Stars, Stripes, and Sanatanis: Young Hindu Voices of America

This episode of Stars, Stripes, and Sanatanis tackles a topic on the minds of youth in America and beyond - mental health - from a non-Western perspective. Ravi Jaishankar, a member of Hindu Students Council's Board of Trustees, joins the podcast as a special guest to help deconstruct the issue through a Hindu lens. Ravi's clear and lucid explanations of relevant Hindu concepts give listeners a refreshing introduction to a topic that is traditionally considered taboo among present day Hindu society, even though there are countless psychological and philosophical methods rooted in the Hindu tradition that can help us in our mental health journey.

After RRR won the Oscars, desis everywhere celebrated. Among them were some very excited students from Hindu Students Council! Listen to Akanksha, Anupama, and Arushi talk about why they enjoyed RRR and Kantara, their cultural significance, and how these movies are important to their identities as Hindus growing up in the diaspora.

Holi is celebrated in communities across the diaspora by students from several dharmic backgrounds, bringing together desis and non-desis. Past the Bollywood love stories and all the colors, there is a rich tapestry of traditions and legends that are rooted in Hinduism. Listen to three students from Hindu Students Council talk about their memories of Holi, and the beautiful, ancient customs that we honor to this day.

During today's Stars, Stripes, and Sanatanis episode, our hosts recount various instances of Hindu persecution in both ancient and modern times. They outline strategies to raise greater awareness, as well as how the discourse surrounding Hindu persecution needs to change. The episode also includes an interview with a Bangladeshi Hindu high school student!

Though the Indian subcontinent is the birthplace of Hindu dharma, there are countless communities across the world that are proudly Hindu. Join Samyuktha and Sowmya for an informative conversation about the strength and beauty in these unique communities!

April is Genocide Awareness Month. We start off this month by bringing you an episode that focuses on the beautiful heritage and resilience of the Kashmiri Hindu community. Join Samyuktha and Arushi in a conversation with our guests, Meera Bhat and Ahan Raina, two proud Kashmiri Pandit Americans.   

To learn more about Kashmiri Hindus, reference Kashmiri Overseas Association's website (koausa.org), and follow KOA Youth (@koayouth) on Instagram.   

Satyameva Jayate- the truth always triumphs, even seven exoduses later

In today’s podcast episode, we shed light on recent events that transpired at Rutgers with regards to Professor Audrey Truschke. With an interview of a current Rutgers student, we seek to broadcast an authentic perspective and understand how academia can spread misinformation. The views expressed in the podcast are the views of the individual speakers and do not represent the official views of HSC.

Why does Hindu society praise Devi...but simultaneously have so many problems? Sowmya and Samyuktha, seniors from California, discuss the rich history of Hindu women, the ideals of Shakti, misogyny, and how dharmic decolonization can help one use Hindu dharma as a tool of empowerment and liberation. 

Instagram: @hschighschool

On this episode of Stars, Stripes, and Sanatanis, Neha Srivastava-ji of the Shaktitva Foundation meets with members of the Hindu Students Council's Texas division to discuss how to shape a more unified understanding of what Hindu femininity is. It may be difficult for Hindu adolescents to balance western standards with what our faith can teach them. This podcast, however, includes a great, nuanced take on femininity that we hope you enjoy! This is a reupload of a Charcha Chat, which is a series of Hindu talks moderated by members of the Hindu Students Council on campus.

Today, Bhuvanesh and Srikar discuss LGBTQIA figures in Hinduism, how it is described in the scriptures, and how colonialism changed policies and cultural outlook on LGBTQIA in India. Vivek interviews two Hindu youth from the LGBT community.