SACP - Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy

Past SACP President edits Philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi for the 21st Century

Doug Allen, who served as President of the SACP, 2001-2004, edited The Philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi for the 21st Century (Lexington Books, 2008, and Oxford University Press Delhi, 2009).

Five of the 12 contributors to the book have been active in the SACP.

During 2009-2010, Doug has been in India on a Fulbright-Nehru Senior Research Fellowship, working on "Mahatma Gandhi and Violence, Terrorism, and the Contemporary World," as well as writing a new book on Gandhi's philosophy. While in India, he gave 25 major lectures, including the Keynote Address at 5 national and international conferences. This has been a year of challenging and fulfilling experiences with valuable contacts, stimulating interactions, and new adventures.

Major lectures included:

The Plenary Lecture on "My Experiments with Truth: Applying Hind Swaraj, Successes and Failures," Hind Swaraj Centenary International Conference, Delhi
"Philosophy for the Future," UNESCO World Philosophy Day
Keynote Lecture on "Hind Swaraj: Hermeneutical Questions of Interpretation, Mythic Construction, and Contemporary Relevance," Baroda
Keynote Lecture on "Hind Swaraj after 100 Years: Its Importance for Human Rights Today," Mumbai
Keynote Lecture on "Peacebuilding in the 21st Century: Gandhian Approaches," Banaras Hindu University
University Distinguished Lecture "Mahatma Gandhi and Violence Today: Economic Violence and Swaraj," University of Hyderabad
Keynote Lecture on "Rewriting Marginality: Minority Literature, Hermeneutical Insights, and Gandhian Challenges," Aurangabad
Plenary Lecture on "Asian Philosophies in Times of Globalization," First Asian Philosophy Congress, Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Ashok Kumar Malhotra receives University of Hawai'i Distinguished Alumni Award

The University of Hawai'i Alumni Association (UHAA) has named Ashok Kumar Malhotra (PhD *69 Manoa, Distinguished Teaching Professor of Philosophy at State University of New York at Oneonta) as a recipient of its 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Ninash Foundation celebrates the 'gift of literacy'

Dr. Ashok Malhotra, President of Ninash Foundation recently reported:

While visiting the Ninash Foundation's four Indo-International Schools during December 2008-January 2009, Linda and I received the most heartwarming news that two of our underprivileged children had been accepted into a college of their choice. There were tears in our eyes and joy in our hearts because these same children, thirteen years ago, were picking up cow dung as their livelihood, and now they were able to attend college. While this may not be earth-shattering news for those living in the West, for these students it was a miracle of great achievement because by attending college and earning a degree they would be able to break the age-old caste barrier. Moreover, they would have an excellent chance of being accepted as equals while taking advantage of the booming economy of India.

During the past 13 years, you have been partners in the success and future of these socially outcast children. Through your generous support to the Ninash Foundation, more than 1000 needy children are receiving free education in the three Indo-International Elementary Schools and one High School. Equipped with an education, these children are asserting their rightful place in society and imparting the gift of literacy to their siblings, parents and friends.

The Ninash Foundation's goal is to first achieve 100% literacy in the villages where these schools are located and then adopt this model for rest of India. We believe in the slogans 'Each One Teach One' and 'Yes, We Can.' In India, if the 700 million literate people follow these slogans they can teach the remaining 400 million illiterate people. Thus, India could eventually achieve 100% literacy. Though this may appear to be a monumental ambition, it can be realized.

Through your generous support and partnership, the Ninash Foundation has successfully built these four schools, providing an outstanding education to a disadvantaged class. In order to continue providing quality education to the needy, we are working to establish an endowment fund of $250,000, the interest from which will provide the necessary resources for the yearly recurring expenses of the four schools. The Watumull Foundation of Hawaii has responded to our request by giving $10,000 as seed money for the endowment. In this exciting venture of spreading literacy among the underprivileged, we are appealing to generous supporters like you to contribute $100, $200, $500, $1000 or more towards our goal of $250,000. No amount is ever too small because many drops of different sizes fill a bucket of water. Your generous contribution will give the gift of literacy to the needy and save them from becoming the 'slumdog' children.

Your contributions can be sent to the above address or you can visit our Website at http://www.ninash.org/ and contribute through Pay Pal.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ashok Malhotra

President

Publications by Society Members

James Giles (University of Guam) announces the paperback publication of his book The Nature of Sexual Desire (University Press of America, 2008).

The Nature of Sexual Desire takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the psychology, philosophy, and anthropology of this most urgent of human desires. Examining both ancient writings and modern research, both Eastern and Western thought, the author argues that sexual desire is a continuous element in awareness and can only be understood in terms of our experience. The experience of sexual desire is explored and its relation to sexual interaction, erotic pleasure, the experience of gender, and romantic love, is skilfully unravelled. Sexual desire is presented in a new light: an existential need that is continually sweeping through us, pulling us on to one of life's highest fulfilments. For more information click here.

Reviews

Giles' spiritual understanding of sexual desire and his appreciation for the richness and exquisiteness of sexual interaction will be refreshing for those philosophers and sex therapists who believe that biological and physiological research dehumanize the joys of sexual desire and satisfaction. —Felicia De la Garza-Mercer, Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy

This readable and well-conceived book represents a lucid, synoptic assessment of a key and central feature of our humanity. Its approach is both comprehensive and systematic….The reader will find here a rich and creative synthesis of both intrapsychic and interpersonal aspects of sexual attraction, arousal, and response. —Sanford Lopater, Professor of Psychology, Christopher Newport University, co-author (with Ruth "Dr Ruth" Westheimer) of Human Sexuality: A Psychosocial Perspective

A delightful examination of the way in which cross-cultural theorists, philosophers, and psychologists have viewed the nature of sexual desire… genuine insights into human sexuality, gender, and the experience of love. —Elaine Hatfield, Professor of Psychology, University of Hawaii, Past President for the Society of Scientific Study of Sex, co-author (with Richard Rapson) of Love and Sex: Cross-Cultural Perspectives

The Nature of Sexual Desire…presents a rich and thorough exploration of the subject matter that cuts across historical perspectives and issues of culture. The author draws on understandings from sexology, psychology, philosophy and anthropology and by so doing explores all relevant perspectives. —Helen Startup, Sexual and Relationship Therapy

The receptive awareness that belongs to the nature of sexual desire according to James Giles belongs also to his phenomenological descriptions of that desire. Responsive both to what the founder of phenomenology calls "the things themselves" and to the extensive archive of scholarship on the subject, this book treats of the exquisite experience it studies so faithfully in a prose so elegant and direct that it has the makings of a classic destined to seduce generations of specialist and non-specialist readers. —John Llewelyn, Retired Reader in Philosophy University of Edinburgh, author of Margins of Religion

This book is highly recommendable for undergraduate students in psychology, anthropology, philosophy, communication studies, and women's studies, and an absolute "must-read" for all graduate students and researchers interested in sexuality and close relationships. —Itziar Alonso-Arbiol, Relationship Research News

James Giles University of Guam, CLASS UOG Station, Mangilao Guam 96923, USA Tel.: (671) 735-2818 Fax: (671) 734-7930 Home page: www.james-giles.com

Other Society News

SUNY-ONEONTA PHILOSOPHER AWARDED FOR PROMOTING LITERACY

ONEONTA, N.Y. -- Distinguished Teaching Professor Ashok K. Malhotra of the Philosophy Department at the SUNY College at Oneonta has been named a recipient of the 2008 Gullands Excellence Award for his work in promoting literacy among the underprivileged children of India. Dr. Malhotra received the award, presented by the Association of Non-Resident Indians at its annual meeting, on September 27 in London.

At the ceremony, Professor Malhotra was presented with a plaque as one of a dozen recipients of the award worldwide who were recognized for exemplary service in their areas of specialization, including art, music, literature, engineering, economy, banking, manufacturing, engineering, education, and community service.

Gullands of Maidstone, a solicitor firm from England, created the award to celebrate extraordinary achievements by non-resident Indians in support of their homeland. Dr. Malhotra was recognized for establishing four Indo-International Schools through the Ninash Foundation. The schools now serve more than 750 of the poorest children of India.

Dr. Malhotra established the Ninash Foundation in 1996 to support efforts to promote literacy among children and adults throughout the world. He has received many honors for his work with the schools, including the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the East-West Center, the Bharat Excellence Award from the Friendship Forum of India, and the Spiritual Leadership Award from the Friends of the Religious Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The Indo-International School project was recognized as a gift of service to humanity in 1999 and presented to the Dalai Lama during the Parl iament of World Religions in South Africa.

A member of the SUNY-Oneonta faculty since 1967, Dr. Malhotra received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1994 and was promoted to the rank of SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor in 2001. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Rajasthan in India and a doctorate from the University of Hawaii.and

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Mark Your Calendars

SACP Annual Conference
Asilomar, California
June 18-21, 2010
Theme: "Philosophy and Our Common Future"

Announcements

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