Kutumba · Journal of Spiritual Care

Graduation Souvenir

CHT Cohort 5 and HCP Cohort 1 Graduation

Volume 2023 | 2023

Class of 2023

Graduation and Annual Celebration

Friday, August 18, 2023 • Graduate Certificate Courses: HCP and CHT

A landmark year for HCI: the fifth cohort of Counselor of Hindu Tradition (CHT) and the first cohort of Hindu Chaplaincy Pathway (HCP) graduated together. This year also marked HCI's name change to the Hindu Spiritual Care Institute (HSCI), effective September 1, 2023, reflecting its expanded global mission. In the next five years, HSCI plans to support a network of 108 Hindu Interreligious Chaplains and 1,008 Hindu Counselors.

In keeping with our global success, effective September 1, 2023, the Hindu Community Institute's name (HCI) will be changed to the Hindu Spiritual Care Institute (referred to as HSCI). HSCI plans to support 108 Hindu Interreligious Chaplains and 1,008 Hindu Counselors serving the global community.

Hindu Community Institute

Graduation Address & Karma Yoga Honorees

Graduation Address

Dr. Subhash Kak — Distinguished Vedic Scholar and Regents Professor of Computer Science, Oklahoma State University

Karma Yoga Honorees 2023

Recognizing Exemplary Selfless Service | Lifetime Achievement

Naras Bhat, MD — Physician and Distinguished Teacher. Highly respected in California, Dr. Bhat combines eastern wisdom with western medicine. He is a sought after educator, having touched many lives with his public speaking on managing heart disease, cancer, reversing stress, and burnout.

Sulochina (Jyoti) Lulla, MD — Physician and Interfaith Leader. A retired physician specializing in allergy, immunology, and pediatric lung diseases. She has clinical pastoral education, is a popular interfaith speaker, and has co-led the Gandhi Youth camp promoting Gandhian values of peace and nonviolence.

Making History

The First Two Hindu Interreligious Chaplains | HCI+GTU Graduates

Presented with Commendations by the GTU Faculty and the HCI Board

Neeti Soota (MS CIS, CHT 2021, GTU ICP 2023) — Spirituality has been of essence in her learnings, experiences and how she relates to people. The Interreligious Chaplaincy Program at GTU offered her that path and much more. She was a recipient of the HCI Pioneers Fellowship.

Usha Narasimhan (LLB, MBA, CHT 2020, GTU ICP 2023) — Through her hard work and a solution-driven mentality she earned the opportunity to serve as her company's CFO. She was attracted to the newly established Hindu Chaplaincy pathway. She is a recipient of the HCI Pioneers Fellowship.

Ms. Soota and Ms. Narasimhan are invitees to the HCI Board as Observers (2023–25).

We congratulate the graduates of the HCP and CHT courses. We also congratulate the two pioneer-graduates of the HCI-GTU Hindu Chaplaincy Pathway Program. We now transition into the Hindu Spiritual Care Institute (HSCI).

Kailash Joshi — HCI President

From the Resident Faculty

The Spirit of Karma Yoga

Gaurav Rastogi — HCI Dean

The spirit of karma yoga is latent in all of us. Through your actions and commitment, you have entered a lifetime of giving back, and in return, getting satisfaction and joy. We congratulate our graduates on your commitment to service through spiritual care. May your Om Dollar treasuries continue to overflow.

A Privilege to Be Associated

Mukund Acharya — Compassionate Care & Services

Congratulations, CHT and HCP graduates! We take pride in your success, and look forward to observing as you serve the community, each in your own special way. Welcome to a life-long membership in our HSCI Sangha as we continue our learn-serve-learn journey. It is a privilege to be associated with you.

HCP Class of 2023 — First Cohort!

Hindu Chaplaincy Pathway Graduates

Kristine Bell • Bindu Gupta • Jag Gossai • Varsha Kaushal, PhD • Rajashree K Menon, MD • Navin Ramachandran • Sudha Ramakrishnan

CHT Class of 2023

Congratulations to the CHT 2023 Graduates

Happy & Proud to be Part of HCI

Ravindrarajah Anandarajah
Sangeeta Bachu
Shashidhara Holla Balekudru
Sangeeta Balram
Sudha A Bhat
Nandita Bhatnagar
Thirna Chetty
Dilip Darji

Additional CHT 2023 graduates from the full cohort across multiple countries.

Graduate Certificate Course Faculty

Partners in Selfless Service

Resident Faculty: Mukund Acharya PhD, Kailash Joshi PhD, Mangala Kumar, Punit Mahendru PhD, Gaurav Rastogi • Faculty Associates: Anjana Bhargava, Pradnya Shripad Date, Rathna Dutt, Nishtha Goel, Prachi Gokhale, Lalita Rajpatie Maraj Mongru, Shobana Nandan, Pooja Parkash, Sita Prasad, Jana Rajan, Rita Sheth, Madhuri Velagala, Nirupama Verma • Om$ 3.2 Million • 52,000 Volunteer Hours

The CHT and HCP graduate certificate courses are offered by the Hindu Community Institute. Both courses are open to applicants from all backgrounds worldwide. These courses provide the broad-based, foundational knowledge required to perform volunteer services as well as pursue careers in Hindu Interreligious Chaplaincy. HCI has successfully graduated over 150 counselors serving worldwide.

Hindu Community Institute

Editorial Board

Hindu Spiritual Care Institute

journal@hinduci.com

← All Issues