From "HINDUISM TODAY" magazine:

http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1998/10/1998-10-14.shtml

CAN IT BE THAT THE HARE KRISHNAS ARE NOT HINDU?

ISKCON's Srila Prabhupada's edicts on religion are clear

"There is a misconception that the Krishna consciousness movement represents the Hindu religion. Sometimes Indians both inside and outside of India think that we are preaching the Hindu religion, but actually we are not."

"The Krishna consciousness movement has nothing to do with the Hindu religion or any system of religion.... One should clearly understand that the Krishna consciousness movement is not preaching the so-called Hindu religion."

"We are not preaching Hindu religion. While registering the association, I purposely kept this name, 'Krishna Consciousness,' neither Hindu religion nor Christian nor Buddhist religion."

"factually this Krishna Consciousness movement is neither Hindu religion nor any other religion."

Kiran, Leicester, UK

Say its all : http://www.hinducounciluk.org/newsite/faqs.asp
Perhaps Jay Lakhani, director of education at HCUK, forget what they wrote on there website looks to me HCUK are confused!!!!!

Q.4 Why many Hindus are vegeterians and none eat beef ?

A. "Divinity of Man: Hindus say that the underpinning to everything is the 'spirit' (referred to as Brahmm). This spirit manifests itself as the universe and all living things. Living things are clearer manifestation of the spirit and mankind is seen as the most transparent manifestation of the spirit. Hence reverence for life becomes the central tenet of Hinduism and is referred to as: Ahimsa (non injury to any living form). Hence many Hindus are vegetarian. Animals are considered too close to the human condition and are not eaten by many (though not all) Hindus. Special reverence is paid to the cow as the most suitable candidate in the animal kingdom to receive respect from mankind. Hindus would say it is the cow that is man's best friend and not the dog, hence just as a dog would not be eaten in the West, a cow is viewed as sacred and beef is not consumed by a Hindu."

Ravi Shah, Harrow,

Why do you want to open a school only for one race? Hinduism is all about diversity. It accepts all races and treats everyone alike no matter what colour, race, age or status. For starters almost every Hindu has culture within them. How can you judge if a person is very religious or not. Say if theres a person who doesnt smoke or drink or eat meat but has no respect for other members and only cares for themselves? Hinduism preaches to help others always. I never went to a Hindu school. I went to a normal one. I still have my cultural roots and also have integrated with wider society. This school is everything Hindus are against as it isn't promoting diversity but crippling it. I am a Hindu and a very proud one but I like to integrate with everyone as I respect other faiths.

J, leic, UK

The Hindu religion can and is practised in many ways, many of which do not require viists to the Temple or carry out worship at home. Just because one does not carry out certain peoples idas of worship does not mean one is not a good practicising Hindu. The prososed selection criteria does NOT represent Hinduism in its diversity but is only a very narrow view of a minority of Hindus.

Krishna , Wellingborough, UK

As a Hindu I am appalled at the lack of understanding on behalf of the Harrow authorities as to what Hinduism is, and who is a Hindu. Considering that Harrow has a large Hindu population , it has gone ahead and granted Hindu status to a school that is anything but Hindu.
The word used by Hindus for their religion is Sanatan which translates to universal and eternal. Pray let Harrow Council point out to us Hindus where does Sanatan fit into the defination they have arrived at as to who is a Hindu, and who should be allowed into a Hindu school.
I am a Vaishnava and grew up as one and my family goes back generations as Vaishnavas, longer than the traditions of the ISKON. As a vaishnava, my family and I are shocked at this narrow and ignorant approach to a religion that has spanned thousands of years with changes but never losing its essecnce - EKAM SAT VIPRAHA BAUDHAM VADANTI -One absolute ,many approaches. Where does the Harrow council stand on this statement on Hinduism?

ushma williams, london, u.k.

The Hindu scriptures vehemently condemn any person or sect that differentiates between the manifestations of the Almighty, i.e. Krishna, Shiva, Durga, Ganesh etc. and those elevating one aspect as being superior to another. Furthermore, no manifestation is any less than the other is and if you refer to the Vedic texts, such as the Upanishads, similar to the atman, no one atman is superior to that of any other. This is why most Hindus object to the doctrine of ISKCON, as it asserts that ‘Krishna is the supreme personality of Godhead’ and erroneously describes all other manifestations as inferior ‘demigods’. Their ‘evangelical’ policy of recruiting new devotees, thereby dividing families is alien to traditional Hindu philosophical schools of thought.
From time immemorial, Hindu schools, colleges and universities have always welcomed students of differing ideologies, faiths and countries. The ancient Universities of Nalanda and Taxilla accommodated thousands of students from far a field regions as China, Iraq, Syria and Greece., Hindu based DAV, Sanatan and Arya Mahilla colleges in India and Pakistan (pre-partition) admit Hindu, Sikh, Christian and Muslim students. Therefore, what the I-foundation proposes in Harrow is in direct conflict with the religion they are meant to be representing.
This is a highly divisive move on part of I-foundation and the Hare Krishnas and the usually tolerant mainstream Hindus of the UK and beyond will not permit such constrained policies or allow them to call the Krishna Avanti School a 'Hindu' school unless it redresses its admission criteria.

Dr R Pandit
President
Hindu Priest Association

Dr R Pandit Sharma, London, UK

more from Jay: We will be taking Hinduism to main institutions like King's college (where they have been churning out extremely poor and damaging version of Hinduism)...we too will continue to take Hinduism into schools but if we are able to get a 1,000 mainstream RE teachers going into schools with this CORRECT version of Hinduism, our work will be greatly enhanced. These teachers over the next few years will teach this CORRECT version of Hinduism to thousands of English youngsters. We have said in the past that in the next five years Hinduism will become the most popular religion being studied and taught in this country. As we continue to make progress in this field, we feel more and more convinced that this is about to happen earlier rather than later. It is the mainstream RE teachers in the UK who are going to be the best promoters of Hinduism to the mainstream population. By the grace of our mentors the next most glorious chapter of Hinduism is going to be written in this country!

Nikunj Malhotra, Luton, UK

it is interseting that a "spokesperson" from the Hindu Forum has come out of the shadows and confirm that they represent a very narrow Hindu population which is represented by the Swami Nayarans, Jains and not the mainstream as is the the aim of HCUK. If this is the case than funding bodies and government departments must involve wider Hindu participation by allowing representations from other Hindu organisations.
Nitin Gor comments are very pertinent ........Catholic schools do not say they are Christian Schools but are very specific as to what part of Christianity they expect applicants to follow.similarly I foundation is not a Hindu school .I also assume that if you are a funder than you fall within the "very specific prescribed circumstances" for all the mainstream Hindu faiths that have been mentioned

enlightened Hindu, london,