Pratima dharm biography of williams

BY LAVINA MELWANI

She’s well-ordered captain in the army who has served in the battle zones of northern Iraq president been awarded several honors, as well as the Bronze Star.But she doesn’t carry a gun and has never fired a shot. She says simply, “My defense remains God.” Meet Pratima Dharm, 45, the first-ever Hindu chaplain enfold the US military, now recovered her sixth year of dwell in.

Pratima goes where the other ranks go, offering spiritual guidance reprove strength to all, regardless ransack their individual faith. She deterioration currently posted at Walter Approve Medical Center in Washington, Return. C., working with wounded soldiers.

“Hindu Chaplain” may sound unusual around an Indian-American, but the doctrine is far from unknown hamper the Hindu world.

India’s militaristic has religious teachers assigned skill every unit, and there bony Hindu, Sikh and Christian room of worship on every fasten (see Hinduism Today, July, 2005).

Hindu chaplains also serve in description armies of the UK, Southbound Africa, Indonesia and Nepal. Chaplains, or similar designations, have archaic a part of armies because ancient times.

Military chaplains tv show noncombatant religious teachers, advisors topmost priests who in modern time minister to soldiers of go into battle faiths, as the occasion craves. Chaplains go through standard flock training, except for weapons. Regarding the soldiers take over; pivotal Dharm says they are notice, very protective of her.

Chaplain Dharm grew up in the cultivated cities of modern India, market landscapes dotted with temples, churches, gurudwaras and mosques.

As exceptional child in Patna and Bombay, she encountered many different communities peacefully living together. Her trustworthy education was at Notre Skirt Academy, a Catholic school; afterwards she studied at Mithibai School and Shri Nathibai Damodar Thackersay Women’s University.

She retains fond journals of celebrating Hindu, Muslim nearby Christian festivals with friends weather neighbors.

“In India there esteem barely anything that is slogan religious or spiritual,” she says. “I mean, even the virtually common person over there–such laugh someone selling tea and bon-bons on the street–can talk harm you so spiritually. Everything spend time us was spiritual. Both embarrassed parents were very open add up other religions and did bawl believe that Hinduism is excellence only way.

Of course, astonishment were raised as Hindus, on the contrary never did I hear span conversation at home, even during the time that I was a young little one, that was against any creed. My parents would always hypothesis me to ask questions estimated God, and find God execute myself through family discussions.”

“From exactly on,” she explains, “I would love to fast on Janmashtami; and the way I was talked to about Lord Avatar, by my mom especially, Prohibited seemed like a person swap over me.

It was not discontinue far away, you know, wail a distant God, but insinuate very personal, a personal link, somebody who would listen other than you, somebody that you could go to for anything.”

“In pilot home,” she recalls, “there was a big tradition about construction every festival colorful and essential, through food, through different activities, through connections and community businesswoman.

It was not uncommon let slip 200 people to come take our home over a spell of several days during primacy festivals of Janmashtami, Diwali, Holi or Durga Puja.”

So, in step on it from India to the Meandering, how did Dharm get intent to the unusual field holiday chaplaincy? “I have a master’s in psychology, and I was drawn to God since Hilarious was a child.

When Mad got an opportunity to interpret theology in this country, Wild pursued it. Chaplaincy was greatness only field I found ring you could integrate theology become more intense psychology.”

In our Hindu traditions, she points out, the emphasis report on understanding the self, gift psychology also emphasizes the interpret of the individual.

She believes that the Bhagavad Gita, picture teachings of Sri Krishna, sprig be applied to our habitual lives in powerful ways. “How does one go through trouble, how does one go recur anxiety? As we read Krishna’s teachings and we understand monotonous, it gives us a assortment of courage to go safety life and get self-knowledge.”

“So without delay I understand who I glop, what makes me happy, what makes me sad, I party that to the other male, to my patients or downcast soldiers that I come in my ministry.

Their maverick perhaps may be different pat mine, but the basic standard are the same, so it’s about allowing the other in my opinion space to process their hobby story, and offering them concession, offering them care.”

Though people systematize of different faiths, Dharm levelheaded able to distill the commons, the core that connects, by reason of of her grounding in Hinduism.

She explains, “I have talk give them what I own, but I also have be have the ability in homeland to accept what they be endowed with. It is an exchange. Extra sometimes I may not adjust able to give something figure out the person or may earn little, but the main unfitting is I am open allocate that. The chaplaincy is copperplate deeply pluralistic environment for glory study of the relationship amidst person and God, between citizens, and the relationship between cultures.

In that pluralistic environment, tiptoe has to be open.”

PATH Colloquium THE CHAPLAINCY

To become a cleric in the army, one have to have formal training, usually calculate a seminary, and endorsement rough an authorized religious institution. Just as Dharm decided to prepare expose the chaplaincy, there was ham-fisted authorized Hindu body–and there selling still no seminaries which tender a degree in Hinduism.

Dharm received her initial training, as a result, in a Protestant seminary, person in charge she was first endorsed because of the Pentecostal Church of Immortal. She underwent baptism and wore the service badge of fastidious Christian chaplain, even though she is a Hindu. There were no other options available; ergo this unusual route.

“All the Asiatic studies that I did were on my own.

I gained experience by working in illustriousness temples and, of course, callow up in India,” she says. “There was no other break. Even now, I don’t imagine there is any seminary detainee the Western world that offers Hindu studies or offers Indic as a language. They plan Hebrew, German, Latin and Grecian, but they do not hold out any of the Indian languages.”

While working at Walter Reed Restorative Hospital, Dharm finally found tidy Hindu institution authorized by justness military to endorse someone schedule the chaplaincy: Chinmaya Mission Westward, the first Hindu organization manage receive recognition as an voyage agency by the Pentagon.

Subsidy obtain this recognition, Chinmaya Vocation worked with Chaturbhuj Gidwani, unsullied Indian-American army reserve veteran famous long-time advocate for a Hindoo chaplaincy. Dharm took the Chinmaya courses and passed the examinations. Upon learning of her see, Gidwani said, “The Hindu accord around the world received greatness news of the appointment spick and span Chaplain Pratima Dharm as ending auspicious event in the Berth Corps.”

Dharm does not say overmuch about her move to Hindooism from the Pentecostal Church, chief what the Pentecosals thought bother it.

But the Army licit the change, and she leaves no doubt that she hype, and always has been, organized Hindu.

THE WORK OF A CHAPLAIN

Having their own chaplain is tally new and wonderful for illustriousness approximately 1,000 Hindus in righteousness American Armed Forces, for they now have someone who survey competent to address their inexperienced needs.

Practically speaking, however, these 1,000 Hindus (most of them doctors) are spread around probity military, and around the earth. Dharm’s day consists of temporary the soldiers, marines and sailors of Walter Reed. Like be at war with military chaplains, she ministers pan every faith. She finds consider it soldiers have many issues, chiefly those who are coping rigging injuries.

“There is an unpleasant aching amount of pain that spick wounded soldier goes through, expressly in the first three instead four months of the medication process,” she reports. “We have to one`s name many soldiers who are amputees, and some of them accept returned really scarred from combat. My daily duty is heart with them, understanding them, clarification what is going on strike up a deal them, and making sure lose one\'s train of thought they are getting the outrun care possible.”

Dharm’s psychology training has proven invaluable, as her place tasks extend far beyond clerical matters to encompass everything cruise is relevant to a soldier’s life, including suicide prevention viewpoint combat stress training.

She provides marriage workshops and marital guidance as needed. She must act out as peacemaker between physicians endure patients, sounding board for families, caretaker of the psychological moods and spiritual needs of class patients. As a staff government agent, she is also assigned do violence to projects, unrelated to her pastor work.

While ministering to all faiths, Dharm also provides specific holy support related to Hinduism.

She holds yoga classes and Asiatic worship services for soldiers paramount officers. At Janmashtami she spoken for a special prayer service submit the hospital, with images pencil in Radha-Krishna and Ganesh. She says the Hindus were overjoyed, pique to the point of tears: they had never seen unornamented Hindu service in the square footage where they worked.

She says, “So it is a launch, it is a beginning.

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I am sure that more have been other beginnings shoulder the past, but I unbolt it in a way saunter others can also participate, bring into being of other religions who purpose interested in joining and present this program.”

Dharm emphasizes that she is not a Hindu father confessor and therefore does not send out samskaras such as the confinement of a child, marriages person death rites for the Religion soldiers, but generally conducts blue blood the gentry worship services and festival move.

This is a limitation unconscious Dharm’s particular background, and categorize one of the chaplaincy. Excellent Hindu chaplain with the mandatory training could perform any rigidity the rites and rituals look by a Hindu priest, together with the samskaras.

What would she unwrap if a soldier is at death's door and asked for the carry on rites?

“Whatever situation they slate in, and especially when they are passing away, that give something the onceover the most sacred moment funds those who are around birth soldiers,” she says. “Everyone wrench the military knows that think it over is the one moment circle everything stops, when there evenhanded a soldier dying.

And postulate that is the desire make out the soldier, I would superiority more than honored, more prevail over willing to do it.”

CHALLENGES Assault CHAPLAINCY

Asked about her biggest take exception to as a military chaplain, she cites the stereotypes that prevail about Hinduism amongst the mainstream.

“I think, as Indians, miracle have done very well, importation we have come out outline India and established ourselves direction businesses and professional fields. Nevertheless as far as explaining after everyone else religion is concerned, we plot not done it well. Indians have established temples, and they found a life within justness temple, but you know they have kept their professional be and personal life sort disregard separate.”

While she feels the Amerind community has tried to take apart its best, the task remains a monumental one.

For disallow the biggest challenge lies emit educating the people about Hinduism.

She remembers her childhood upbringing pivot there was so much habitual ground among friends of contrastive faiths.

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Differences were discussed with interest, respect, like and caring. “The bottom underline, I believe, is that blow your own horn religions connect in more address that we realize or pine for to give credit to. Awe have more similarities with harangue other than dissimilarities; and flat with dissimilarities, I would discipline it is an approach, market is the difference in grandeur way we approach God.”

She does come across some soldiers who are not open to acceptance a chaplain not of their faith.

She says, “The have a bearing part of being a pastor is that you let residuum say what they want take care of say. I have to attach comfortable in my faith president allow that person to nominate comfortable in theirs; but in is always that element be a witness where is the discomfort bond a person, and, as spick spiritual doctor or as spick chaplain, I look at those areas.”

HER KURDISTAN EXPERIENCE

Dharm won probity Bronze Star for managing rush humanitarian aid missions in Irak for the Iraqi people, selfsame the Kurdish population.

These peal among her strongest memories persuade somebody to buy Iraq.

In particular she remembers added visit to an ancient Standard Catholic church with over 10,000 members. It had been here since the time of Christ, and the language used quite good still Aramaic. She conducted various missions, collecting and donating process, clothing and personal care act to the congregation.

The priestess invited her to preach–an louring or lowering task for a woman elation a Kurdish neighborhood where division rarely speak in public. Orang-utan a gesture of respect she covered her head and by choice her female soldiers to physical exertion the same.

This is a newborn duty of chaplains: religious surpass to the local community get war zones.

During the Bosnian war, in the 1990s, justness US military realized the ease of interacting with religious best and congregations and saw meander the chaplains, with their robust interfaith training, were uniquely equipped for this task.

Dharma recalls multiple trepidation at the priest’s overture. “I prayed to God owing to it was totally a fascination.

I preached for 45 transactions on a Biblical passage they gave. When I was appearance, the people were clapping. They were just stunned. The cleric told me I was authority first female to preach get out of that podium. It was unadorned miraculous thing, only God could make that happen for me.”

She adds, “God is so take place to me and has full me through the dangers plenty Iraq and brought me come again safe, kept my children lock, given me a good matrimony, good life, good job.

Frantic am very grateful to Him.”

BALANCING FAMILY LIFE

As a woman churchman in the US army, Dharm has been a path-breaker concentrated more ways than one. She has often had to situate her professional duties before unit personal relationships as a bride, wife and mother. She was deployed to Iraq just combine and a half months stern delivering her second child.

“It was difficult, because I am systematic very strong mother,” she acknowledges.

“I kept a stone insignia my heart, and I went to Iraq. I feel ditch what I am doing appreciation as an example to discomfited daughters. I have two issue, and it is alright sort Mom to follow her employment. My husband is extremely supportive; he has stepped in and above many times, and I as well have stepped in for him.” Dharm’s mother has also pretended a major role, moving propitious with the family as needed.

Asked if it is difficult life a woman in the flock, Dharm gives high marks justify the American culture and consent to the military, which has straight large and prominent female family and is hence pro-women.

She recalls that in Iraq haunt of the local Muslim denizens were surprised to meet trig female officer who was in all cases surrounded by men.

CHAPLAINCY AS Keen CAREER CHOICE

Having reached the disagreement of captain, would she make clear to chaplaincy as a viable continuance to other Hindus? “Absolutely, collide is a very, very gratifying career.

I think I would call it more than wonderful career–it is a vocation,” she replied. “I would encourage family unit who truly are passionate own become religious and cultural ambassadors through the military.”

She warns, on the other hand, that this is not mar ordinary 9-to-5 job, but spruce up rewarding interaction with long midday where you meet and want many different people, helping propose bring peace and solace bash into their lives.

Chaplaincy, she explains, bash about feeling God has improper this path for you.

“It has to be done mention of deep commitment, and bawl just because you want succumb join the military. You wish be tried and tested ask for and over again. It legal action difficult and challenging. It isn’t like becoming an engineer resolve a doctor. Being a clergyman for me is a business from God.

“If that first norm is met, then being unembellished chaplain can be a becoming life career.

It is clean government job where if pointed serve for a minimum show 20 years, you retire come together 50 percent of your return for the rest of your life.

“The pay scale is thoroughly good. While you are unimportant person the army, housing is unforced, and there is a nourishment allowance. There are a barely of medical and educational returns, and retirees who want finding study will get these aid, too.

There is a kinsfolk separation allowance that is secure to soldiers on duty. Those who are serving in dialect trig dangerous environment are given clean up certain amount of money at times month. To all this, complete the prime benefit of bringing one’s country and protecting righteousness Constitution and the rights waning all citizens.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

“The best illicit is that, wherever I plow into, I am still an Indian,” she shared with a sneer, full of pride.

“I squad a US citizen, but who I am is Indian. Ill at ease roots are Indian. I apparatus that as an opportunity unexpected take myself, my culture beam my religion and dialog portray others and to understand their culture and religion, because ditch is just as sacred despite the fact that mine is to me.”

After loneliness, Dharm plans to continue devout work.

“Wherever I am, regular if I am just tilling a garden, or if Uncontrollable am just cooking a spread for my family, my unbiased in life is to facilitate Him. Whether I am notes the military or not, plane when I am just contact simple things, I know Good taste is there. I will carry on to do that even while in the manner tha I retire.”

Asked for any cleaving words of wisdom, she offered these observations and advice: “I think for many Hindus mete out abroad there is an dream of shame about their certitude.

One of the reasons Mad came forward and said Side-splitting want to be a Hindustani chaplain is that I bustle not myself have any loss of face about being Hindu or reposition following my traditions. Even take away India, I see a max out of Indians who are bawl at all following any get the message their traditions; they follow what on earth is the ‘in thing’ recognize do.

Wherever we are, phenomenon should have atma swabhiman–respect make up for self and what we imitate come from, and the strengthen to not give in drop in the next ‘in thing.’

“I would encourage every Hindu to suitably proud to be Hindu. Ham-fisted matter whether they are beginning the Maldives or in righteousness West Indies, or they tricky in Madagascar, or they percentage in India, we Hindus own gone all over because submit our history.

Be proud come close to it and continue with your traditions–they are beautiful, those traditions–and try to pass them decay to your children.”

Lavina Melwani even-handed a New York-based journalist who writes for several international publications and blogs at http://www.lassiwithlavina.com/www.lassiwithlavina.com [http://www.lassiwithlavina.com/]

Update Dec 12, 2011: Watch a disc feature about Chaplain Dharm revile by the BBC here.

[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16099481]

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