Sindhulogy Jan 2005 Newsletter on-line

[Gul Agha <agha@CS.UIUC.EDU>]

I received a copy of the American Institute of Sindhulogy's Jan 2005
report for posting from Saaiin Jagjit Mirchand.  It is available
on-line at:

http://sindhulogy.org/

please click on AIS newsletter.   Here are some highlights:

During these hectic and pell-mell tumultuous times AIS has remained
focused in its mission. We are endeavoring to make AIS presence known
far and wide, exerting our feeble hoarse voice and meager resources,
for the avowed task of keeping alive the cultural and spiritual
heritage of Sindhu-Saraswati, the cradle of world civilization...

GUEST BOOK

The new feature of "AIS replies" introduced last August has proved to
be enormously encouraging in promoting continuous dialog with AIS and
among Guest Book visitors. It has been heartening to read that many of
you regard AIS as your very own with a feeling of close bond. AIS
immensely appreciates this full faith in our mission and activities.

BOOK DISTRIBUTION/LIBRARY PROJECT

After completing our E-mail campaign of addressing over 2000 academic
libraries in USA and Canada, AIS commenced working on Public Library
campaign in August 2004. We have already compiled the database for
State Libraries of all the 50 USA states and more than 2000 other
public libraries, out of 4000 to 5000 libraries in the USA. It is
planned to issue E-mail letters to all the above over 2000 public
libraries before end of the year...

...While AIS will continue to write to libraries, a more effective
way of reminders may perhaps be for our readers to contact and write
to libraries in their areas. AIS believes this personal approach would
result in more positive responses.

YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS

AIS have addressed special letters to over sixty student and youth
organizations within academic institutions in USA, Canada and
Australia - mainly to introduce them to AIS mission and activities and
asking them to impress upon college authorities the importance of
purchasing " Return of the Aryans" for their libraries.

PENGUIN PROBLEM

Many regular visitors to our website and especially those who read the
Guest Book are already aware of the difficult situation with regard to
supply of the book "Return of the "Aryans" from the publishers Penguin
India New Delhi... Dial Gidwani plans to be in New Delhi in January
2005 to meet his friends in political and cultural fields. He will
take this opportunity to discuss this business with Penguin India at
their highest level and hopefully extract some assurance for regular
supply of the book.

FUTURE ACTIVITIES

While pursuing our efforts for regular book supply AIS will continue
working on compiling library database and sending E-mail...

In the meantime AIS plans to concentrate on many other activities
which have been on the back burner for some time.

   1. School Project- Write letters to School Boards and other
education authorities to include study of Indus and Saraswati
Civilizations in High School curriculum. Maintain continuous follow
up.

   2. Indus Exposition -Restart communication with museum to explore
ideas about arranging expositions on Indus valley Civilization. In
this regard write letters to appropriate departments of Government of
India and other organizations for their financial, material and
administrative support organizing exhibitions in USA

   3. Donations - Write letters and make contacts with foundations and
endowments like Infinity and others which provide grants of financial
support for cultural non-profit organizations like AIS. Also appeal to
major Indian Corporations in USA (about 100) in writing and personal
approach for donation in the common cause of promoting the culture and
heritage in USA.

   4. Miscellaneous - There are many other activities mentioned in our
previous newsletters and others, which AIS board members continuously
discuss that we believe are important for our mission to educate local
public about our culture and heritage. These we will decide to
undertake in 2005 based on human and financial resources.

   5. Public Relations - Consider engaging a part-time public
relations expert to assist in all the foregoing activities and
establish contacts with Indian and USA mainstream media with view to
obtain their assistance to achieve extensive exposure for aims and
activities of AIS.

CONCLUSION

Once again I take this opportunity on behalf of all of us at AIS to
thank all our readers for their continued support and words of
appreciation and encouragement which, have helped to keep us on track
against all odds; and kept us fighting in the face of apathy and
indifference.

For over four years, AIS has kept your organization afloat, advancing
the aims of our common mission, barely hanging on by proverbial
shoestrings without any outside financial support. Our meager
resources are getting over extended and AIS will be hard pressed to
move forward without securing a stable financial foundation.