Kutumba · Journal of Spiritual Care

Graduation Souvenir

CHT Cohort 4 Graduation

Volume 2022 | 2022

Class of 2022

HCI Annual Celebration and Graduation

Friday, August 19, 2022 • Counselor of Hindu Tradition (CHT) Graduate Certificate Course

Founded in 2018 in Silicon Valley, California, Hindu Community Institute (HCI) is a unique service-learning institution dedicated to spiritual care for the global Hindu Diaspora. HCI is establishing a continuum-of-care network of volunteer Hindu counselors and professional Hindu Chaplains that share contemporary knowledge, resources and practices. The CHT Cohort-4 graduation was remembered by its record class-size of 46.

We aspire to be a model institution for karma yoga in what we teach and how we serve. All aspects of HCI governance, operations and services are open to the community at large, without exceptions of any kind.

Hindu Community Institute

Graduation Addresses & Karma Yoga Honorees

Graduation Speakers

Ms. Asha Jadeja-Motwani — VC, Philanthropist, Head MJF Foundation
Chaplain Bruce D. Feldstein, MD, BCC — Physician, Chaplain, Mentor

Karma Yoga Honorees 2022

Recognizing Exemplary Selfless Service | Lifetime Achievement

Padma Shri MR Rajagopal, MD — Palliative Care Visionary. Widely known as the Father of Palliative Care in India, Dr. Rajagopal is an internationally known humanitarian, healer and thought-leader. He is Founder & Chairman of Pallium India. His pioneering work has earned him numerous awards, including a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mr. Madan Arora — Hindu Samskara Guide & Leader. For over 25 years, Mr. Arora has served as a 24x7 resource for anyone in the SF Bay Area community seeking help with last rites guidance and support, as well as other Hindu samskaras.

Hindu Chaplaincy Pioneers 2021–22

Pathway 108 Program | Pioneer Scholarships

In 2021, for the first time for the global Hindu diaspora, HCI established a clear pathway to Hindu Chaplaincy education, by combining the CHT course with Graduate Theological Union's Interreligious Chaplaincy Program (ICP). HCI celebrated this major milestone by setting the goal of 108 Hindu Chaplains and recognizing the first three individuals entering the program through "Pioneer Scholarships."

The Three Pioneers

Neeti Soota (MS CIS, CHT 2021) • Usha Narasimhan (MBA, CHT 2020) • Ashis Khan (MSEE, B.Tech, CHT 2020)

From Resident Faculty Members

Teamwork

Kailash Joshi — HCI President

The CHT Cohort-4 graduation will be remembered by its record class-size of 46, HCI's global reach starting with a strong HCA partnership, the MJF-HCI chaplaincy fellowships and the launch of Kutumba Journal. We wholeheartedly welcome the new CHT's to the HCI Sangha. Our vision is to achieve a global network of Hindu spiritual care professionals and volunteers.

Learning to Serve is a lifelong gift that enriches each of us. Dharayati Iti Dharma, dharma is that which holds everything together.

Gaurav Rastogi — HCI Dean

CHT Class of 2022 — Record 46 Graduates!

Congratulations to the CHT 2022 Graduates

Happy & Proud to be Part of HCI

Lakshmi Ajjampura
Anjana Bhargava
Pradnya Shripad Date
Rathna Dutt
Dilip G. Girgiani
Nishtha Goel
Prachi Gokhale
Rashmi Gore
Geeta Gourimath
Jayanti Gupta
Matsya Devi Dasi (Mathura Kanapathippillai)
Varun Kapoor
Ridhi Khurana
Aditi Kirtane
Milind Kulkarni
Lalita Rajpatie Maraj Mongru
Sai Paravastu
Vithagan Rajagopaul
Lakshmi Srinivasan, MD
Rita Sheth
Madhuri Velagala
Nirupama Verma

Note: Full list of 46 graduates includes scholars from five countries — US, India, Canada, South Africa, and Australia.

Scholar Profiles

Lakshmi Ajjampura

BS — Public Health Care, Australia

I have a BS degree and have worked in public health care sector since 1996 as Administrator. I am also a certified behaviour therapist/counsellor to Special needs community under the business name BrainAbility. I have been providing community counselling and spiritual mentoring for many years.

Prachi Gokhale

CHT 2022

My passion is to achieve a simple, calm and stress-free living and put those ideas and techniques into practice while serving the society. I love experimenting with 'Service and Devotion', the two building blocks for peace. Swami Vivekananda's teaching of 'Aatmano Mokshartham Jagad Hitay Cha' meaning 'Salvation of individual through well-being of the society' is what drives me in life.

The Interreligious Chaplaincy Program at the Graduate Theological Union welcomes students from all backgrounds, especially minorities, to explore and study in an affirming environment that celebrates diversity and pluralism.

Kamal Abu-Shamsieh, Ph.D. — Director, Interreligious Chaplaincy, GTU

Functional Leaders 2021–22

Karma Yoga in Selfless Learn & Serve

Vijay Aggarwal (CFO) • Anil Diddi (Volunteer Services) • Ashis Khan (Accreditation) • Suchitra Krishna (Media) • Usha Narasimhan (Asst Dean) • Anupma Mangla (Ananda Corps) • Sai Paravastu (Australia) • Vithagan Rajagopaul (South Africa) • Neeti Soota (Asst Registrar) • Lakshmi Srinivasan MD (Kutumba Journal) • Saurabh Srivastava (LMS) • Ganapathy Swami PhD (Registrar) • Manu Swamy (Asst Registrar) • Latha Vasan (CFI + Outreach)

Faculty and Leadership

Partners in Selfless Service

Resident Faculty: Mukund Acharya PhD, Kailash Joshi PhD, Mangala Kumar, Punit Mahendru PhD, Gaurav Rastogi • Om$ 2.5 Million in recognized contributions from 400 contributors since inception • 41,000 Volunteer Hours estimated since inception

Starting 2022, qualified CHTs are eligible for the Hindu chaplaincy pathway, in participation with the prestigious Graduate Theological Union's Interreligious Chaplaincy Program (ICP). In the coming years, Hindu Chaplains will be seen serving at hospitals, colleges, prisons, corporations, the military, and families in need.

Hindu Community Institute

Editorial Board

Hindu Spiritual Care Institute

journal@hinduci.com

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