In December 2011, the CHN started a series of articles called ‘The CHN View’ in the Asian Voice, based on the 6 CHN Principles, to promote and share the values of the organisation. This is the first article in the series. You can read the original version here.

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London, 24 December 2011: The strength of our Sanatan Dharma lies in its heterogeneity in thought and ideas. It has no ecclesiastical hierarchy because individuals do not need a priest as an intermediary in their relationship with God, or in their pursuit of moskha (salvation). There are no sermons like at Easter Day at theVatican that expound one single unifying view.

At the CHN, at end-2010, the current committee drafted a set of six Core Principles that we ensure every event and pursuit of the CHN is consistent with. Three I’d like to draw upon are: to promote solidarity, both amongst Hindus and with other faiths; promote the principles of the Sanatan Dharma; and provide members access to education about the Dharma. Though these three principles, we believe that we can celebrate this heterogeneity within ourselves and with others. The CHN does not represent any single sampradhaya or particular view of our Dharma and, as such, our talk and discussion series in 2011 has focussed on the basic principles of the Sanatan Dharma, often from an objective, academic context.

In doing so, we have collaborated closely with the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies (OCHS), as well as organisations representing other faiths, such as the Board of Deputies of British Jews (BDBJ). We were invited by the Royal College of Art (RCA) to a panel debate run by FuelRCA, the RCA’s professional development platform, entitled “Ambition – Can I have it all.” I participated on behalf of the CHN, alongside designer and entrepreneur Clare Brass, author and business guru Charles Handy and psychoanalyst Darian Leader, and spoke on what Hinduism taught about the pursuit of wealth and success in front of a truly multicultural audience.

Over the last year, we have hosted several such talks at prominent City professional services firms including Deloitte, Ernst & Young and Accenture in conjunction with the OCHS. The CHN’s unique selling point is that we are able to facilitate discussion on the foundations of our Dharma for young generations of Indians in the City, who have grown up learning cultural rituals, but not necessarily understanding the foundations that underpin these customs. We aim to make our rich heritage accessible to younger generations, seeking to contextualise the teachings of the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas and other texts in an environment and language which our members working in the City will be most familiar with.

At Deloitte, we discussed how the influence of Indian subcontinent thought has pervaded throughout the Far East includingChinaandJapanover the centuries and how the beliefs and value systems of the East might translate into the business philosophies of the future. At an event organised by the BDBJ and hosted by the law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP, and again at a round-table discussion to mark the start of Diversity Month at professional services firm PwC, the CHN discussed the role of faith in the modern City workplace and challenges faced to being true to your faith. In both instances, we did so alongside, amongst others, leading Jewish, Christian and Muslim organisations.

This followed on from a talk on the polarisation of modern religion in both its liberal and fundamentalist branches, and the impact this has on the level of dogmatic and prescriptive practices in a secular world. Dr Nick Sutton from the OCHS posed the examples of diktats from the Manu Smriti and Dharmashastra which, in the context of modern-day values in Britain, may no longer seem appropriate, while other guidance endures successfully. Gopal Gupta, again from the OCHS, presented a talk related to the conflict, coexistence and cooperation between Hinduism and science. The discussion examined the relationship between scientific and religious knowledge, and specifically the ways in which Hinduism contributed to the dialogue between science and religion.

I firmly believe that to know where you are going, you need to know where you’ve come from. In today’s economic climate of budget cuts, when many are questioning the social usefulness of many City finance professions, this is an even more important consideration. The CHN provides a guidance and facilitation role, particularly in City professional networks to assist in young Hindus, and Indians more widely, understanding more about their rich heritage. Next year, we will be continuing our series of talks and debates and we hope you can join us.

Pratik Dattani is the Chair of the CHN. You can sign up to be a member or find out more about the CHN at www.cityhindusnetwork.org.uk. 

ENDS

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Notes to the Editor:

The CITY HINDUS NETWORK (CHN) is a non-profit organisation with a membership of more than 1,000 professionals who mainly work in the financial services and related industries in the City of London and Canary Wharf. Its activities include organising major networking and education events each year, consultation with local and national governmental bodies and other non-governmental organisations, running a mentoring scheme for its members and promoting volunteering and charity work. It was founded by Dhruv Patel and is currently chaired by Pratik Dattani.