In Episode 42, we speak with a Homeschooling mother from USA. This podcast assumes special significance because it is being aired at a time when the woke phenomenon is rampaging through American educational institutions. There is a rising tide of anti-Hindu literature being circulated in American media and academia. When schools portray Hinduism as nothing more than “casteism” and schoolchildren are taught contempt for Hindus, what effect does it have on our children? In light of the Riddhi...

Hindu Parenting Podcast Episode 41 is a conversation with Dr. Omendra Ratnu, a practising ENT surgeon who also has an abiding passion for culture, history and Dharma. Dr. Ratnu runs an NGO, Nimittekam, to rehabilitate minority refugees from Pakistan in Bharat. Dr. Ratnu has a keen interest in the history of Rajasthan and has written several articles on the history of Mewar. His recent book is titled “Maharanas - A 1000 Year War for Dharma”. He is also the Founder of Dharmansh Foundation,...

In Episode 40 of The Hindu Parenting Podcast, Matrushree Ananthalakshmi, Co-Founder of Anaadi Foundation explains IKS - Indian Knowledge Systems. Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) is quite the buzzword now, but what exactly constitutes IKS (other than Yoga and Ayurveda)? Anaadi Foundation has a set of IKS books specially designed for children, which can be used to teach kids at home. Learn more about the books, the topics covered and how we can teach children all about the scientific heritage...

Episode 39: A conversation about feminism with Prof. Madhu Purnima Kishwar (Founder, Manushi Trust and one of India’s most distinguished academics in the social sciences). The social sciences are a black box for most Hindu parents. The western social sciences hold a disproportionate influence on our lives and our collective future, hence it is essential to talk to our children about feminism and other western movements. This conversation will help bring clarity to feminism and situate it in...

In Episode 38, we talk with Acharya Padmini Ravi, a journey in dance for over 5 decades. An exponent of the ancient craft of Bharatanatyam, a performer, speaker and teacher, she reveals a new dimension to dance. Why should children learn classical performing arts, especially a difficult dance form like Bharatanatyam? The skills they learn helps them be the best version of themselves, no matter what profession they choose in future. We also explore the journey of a dancer from the physical to...

In this episode, Shri Rishi Pal Chauhan, Founder and Principal of Jiva Public School talks about personalising education because every child is unique. Shri Chauhan elaborates on the ways in which Jiva School incorporates Bharatiya Hindu values like Dinacharya and Svadhyaya into the daily routine for children. It helps children to observe their actions and become self-aware. The body constitution and multiple intelligences of children vary widely. Jiva School helps analyse children and train...

The Lohri episode features a conversation around stories and lived experiences from the Punjab area of India. One of our guests is Charu Uppal ji, media scholar and storyteller. You can find her articles at charuuppal.substack.com The word Lohri comes from Loh which means ‘flame’. As the name suggests, the Lohri tradition involves a bonfire symbolising energy, hope and renewal. Listen to the beautiful story of Dulla Bhattiwaala and the origin of Lohri. The story lives on in the form of a...

In this podcast, Shri Pankaj Saxena helps us understand the role of the family in the overall context of Hindu cosmology. He explains that the Hindu worldview is based on Kartavya Bodh, a sense of duties toward one another in the family and beyond. We explore how it is clashing with the rights narrative around us today. The family unit makes it easier for a Hindu to repay the Panch Rna-s and live a fulfilled life with psychological, spiritual, physical and intellectual comfort. Listen to an...

In Episode 34, we look at rituals in Hinduism, in a conversation with Shri PVR Narasimha Rao. The English word ritual does not really capture the sense of sacred or meaningful action that is the core of Hinduism. What is the purpose of Sadhana? What place does it hold in Sanatana Dharma? What do the shastras say? We also touch on the “religious vs. spiritual” debate and understand the importance of both ritual and meditation. How do they help people in living a good life and finally, put them...

This episode features Shri Ramakrishna Kongalla, a researcher on temples and the Asst. Prof. at the Department of Travel and Tourism Management. Shri Kongalla brings his expertise in understanding temples to help us decode the beautiful stories that temples tell. What is the dhvajasthambam? Are there regional variations in temple styles? What do we need to know in order to decipher the sculpture on the temple walls? What is the order of things to do in a temple? We hope parents will use this...

In this episode on Hindu festivals, we converse with Monidipa Bose about Durga Puja as it is celebrated in Bengal. Monidipa Bose writes about history and heritage. She traces the history of Matrika worship and the rituals followed in Bengal. Listen to this podcast for everything you wanted to know about Durga Puja, including the different forms of the Devi worshipped each day, the colours associated with each deity, the traditions specific to Bengal and the great tradition of worshipping the...

In this episode, we talk to the concept creators behind a global initiative called the International Bindi & Tilak Day, celebrated on October 15 every year. Listen to their story and vision. We need these rallying points to enthuse young people and build a mass movement. Every movement starts with a spark. Let this be the spark we need to reclaim and wear our Hindu identity with pride. Make Hindu culture cool and aspirational! The goals of the creators are to: Promote Hindu Unity through...

This podcast is a conversation with Prof. Vamsee Juluri who teaches Media Studies at the University of San Francisco. We address the challenge of communicating with young people and children who are being told by everyone and everything around them that Hinduism is regressive, patriarchal and casteist. Prof. Juluri brings his vast experience in analysing media and the nature of modern communication to make us aware of the forces at play. He takes a recent example in the news to demonstrate...

In this podcast, we talk to Abhinav Kadambi & Krishna Rajaganesan - Founders of a Bharatiya strength training startup - about the important but neglected area of physical fitness & strength training, from a Bharatiya POV. What’s the relevance of physical strength & kshaatra for parents? Hear all about mugdar, gadaa (mace), kusti (wrestling). How is the Bharatiya method different from modern gymming? (It is holistic and develops the body, mind, emotions & spirit). There is a...

Vinayaka Chaturthi is one of the most important festivals for Hindus and especially loved by children. In this podcast, we converse with Dr. Arathi V.B., Founder and Chairperson of Vibhu Academy. We cover a lot of topics, including the importance of the festival, how it is celebrated, what is the concept and meaning behind it. This podcast delves into the essence of Sanathana Dharma, the Agamas, Gowri-Ganesha habba as an amalgam of folk and agamic traditions, what is the difference between a...

In this podcast, we talk with Shri R.B. Ramesh, internationally renowned chess coach and trainer of many successful youngsters like R. Praggnanandhaa. He is the founder of Chess Gurukul, a chess coaching academy. The Dronacharya Series is our humble tribute to the great gurus of our tradition. For young (and not-so-young) parents, the greatest learning comes from the teachers who motivate and inspire children to excel. How does Shri Ramesh train children to work hard & do their best, to...

Festivals and rituals are at the heart of Hinduism. The sheer number, colour, grandeur, meaningfulness, regional variations and wide variety in its festivals make Hinduism unique and exciting for young people. In this podcast, we have a fun conversation with Neha Srivastava, the founder of Shaktitva Foundation about the festival of Raksha Bandhan. We start with the details of when and how it is celebrated in the Uttar Pradesh tradition. Hear the story of its origins, and let your children...

In this podcast, we focus on a young startup called Indic Bricks that aims to make our heritage cool while helping kids develop creative & 3D spatial skills; train kids in STEM & robotics while giving them confidence and rootedness. Just as our kids read western fantasy, they also play with western or Japanese toys & comics (think Marvel, Barbie, Manga, Pokémon etc). An interest in our heritage starts with the toy box. What if kids had Indian toys like blocks to build temples with...

This is a special podcast for Hindu parents sending children for college to USA - what to expect, what to avoid, what support networks do students have? In this episode, we talk to Vijaya Viswanathan, co-author of the latest bestseller Snakes in the Ganga, and co-founder of Agastya Gurukulam, an initiative for imparting Bharatiya education. We converse about general dangers like vaping, alcohol, parties & also Hindu-specific ones like pressure to disown your parents & heritage. Should...

In this episode, we address the issue of conversion. We talk to Sruthi about her experiences, the questions she had that her parents couldn’t answer, her story of conversion and how she came back to Hinduism in just two and a half hours of logical conversation with Acharya ji of Aarsha Vidya Samajam. The movie The Kerala Story is based on the accounts of many girls like Sruthi. Hindu parents need to listen carefully and learn from these stories, because it is both our right and our duty to...

In this podcast we converse with Dr. Rajat Mitra, internationally renowned Professor and Clinical Pyschologist on the trans-generational trauma faced by Hindus. We explore many issues relating to the collective Hindu psyche, the silence and the lack of empathy with other Hindus. Other survivors of genocides have historically had the same trauma response and the way to set our next generation free from these mental shackles is by owning the past, acknowledging the trauma and moving on into...

In this episode, Gaurav Tiwari, Founder of Sutradhar, shares his great insights on our culture, festivals and the role of storytelling in raising children today. He has designed a range of products and videos for young children and families, some of which are puzzles, board games and different kinds of videos, also available as an app. Gaurav Tiwari, a mechanical engineer from IIT Bombay, quit his career of 16 years in the financial services industry to follow his passion: to help build a...

Listen to Part 2 of our Podcast with bestselling author Ranjith Radhakrishnan, author of “Rama of the Axe”, a novel based on Parashurama, the 6th avatara of Mahavishnu. This set of two podcasts contains deep discussions on essential concepts of Hindu dharma and reclaiming our ways of seeing, rather than using a Western lens. We continue the conversation from Part 1 on the need for kshaatra in the service of dharma. Hear a powerful excerpt read out by the author as he gives us a glimpse into...

Listen to Part 1 of our Podcast with bestselling author Ranjith Radhakrishnan. Why is this book a game-changer in its genre? Hear about lesser known facets of Hindu dharma through the 6th Avatara, Parashurama; the axe as a weapon of choice (not the more common bow or mace); the role of kshaatra; the inspiration behind the author’s handling of these themes, and more. Ranjith Radhakrishnan is a Bengaluru based entrepreneur. He is an ex-actor, assistant director, script assistant, toll manager,...