Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 93

Introduced by Senator Corbett

March 3, 2014

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 93—Relative to California Hindu American Awareness and Appreciation Month.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 93, as introduced, Corbett. California Hindu American Awareness and Appreciation Month

This measure would designate the month of October 2014 as California Hindu American Awareness and Appreciation Month. The measure would also recognize and acknowledge the significant contributions made by Californians of Hindu heritage to our state. By adoption of this resolution, the Legislature seeks to increase awareness and understanding about the Hindu American community.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, California and the nation have been influenced by
the extraordinary cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity
of its residents; and

WHEREAS, There is an estimated one billion Hindus
worldwide, and more than 2 million Hindu Americans live across
the nation; and

WHEREAS, California is home to the largest Hindu American
population in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Hindu Americans in California represent diverse
ethnic backgrounds, including individuals of Indian, Pakistani,
Bangladeshi, Malaysian, Indonesian, Afghani, Nepali, Bhutanese,
Sri Lankan, Fijian, Caribbean, and European descent; and

WHEREAS, California and our nation have greatly benefited
from Hindu Americans, especially through the Vedanta philosophy,
Ayurvedic medicine, classical Indian art, dance, music, meditation,
literature, and community service; and

WHEREAS, The United States was officially introduced to
Hinduism by Swami Vivekananda in 1893 at the World’s
Parliament of Religions in Chicago, and in 1900 he founded the
Vedanta Society in San Francisco, California; and

WHEREAS, The first Hindu temple in the United States was
built in San Francisco, California, and at the dedication of the
temple on January 7, 1906, it was proclaimed to be the “First Hindu
Temple in the Whole Western World”; and

WHEREAS, There are now over 120 Hindu temples, religious
centers, and cultural centers throughout California, and the greater
bay area is home to over 40 of those temples and centers; and

WHEREAS, Hindu Americans have greatly enriched
California’s higher education university systems by teaching
numerous students, especially in the academic fields of
astrophysics, computer science, engineering, law, planetary science,
psychology, and neurosciences; and

WHEREAS, Hindu Americans share the entrepreneurial spirit
of America and contribute to California’s economic vitality, having
been pioneers and leaders in Silicon Valley and founded several
of its early startups; and

WHEREAS, Hindu Americans have also contributed to many
of California’s economic sectors and particularly excelled in the
areas of business, information technology, medicine, and science;
and

WHEREAS, California Hindu temples, organizations, and
individuals actively engage in seva, a Sanskrit word for selfless
service, towards their fellow human beings through charity, public
service, and the provision of free medical and legal services; and

WHEREAS, Hindu Americans in cities throughout California
celebrate numerous holidays and festivals, such as Diwali, which
celebrates the victory of good over evil and knowledge over
ignorance; and

WHEREAS, Hindu Americans promote the ideals of tolerance,
pluralism, and religious freedom, which are inherent to their beliefs
and respect the diversity of all faiths; now therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the
month of October 2014 as California Hindu American Awareness
and Appreciation Month; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes and acknowledges
the significant contributions made by Californians of Hindu
heritage to our state, and by adoption of this resolution, seeks to
increase awareness and understanding about the Hindu American
community; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.