KAUAI, HAWAII, May 11, 2018: Hinduism Today is delighted to announce the completion of its five part video documentary series, “The History of Hindu India,” based on the book of the same title. Both are available now on YouTube, Part Four at “source” above or https://youtu.be/8A36RSQEb_Q and Part Five at https://youtu.be/eVnqJHO3PcY. Parts One (posted in 2014), Two and Three (both posted in 2015) have been very popular on YouTube, receiving respectively, 2.6 million hits, 1.3 million hits and 965,000 hits along with tens of thousands of “thumbs up” and hundreds of positive comments.
The History of Hindu India series was developed by the editors of Hinduism Today magazine in collaboration with Dr. Shiva Bajpai, Professor Emeritus of History, California State University Northridge. It is intended to provide an authentic presentation of the history of India and Hinduism for use in American middle and high school classes, as well as Hindu temple study groups and general presentations on the Hindu religion and history.
Part Four is based on the fourth chapter of the textbook, “The History of Hindu India,” published in 2011. It covers Indian history from 1850 to 1947, from when the British Crown took over direct control of India from the East India Company to Independence. Under British rule, economic exploitation of the subcontinent increased, resulting in frequent famine and deprivation across the once wealthy land. A determined and mostly nonviolent freedom movement emerged and finally succeeded, resulting in the formation of modern India and Muslim Pakistan in 1947.
Part five is based on the fifth chapter of the textbook. It covers Indian history from 1947 to the present day. Opening with Nehru’s famed speech on August 15, 1947, it describes the formation of the new government, development of the constitution, invasion of Kashmir by Pakistan, the horrors of partition, formation of states along linguistic lines, and efforts to uplift the lower classes. It covers the religions of India along with religious strife and its causes, Hindu pilgrimage using Rameswaram as an example, Ayurveda, the impact of Hinduism in the modern world and finally a nod to the popularity of Bollywood and Indian cuisine.
For more information and for class lesson plans based on the book, visit www.hinduismtoday.com/education/. This documentary is directed and produced by Sushma Khadepaun. Narrated by Roger (Raj) Narayan. Post Production Jalebi Khao LA. Funded by the Uberoi Foundation, Institute for Curriculum Advancement.
Part One: https://youtu.be/dBZRTzXARWM
Part Two: https://youtu.be/j0kLX2aPgo8
Part Three: https://youtu.be/Lr8Qx0SyrYI