Looming Shortage Of Hindu Priests in UK Due to Visa Restrictions
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
UNITED KINGDOM, February 25, 2005: Mr. Sudarshan Bhatia in a BBC Asian
Network interview on Thursday told the listeners about the shortage of
qualified priests to carry out order of worship in the Hindu Temples
throughout the UK. He said, "This situation has emerged due to
implementing a new legislation making proficiency in English compulsory
for Entry Clearance for the Hindu priests applying for work permits for
employment in the Hindu Temples in the UK. The Hindu order of worship,
observances, delivering sermons, lecturing discourses, carrying-out
rituals, mass religious teachings and explaining the worship ! and the
Deities to the community congregations are performed and delivered by
different members of religious order with prescribed acts and all with
religious sentiments. Proficiency of English of the legislated standard
is required for the members of religious order serving temples through
congregations and religious community work, i.e., swamis, etc., and not
by those serving with order of worship and performing daily worship to
the Deities which are our Hindu priests. Hindu priests do not do
sermons like ministers of other religions."
Bhatia went on, "There are no Hindu schools to train Hindu priests and
no faculties to avail academic qualification to chose this as career.
There are no Hindu priests available in this country to fill up the
vacancies in the Hindu Temples. The problem is getting very urgent for
us as only last week the Ram Mandir, one ! of the oldest in the country,
has had their application rejected. The problem is growing as more and
more temples are encountering this situation every time their
application is rejected on this ground." Mr. Bhatia pointed out that
monks and nuns have got exemption on these grounds. "We were not
granted any grace period to resolve the situation arising from the
implementation of this legislation." Mr. Bhatia, on a positive note,
told the radio that the Hindu Council's campaign so far has not fallen
on deaf ears. "The Government has been listening and assured us a
second review."
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
UNITED KINGDOM, February 25, 2005: Mr. Sudarshan Bhatia in a BBC Asian
Network interview on Thursday told the listeners about the shortage of
qualified priests to carry out order of worship in the Hindu Temples
throughout the UK. He said, "This situation has emerged due to
implementing a new legislation making proficiency in English compulsory
for Entry Clearance for the Hindu priests applying for work permits for
employment in the Hindu Temples in the UK. The Hindu order of worship,
observances, delivering sermons, lecturing discourses, carrying-out
rituals, mass religious teachings and explaining the worship ! and the
Deities to the community congregations are performed and delivered by
different members of religious order with prescribed acts and all with
religious sentiments. Proficiency of English of the legislated standard
is required for the members of religious order serving temples through
congregations and religious community work, i.e., swamis, etc., and not
by those serving with order of worship and performing daily worship to
the Deities which are our Hindu priests. Hindu priests do not do
sermons like ministers of other religions."
Bhatia went on, "There are no Hindu schools to train Hindu priests and
no faculties to avail academic qualification to chose this as career.
There are no Hindu priests available in this country to fill up the
vacancies in the Hindu Temples. The problem is getting very urgent for
us as only last week the Ram Mandir, one ! of the oldest in the country,
has had their application rejected. The problem is growing as more and
more temples are encountering this situation every time their
application is rejected on this ground." Mr. Bhatia pointed out that
monks and nuns have got exemption on these grounds. "We were not
granted any grace period to resolve the situation arising from the
implementation of this legislation." Mr. Bhatia, on a positive note,
told the radio that the Hindu Council's campaign so far has not fallen
on deaf ears. "The Government has been listening and assured us a
second review."
Courtsey: www.hinduismtoday.com
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