Source: The Newspaper Today

http://www.thenewspapertoday.com/india/inside.phtml?NEWS_ID=24926

On August 20, 2001, The Newspaper Today reported that "the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is making serious efforts to forge close links with native American Indian groups, saying the two have 'many things in common,'" Sangh spokesman M.G. Vaidya said. "Both inherit the glory and wisdom of ancient traditions and respect mother earth and we all should work together to...

Source: The New York Times

On August 18, 2001, The New York Times reported that "an organization called the Hindu Leaders Forum announced that a pilgrimage...will visit five American cities..., holding events in Hindu communities in Miami, Atlanta, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles to raise public awareness of the faith's presence in the United States. Common estimates are that there may be as many as one million Hindus in the nation."

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10378-2001Aug14.html

On August 18, 2001, The Washington Post reported that "in a new survey of Americans' attitudes about Hindus, 666  people – two-thirds of those surveyed – said they have no familiarity with Hindu beliefs and practices...Members of the Hindu Leaders Forum...commissioned the survey...The Embassy of India estimates that 90 percent of [America's] 1.5...

Source: International Society for Krishna Consciousness

http://www.iskcon.net/boston

On August 14, 2001, The International Society for Krishna Consciousness reported that "the Boston Theological Institute's Dialog Program convened a panel on religious conversion at the Harvard Divinity School. Christopher Queen...of the Harvard Extension School...discussed his journey from Methodism to Buddhism...Premananda dasa spoke of his journey from Christianity to atheism to Vaishnavism......

Source: Newsday

On August 10, 2001, Newsday reported that "a State Supreme Court judge has issued a restraining order against a popular Hindu temple in Flushing, preventing it from spending temple funds, after six members accused its board of concealing financial records. The Hindu Temple Society of North America, which governs the Ganesha Temple..., has been ordered not to use any assets, sign any contracts or conduct any major expenditures unless authorized by temple membership." The president of the Hindu Temple Society denied all allegations. "Those...

Source: The Pioneer Press

On August 4, 2001, The Pioneer Press reported on the speaking tour of a swami from Andra Pradesh, India. "Swamiji Bhagavan Sri Viswayogi Viswamji Maharaj will make public and private appearances" in the Twin Cities for five days. "What he says -- that all religions are the same -- is important," said one of the local Hindus who organized the tour. "More and more (swamiss) are coming to the United States because of the affluence of the Indian-Hindu community," said the production manager of Hinduism Today. "Many swamis...