (HYA). The event was hailed as the most successful one since the organisation’s inception, as the youth attending collaborated and participated in a series of different events to mark the occasion. Since 2009, the dedicated team of volunteers from HYA have exhibited superb leadership and dedication required to preserve, promote and propagate Hindu dharma within Australia. Thanks to the guidance of wise elders who provide autonomy for these youth to grow and excel, the combination of youthful energy and wisdom has ensured the essence of the Hindu dharma continues to shine brightly.

The conference was inaugurated by beautiful Vedic chanting, as well in honouring the local Aboriginal tribe. The Hon. Prime Minister Julia Gillard, in her congratulatory message, mentioned the strength of multiculturalism and the positive contribution of Hindu Australians. This was reinforced through addresses from the Hon. MP Julie Owens and Hon. MP Laurie Ferguson.

The theme of the conference was “Create, Connect, and Commit.” Arjun and Krishna’s entertaining conference keynote reflected the proud heritage of the Hindu dharma, and the notion of pushing the boundaries of knowledge. The duo made a plea for all attendees to leverage the global resources of Hindu dharma, connect with their heritage, and commit to community improvement based on the spirit of Vasudeiva Kutambakam (the world is one family). The presentation sparked a lively debate which reaffirmed the injunction of Dharmo Rakshak Rakshitah (preserve values,

Nikhil Rughani delivered a brilliant session on leadership and creating relevance, engagement and value in public speaking. Their frameworks and principles were well structured and resonated well with the audience.

Anousha Nidigallu presented a thoughtprovoking session on mathematical techniques drawn from Vedic sutras. She explained the amazing concept of reducing numbers to their simplest form when computing highly complex calculations. The participants were simply astounded to be able to calculate the cube root of a 9 digit number in less than 5 seconds.

On a more creatively domestic note, Bhavana and Thanvi brought inexhaustible supplies of energy, and humour into their cooking demonstration, providing the audience with insightful knowledge and extremely tasty dishes.

Yogacharya Devidasan presented the history of Surya Namaskar in the yoga session, and discussed its roots within Aditya Hridayam (Aditya Prasna - Krishna Yajur Veda) and Narayana Surya Namaskar Puja. He also explained the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of performing this sadhana and recommended its practice daily.

Post lunch, Anil and Priyanka Asthana facilitated a controversial, yet fascinating discussion on “positive thinking”. They challenged the crowd with jarring examples of insensitivity and disrespect to the community, and asked important questions. Should you care? Where is the line between acceptance and cowardice? How can we counter the propaganda through non-violent means, as Lord Krishna advises? To what are you willing to commit? Drawing inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita, they concluded that Hindu

Ganesh and Krishna stressed the importance of volunteer organisations and community groups, after which followed the official launch of the Hindu students forum, namely, Hindu Students Australia (HSA). HSA was launched by three executive members of the University Hindu societies; Adithya Prasad (USYD OM Society), Mimansa Rana (UNSW Vishwaas Society) and Bineal Roy (UTS Om Shanti Society). The team discussed the wonderful service being offered by the organisation and explained their endeavour to connect with all educational institutions on a national level. These members were perfect examples of commitment, and are great entrepreneurs for HAS.

Kailash and Thanvi explained the direction of HYA over the next year and its upcoming activities and festivities, including the World Hindu Youth Congress in Bali 2013. The excitement reached a crescendo especially on hearing the the news you wish to see”. In his post conference summary, Arjun consolidated the key messages and highlights from the day. Full marks should be given to Bhavana and Jaya, as they compered the event with high professionalism and enthusiasm. The second Australian Hindu Youth Conference was truly a spectacular event for the community, and was enjoyed immensely by attendees and organisers alike. The HYA team were inspirational and promise to serve as terrific role models for future generations. The job of preserving humanity’s oldest culture and language in Australia is in good hands. The Hindu Youth of Australia are the new ambassadors to this perennial philosophy and they will continue to raise the bar and set new heights!

Visit www.vhp.org.au or http://www. hinduyouth.com.au/ for more information and details.

Krishna Ramarathinam