community

By Adit Kumar The late Joseph Skulj was honoured posthumously by the Hindu Institute of Learning (HIL), at its annual dinner program which was held last Saturday evening at the Vedic Cultural Centre, 14th Avenue, Markham. The posthumous award was presented to the Skulj family in honour of the memory of Joseph Skulj, who passed away suddenly on October 28, 2008.
A glowing tribute was paid to Joseph Skulj, by HIL Director, Chander Khanna, who spoke of Joseph’s passion for learning and expounding Sanskrit. Skulj's wife Carmen and daughter Monica received the plaque from Amar Erry, Chairman of the Vedic Cultural Centre on behalf of the institute.
Joseph Skulj, a retired professional engineer from Slovenia, was an equally active member of the Slovenian community as well as the Hindu Institute of Learning. He did extensive research on Indo-Aryan Languages and was able to establish linguistic comparisons between Indo-Aryan languages - Vedic Sanskrit in particular - and Slavic languages. His studies also established genetic commonalities between Indo-Aryan populations and Slavic populations.
An enthusiastic mixed gathering of Caucasians and South Asians braved the rains and cold weather to participate in the event. The evening’s program showcased the students of the institute as they performed in song, dance, drama, reading of poetry and recitation of Sanskrit verses. The program also included updates on the activities and plans of the institute. Recognitions plaques were also presented to Hema Patel and Snenina Sonina for their dedication to the teaching of Hindi and Sanskrit.
Jagdish Sharda, president of the HIL, made a passionate appeal for the community to establish a Hindi school, like other communities have done for teaching their language and culture. He said that the institute is in its 19th year of operation and is looking to obtaining its own building to hold its classes. He noted that currently there are more Canadians than Indo-Canadians who are learning Sanskrit and Hindi at the institute. He added that the 60-odd students of HIL range in ages from eight to over 80 and include professionals such as university lecturers, bank managers and engineers. He also said that many of the students have moved on but still maintain their contact with and support for the institute
Mr Sharda, an energetic and sharp octogenarian, pleaded for someone to come up and relieve him of his presidential duties which he has been performing for the longest while.
The institute, located at 2411 Dundas Street, Toronto, offers classes in a wide range of cultural training. Apart from teaching Hindi, Sanskrit and other Indian languages, it offers classes in yoga, tabla, harmonium, vocal music and classical Indian dance.
For information on HIL contact Dr. Kailash Bhatnagar, by email: bhatnagarkc@hotmail.com; or call (905) 956-1609, or Dr Ratnakar Narale at rnarale@yahoo.com or call (416) 531-1322. The website for HIL is: www.hilwebsite.com.

November 19, 2008 issue
Community Connection
Skulj honoured posthumously by Hindu Institute of Learning

Carmen Skulj, left, wife of the late Joseph Skulj, receiving plaque from Amar Erry in memory of her husband who recently passed away. Also in picture is Monica Skulj, daughter of the deceased. pic by Adit Kumar
By Adit Kumar The late Joseph Skulj was honoured posthumously by the Hindu Institute of Learning (HIL), at its annual dinner program which was held last Saturday evening at the Vedic Cultural Centre, 14th Avenue, Markham. The posthumous award was presented to the Skulj family in honour of the memory of Joseph Skulj, who passed away suddenly on October 28, 2008. A glowing tribute was paid to Joseph Skulj, by HIL Director, Chander Khanna, who spoke of Joseph’s passion for learning and expounding Sanskrit. Skulj's wife Carmen and daughter Monica received the plaque from Amar Erry, Chairman of the Vedic Cultural Centre on behalf of the institute. Joseph Skulj, a retired professional engineer from Slovenia, was an equally active member of the Slovenian community as well as the Hindu Institute of Learning. He did extensive research on Indo-Aryan Languages and was able to establish linguistic comparisons between Indo-Aryan languages - Vedic Sanskrit in particular - and Slavic languages. His studies also established genetic commonalities between Indo-Aryan populations and Slavic populations. An enthusiastic mixed gathering of Caucasians and South Asians braved the rains and cold weather to participate in the event. The evening’s program showcased the students of the institute as they performed in song, dance, drama, reading of poetry and recitation of Sanskrit verses. The program also included updates on the activities and plans of the institute. Recognitions plaques were also presented to Hema Patel and Snenina Sonina for their dedication to the teaching of Hindi and Sanskrit. Jagdish Sharda, president of the HIL, made a passionate appeal for the community to establish a Hindi school, like other communities have done for teaching their language and culture. He said that the institute is in its 19th year of operation and is looking to obtaining its own building to hold its classes. He noted that currently there are more Canadians than Indo-Canadians who are learning Sanskrit and Hindi at the institute. He added that the 60-odd students of HIL range in ages from eight to over 80 and include professionals such as university lecturers, bank managers and engineers. He also said that many of the students have moved on but still maintain their contact with and support for the institute Mr Sharda, an energetic and sharp octogenarian, pleaded for someone to come up and relieve him of his presidential duties which he has been performing for the longest while. The institute, located at 2411 Dundas Street, Toronto, offers classes in a wide range of cultural training. Apart from teaching Hindi, Sanskrit and other Indian languages, it offers classes in yoga, tabla, harmonium, vocal music and classical Indian dance. For information on HIL contact Dr. Kailash Bhatnagar, by email: bhatnagarkc@hotmail.com; or call (905) 956-1609, or Dr Ratnakar Narale at rnarale@yahoo.com or call (416) 531-1322. The website for HIL is: www.hilwebsite.com.
Cancelled Jagan Lectures to be rescheduled for later
Organizers of the Jagan Lectures at York University regret cancellation of the Eighth Jagan Lecture on 15th November, 2008, because of a strike at York University. A new date for the lecture will be announced early in the new year when the strike is over.
Imdadul's Niagara Falls trip
Imdadul Islamic Jamaat will be having a 2 Nights/3 Days excursion by luxury coach to Niagara Falls on November 28-30. For info, call Haroon Shariff 416-674-9516, Abdul Rahman 905-303-8954, Osman Khan 905-825-1884 or Sister Neisha 647-894-3966.
Satya Sai Baba's 83rd birthday
Devotees of Bhagavan Shri Sathya Sai Baba’s Sai Nilayam Ashram, invite all to join in celebrations of the 83rd Birth Day of Bhagavan Shri Sathya Sai Baba on Saturday, November 22nd, 2008 - 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight, and Sunday, November 23rd, 2008 - 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at SN Rameshvara Hall, located at 45 Cranfield Road, Unit #10, East York. For info, please call 905-454-0637 or 416-460-6867
Pandit Loaknauth Sharma: appreciation by Devi Mandir
The Devi Mandir will host an appreciation function for Pandit Loaknauth Sharma on Saturday, November 29, 2008 from 6.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. at the Mandir’s location, 2590 Brock Road, Pickering. The function will take the form of a Satsangh in the Prayer Hall, followed by a cultural presentation in the Auditorium. Pt Sharma was one of the first to voluntarily serve the Devi Mandir providing a sound base from which the organization has grown. Call the Devi Mandir (905-686-8534), Vishnu Sookar (416-897-8005), Amar Binda (416-249-3579) or Sam Persaud (905-428-6905).
CICA's Annual Xmas Dinner
The Canadian Indo Caribbean Association (CICA) of Hamilton and Surrounding, cordially invite you to its Annual Christmas Dinner and Dance on Dec. 06, 2008 at the Empire Banquet Hall, 246 Brockport Drive, Etobicoke, ON. Adults - $40.00, Children under 12 years – $25:00. For further info. please call Mobeen @ 905 578-2905 or Ann @ 905 578-7821.

The Kids First Fund, headed by Varshnie Singh, held a Fund Raising Dinner and Dance on November 8 at the La Vita Banquet Hall in Toronto. Singh has been taking kids from Guyana to India for surgeries which are not available in their home country. Through this initiative several kids have been given a second chance in life through life saving operations in India. In October 2007, 10 kids from Guyana had open heart surgeries done at the Frontier Lifeline Hospital in Chennai and at present there are 275 on Kids First Fund's waiting list. For enquiries or more information, send email to: kidsfirstfund@hotmail.com. In picture above is Varshnie Singh (4th from left) with some of the volunteers at the fund raiser, from left: Agnes Savitagee, Jay Mohabir, Loreen Amren-Granger, Michael Annamunthodo and Lorraine Annamunthodo. pic by Adit Kumar
Global Partnership for Literacy launched

Helping with Guyana's literacy: SchoolNet supporters meeting in Toronto, from left: Wilfred McAlmont, Lisa Punit, Rookie Doobay, Felicia Kwang, Waheeda Rahman
By Adit Kumar SchoolNet Guyana, a Diaspora initiated program designed to assist the Guyana's Ministry of Education to acquire and integrate Information Communication Technology (ICT) into schools came a step closer to reality when the board of directors of Global Partnership for Literacy held its first meeting on October 19, 2008 at the Centennial College, in Scarborough. The board, headed by Consul General, Danny Doobay, is made up of highly qualified individuals drawn from the academia, teaching, social sciences, business, engineering, technology and project management professions. It will operate out of the Toronto Consulate with assistance from the foreign offices in Washington and London, and will work in partnership with the Ministry of Education, with additional support coming from other chapters of the Global Partnership for Literacy as they are established throughout the world. Committee Chair, Danny Doobay was recently in Winnipeg and Vancouver promoting the initiative and garnering much needed support for the project. A release from the consulate states that the Global Partnership for Literacy is a Canadian based non-governmental organization which will implement SchoolNet Guyana with support from the Government of Guyana and the Diaspora Communities in Canada, UK and the USA. The release added that the project will be implemented in three phases from 2008 -2013, with the program to be finalized after the completion of a pilot project consisting of three schools. The pilot project will provide key inputs for final design of the project and completion of a business plan, the release said. The release added that the cost of the project is estimated at $12M USD and funding will be provided by a combination of NGO’s, Diaspora groups, and private and public sector agencies involved in bridging the digital divide in developing countries including Intel. Microsoft, CIDA, USAID, etc. The initiative aims to bridge the digital divide by converting secondary and post secondary schools in Guyana into centres of learning where instructors and students will be trained in the use of ICT. For enquiries or more information on how to help, check website: http://globalpartnershipforliteracy.org/ Tax receipts will be issued for donations towards the project.
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