University of Florida, Gainsville
Speaker: Vijay Swami
Pictures
Shri. Vijay Swami, USEFI Fulbright scholar arrived in Gainesville, FL about 11am. He was hosted by Mr. Shiv Iyer and family for lunch. Thereafter, Shri. Shree Joshi and Vijayji drove to University of Florida Campus around 5pm.
They were greeted and met by Indian Students' Association's (ISA) Faculty advisor: Dr. Vasudha Narayanan (vasu@ufl.edu). A forty minute lecture and powerpoint slide show followed by a 30 minute discussion session was set for 6:30 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2007. The topic for the lecture was "Traditional knowledge and conservation efforts: local cultures of NE Himalayas in India". The organiser for this event ISA Graduate affairs had reserved a classroom in Turlington Plaza on the University campus for this lecture.
In spite of a thunderstorm and heavy rains, about 25 students and faculty attended the lecture. Dr. Narayanan introduced Vijayji to the audiences. All the audience seemed spellbound and enjoyed the amazing photographic slides of the NE Himalayan region of India. Especially, the faculty from Soil sciences and Religion studies found Vijayji's lecture extremely engaging. In the following discussion session, many students and faculty asked various questions about the NE Himalayn tribes, their lifestyle and traditional efforts for conserving the biodiversity in NE Himalayan region.
One student asked " How are they resisting the material development? Don't they like other farmers in India, feel attracted to the urban wonders?". A faculty asked question about influence of China and neighboring countries as well as religious conversions on the traditional cultures in the region. Another audience member commented, that watching the slide show made him feel as if there is so much more that he could explore about his own country- India!
The discussion session was very well balanced and grounded in deep understanding and respect for Hinduism by the audiences. Most student audiences were taking course "Religion and nature" offered in the Hinduism at the Department of Religion.
Audiences were specially interested in finding about opportunities to visit the area and work there through Yuva for Seva. A faculty member wanted Vijayji to visit again to speak to his class on soil-nature- and religion. Another faculty member expressed interest in publishing Vijayji's research and work and requested Vijayji to submit an article for a peer-reviewed journal published by Department of Religion.
ISA Vice President for Grad Affairs, Kim Gokhale, thanked Vijayji and presented him with a "Gator- Coffee Mug" with an engraved University of Florida logo and hoped that he would think of the Gators whenever he enjoyed a cup of coffee.
Dr. Vasudha Narayanan hosted Vijayji for dinner after the lecture. She also suggested that a U-Watch group should be started in all Universities on the lines of ASHA for education groups for raising awareness about NE India.
The Indian Students Association looks forward to hosting Vijayji in the future and be enthralled by his work and experiences in most beautiful regions of India.