Surya’s Sun Dawns on GTA

By Radha Deveeka   

Anil Persaud at Canadian Museum of Hindu Civilization, Richmond Hill
Event Images

Surya Academy, a Canadian school of Indian Philosophy and Culture based in the GTA

marks its first anniversary this summer 2008.  Since opening on the Summer Solstice in June 2007, the Academy has held a number of activities on a variety of subjects across the GTA.

Lectures, workshops and storytelling events have been held as ways to promote the culture and heritage of the ancient South Asian land.  The year, according to Surya Academy Director Anil Persaud, has been a fast and eventful one.  Partnerships with organizations such as Richmond Hill’s Canadian Museum of Hindu Civilization (CMOHC), Toronto’s Vaastu.net and Pickering’s Public Library have helped Surya to establish a solid foundation in its first year of operations.

With this foundation laid, plans for the future are in the works.  In July, Surya Academy launches its health and healing series with Health and Healing in Ancient India: The Practice of Ayurveda.  The fall session of a 2-day course entitled Inspirations from India, runs in late September.  This course focuses on four of the most influential figures of global prominence to come from the subcontinent.

On October 2^nd, celebrating the United Nations’ International Day of Non-Violence, Surya Academy partners with the Pickering Public Library to bring an event that will feature the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.  This is the second time that Surya Academy will be having a UN tie-in with one of it’s events; last September it participated in the UN’s International Day of Peace with a public lecture at the CMOHC.

Already in the works for November is the inaugural Triloka Tournament, an annual  youth-oriented competition covering topics from areas of South Asian culture, such as arts and literature, religion, history, entertainment and lifestyle. The tournament is a “unique way to promote South Asian culture and heritage while educating, engaging and connecting this diverse community,” says Triloka Coordinator Cynthia Jairam.

“We have a lot of great ideas,” says Persaud.  “Ancient India, the whole ancient world, is a marvellous wonder.  We are hoping to be able to bring just a tiny bit of this cultural richness to the public in a lot of creative ways.”

For more information on Surya Academy and its offerings or to register for any of its events, visit www.suryaacademy.org or call 416-428-9976.