Dear Editor,
Swami Aksharananda, Hindu scholar and Prinicipal of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) High School was recently honored in Mumbai, India. He was honored by Vishwa Adhyayan Kendra and Keshav-Srishti on Friday January 4, 2008 during a ceremony at the Alkesh Mody Auditorium, Kalina Campus, Mumbai. Swami Aksharananda was honored for his work in the areas of education and social service in Guyana. Swami Aksharanda has an MA in Sanskrit from Banaras Hindu University and PhD in Hindu Studies from the University of Madison, Wisconsin.
At the said function, the Guyanese scholar was also honored by Mr. Mohan Bhagwat, the highly respected and influential general secretary of the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh, who presented Swami Aksharananda with the traditional shawl, coconut, plaque and check for Rs. 51,000.
At part of the proceedings, Swami Aksharananda delivered a keynote address dedicated to the memory of the late Lakshmanrao Bhide, a fatherly figure to several Indians from diaspora countries. Speaking on the “Challenges before the global people of Indian-origin (PIO) community” Swami Aksharananda stated: “All over the world, the one single most destructive threat to human peace and prosperity is the quest for conversion