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About Young, American, Hindu

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Vyasar Ganesan is the contributing writer for Radha Madhav Dham's "Young, American, Hindu" blog, and has been going to the ashram since he was old enough to walk. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University, and has been published in print and online. In this blog, he aims to document and share his experience as a growing Hindu in the United States, in the hopes of inspiring other young Indians. For more on Vyasar and his writing, please visit vyasarwrites.com.

Posts by Young, American, Hindu

Leadership

When a visitor comes to Radha Madhav Dham for the first time, I often wonder what it is it that they see. Without a doubt, the great beauty of the Texas Hill Country, the fields of wildflowers, the pastures and more…

My Interview with Mallika

A few weeks ago, I sat down with one of Radha Madhav Dham’s youth leaders for a quick chat. Mallika is a talented dancer, photographer and artist, who often volunteers her time at the ashram during major celebrations and spiritual more…

The Things I Cannot Explain

Like most young Hindus in America, I often have to explain parts of my culture and faith to others. Indians may be a majority minority in this country, but information regarding our religion, Sanatan Dharm, is riddled with misconceptions, flawed more…

Representing Indian America

  Recently, a discussion on social media got me thinking about ways Indian culture is represented in society. We have a reputation for glorious weddings and somber rituals. Certainly, to many we are model citizens: Indians dominate the fields of science and more…

Am I Old or Am I Young?

When I started writing this blog, I was 21 years old. It doesn’t seem that long ago – after all, five years is no great span of time. But a lot has changed in five years. I have a master’s more…

Cure for Exhaustion

  Much as we’d like to believe we’re capable of working nonstop, the fact of the matter is we need rest. I learned that the hard way this weekend at a conference for work. Running from session to session, handing more…

Accepting the Imperfect

  Framing is precision work. The spacing, the trimming, the hanging – there are so many little mistakes that can be made, in so many steps. By the end, if you’re not careful, those little mistakes pile into an eyesore. more…

Building and Breaking

                I have always enjoyed putting things together and taking things apart. My father caught on to this early in my childhood, and encouraged me to dismantle clocks, hairdryers, radios and anything else more…

What is a Sanctuary?

  Our world is fraught. We understand this at a very core level, even if we don’t see it as a bad thing. And we’re right: it’s not bad in and of itself. Our lives are filled with family and more…