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Newsletter Jan 2005
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Thursday, Feb 18, 2010
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From Narain V. Hingorani, AIS President
American Institute of Sindhulogy (AIS) brings Seasons Greetings to all the visitors to our web site and thanks for your continued enthusiastic excitement in the mission and activities of AIS.
Since the publication of our last newsletter in August 2004, events on the world stage have unfurled at frantic pace affecting and adjusting the political scenes around the globe, and exacting enormous influence on the peoples and cultures of all continents.
The feverish partisan campaigning during the USA presidential elections virtually bifurcated the country in red and blue; nevertheless finally resulted in even larger government control by Republicans and four more years of Bush hegemony.
Earlier in October people of Afghanistan crossed a major milestone along their vicious and violent history by conducting first-ever election for ahead of state without any major problems and elected Hamid Karzai as their president. However Al-Quida leadership is still at large and issues regular terrorist warnings against USA and it allies.
Rebellious insurgency in Iraq is exacting its daily toll of local people and military personnel casting a deep dark cloud of concern about the general election scheduled for 30th January 2005. It is planned to substantially expand the troop level with a firm resolve to go forward with the elections and "to amaze the world how quickly Iraqi society has been transformed!"
There is a crisis situation in Ukraine where the country's Supreme Court has declared the duly conducted Russian influenced election of the president as illegal and void. The country is now gearing up for the run-off re-election. Furthermore, so much that is disturbing is happening in Haiti, Sudan and other parts of the world
"So what have all these political news to do with the non-political, non-religious cultural organization like AIS?" you may question. Well, the Lotus flower always remains above the water and is unaffected by the underlying mud in which it is rooted; but it co-exists with both under all weathers. Similarly the enlightened culture, while not getting sullied by political and religious conflict and controversy, must recognize their reality and carefully chart its path untouched by them.
During these hectic and pell-mell tumultuous times AIS has remained focussed in its mission. We are endeavoring to make AIS presence known far and wide, exerting our feeble hoarse voice and meager resources, for the avowed task of keeping alive the cultural and spiritual heritage of Sindhu-Saraswati, the cradle of world civilization.
GUEST BOOK
The new feature of "AIS replies" introduced last August has proved to be enormously encouraging in promoting continuous dialog with AIS and among Guest Book visitors. It has been heartening to read that many of you regard AIS as your very own with a feeling of close bond. AIS immensely appreciates this full faith in our mission and activities.
BOOK DISTRIBUTION/LIBRARY PROJECT
After completing our E-mail campaign of addressing over 2000 academic libraries in USA and Canada, AIS commenced working on Public Library campaign in August 2004. We have already compiled the database for State Libraries of all the 50 USA states and more than 2000 other public libraries, out of 4000 to 5000 libraries in the USA. It is planned to issue E-mail letters to all the above over 2000 public libraries before end of the year
We have up to now completed more populous Northwest, Midwest and Great Lakes states and done partial work on five Southeast states. We expect to recommence compilation of database for rest of Public Libraries with full strength after the holiday season. Task of sending e-mail reminders will be taken up after we have completed sending first letters to all the public libraries.
Like every bulk e-mailing campaign, AIS library project has also encountered problem of certain percentage of messages remaining unopened and/or unread due to SPAM controls. We have also received undelivered return e-mails due to changes in e-mail addresses. Some libraries have requested to have their names removed from our lists. While AIS will continue to write to libraries, a more effective way of reminders may perhaps be for our readers to contact and write to libraries in their areas. AIS believes this personal approach would result in more positive responses.
LETTERS TO EMBASSIES
AIS has mailed regular airmail letters, in all 86 addresses, to Indian Missions and Embassies in various countries urging them to purchase "Return of the Aryans" for their libraries. We will continue sending letters to remaining Indian consulates.
YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS
AIS have addressed special letters to over sixty student and youth organizations within academic institutions in USA, Canada and Australia - mainly to introduce them to AIS mission and activities and asking them to impress upon college authorities the importance of purchasing "Return of the Aryans" for their libraries.
PENGUIN PROBLEM
Many regular visitors to our website and especially those who read the Guest Book are already aware of the difficult situation with regard to supply of the book "Return of the Aryans" from the publishers Penguin India New Delhi. Efforts by some Indian Embassies to purchase the book have been frustrated due to non-availability of the book with publishers.
Distribution of this book to various USA libraries has been the most significant project undertaken by AIS for promoting the awareness of Indus-Saraswati cultures and heritage. But the continued success of our Email campaign to academic and public libraries depends entirely upon reliable source of supply of the book. Thousands of hours spent on this project will be wasted unless the problem is solved quickly.
In November 2004 Dial Gidwani wrote a personal letter to Anant Padmanathan of Penguin India, whom he had earlier met in Delhi. A suggestion was made to market and distribute the book through Swaveda www.swaveda.com a forum of Indian Studies who market the books in collaboration with amazon.com. AIS wrote another letter on the subject to David Davidar CEO of Penguin India in New Delhi. No responses have been received from either of the gentlemen. Dial Gidwani plans to be in New Delhi in January 2005 to meet his friends in political and cultural fields. He will take this opportunity to discuss this business with Penguin India at their highest level and hopefully extract some assurance for regular supply of the book.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES
While pursuing our efforts for regular book supply AIS will continue working on compiling library database and sending E-mail. However, sending reminders for book purchase will have to wait till after we have completed sending E-mails to all the libraries and the supply situation improves to ensure that the books are available when ordered.
In the meantime AIS plans to concentrate on many other activities which have been on the back burner for some time.
- School Project- Write letters to School Boards and other education authorities to include study of Indus and Saraswati Civilizations in High School curriculum. Maintain continuous follow up.
- Indus Exposition -Restart communication with museum to explore ideas about arranging expositions on Indus valley Civilization. In this regard write letters to appropriate departments of Government of India and other organizations for their financial, material and administrative support organizing exhibitions in USA
- Donations - Write letters and make contacts with foundations and endowments like Infinity and others which provide grants of financial support for cultural non-profit organizations like AIS. Also appeal to major Indian Corporations in USA (about 100) in writing and personal approach for donation in the common cause of promoting the culture and heritage in USA.
- Miscellaneous - There are many other activities mentioned in our previous newsletters and others, which AIS board members continuously discuss that we believe are important for our mission to educate local public about our culture and heritage. These we will decide to undertake in 2005 based on human and financial resources.
- Public Relations - Consider engaging a part-time public relations expert to assist in all the foregoing activities and establish contacts with Indian and USA mainstream media with view to obtain their assistance to achieve extensive exposure for aims and activities of AIS.
CONCLUSION
Once again I take this opportunity on behalf of all of us at AIS to thank all our readers for their continued support and words of appreciation and encouragement which, have helped to keep us on track against all odds; and kept us fighting in the face of apathy and indifference.
For over four years, AIS has kept your organization afloat, advancing the aims of our common mission, barely hanging on by proverbial shoestrings without any outside financial support. Our meager resources are getting over extended and AIS will be hard pressed to move forward without securing a stable financial foundation.
AIS estimates that it needs to raise ten thousand dollars for year 2005 with three thousand required urgently. AIS has been let down by wealthy people who failed to honor their pledges of donations. We, therefore, turn and appeal to grass roots, our readers and supporters who consider AIS mission as our common cause - please tell us how you can help. Will two dollars per week be too much to expect -along with your encouragement and appreciation which, we always immensely value? All donation are tax deductible.
AIS wishes all our website visitors, readers, friends and well-wishers happy healthy, holidays and purposeful and peaceful new year.
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