The time-tested traditional, moral, cultural and business values of Hinduism came under the spotlight at a conference held in Auckland last month.
Ethnic Affairs Minister Judith Collins inaugurated the fourth, two-day annual Hindu Conference at Sudima Hotel on May 12, underlining the importance of ethnic communities, while Leader of the Opposition David Shearer extolled Hinduism as the oldest and one of the greatest in the world.
The Hindu Council of New Zealand had organised the event, bringing together successful businesses, community leaders and young men and women across the Hindu stream resident on both sides of the Tasman.
In their multimedia presentation, Rajiv Chaturvedi and Dr Ihaka Puketapu said that Dharmic principles of Non-Violence (Ahimsa) and Non-Violent Struggle (Satyagraha) were prevalent in New Zealand decades before Mahatma Gandhi practiced them in the India Freedom Movement. Akila Ramarathinam, General Secretary of World Hindu Council based in Sydney presented a discourse on connecting communities with Hindu Heritage.
A number of businesspersons including Dr Nikhil Zaveri (East Tamaki Health Care), Sameer Handa (Patton Limited), Vinod Ramayah (Medtech Limited), Jacob Mannothra (Zindia Limited), Suresh Balar (Service Foods Limited) and Yogesh Punja (Punjas New Zealand Limited) gave an insight into successful entrepreneurship and the significance of social and community responsibility.
Fijian efforts
Community and social work undertaken by organisations in Fiji and New Zealand was the highlight of the conference on May 13, with 20 speakers outlining their efforts.
Among them were Jai Dayal (Hindu Emergency Aid and Relief Team and Vishwa Hindu Parishad), Bob Naidu (Friends of Fiji Health), Ashok Darji (Auckland Indian Association), Manish Tanna (Manukau Indian Association), Tribhuvan Shrestha (Hindu Council Wellington), Meeta Patel (Rotorua Deepavali Festival), Sundara Subbiah (Hindu Council Auckland) and Manoj Tahal (Waitakere Indian Association).
Hindu Council of New Zealand President Vinod Kumar announced that the Hindu Economic Conference would be held in Hong Kong on June 30 and July 1, 2012 and the World Hindu Conference in New Delhi in 2014.
