Ganesha’s Tusk: A Fresh Take on Ancient Tales
by Samara, HfHR volunteer
Inspired by Lord Ganesha's dedication to transcribe the Mahabharata and share these tales with the world, this podcast provides fresh perspectives on ancient Hindu tales. Samara, a 12-year-old Indian-American, discusses Hindu epics, history, mythology, and how these tales inform and influence the youth of today.
This is a Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) initiative to dialogue with youth on their reflections on Hinduism. If you have feedback or suggestions for future episodes, or if a young person in your life would like to offer an episode, we would love to hear from you! Please write to us at info@hindusforhumanrights.org .
In this episode, Samara and Amani tackle the topic of war. They take us through the 18 devastating days that marked the Battle of Kurukshetra, the central event of the Mahabharata. They then apply the lessons of that terrible battle to the ongoing suffering in Sudan, Israel-Palestine, and Ukraine-Russia. This episode asks listeners to reflect on why we fight wars. Who starts these wars? Who pays the price? And what happens when we let egos of a few determine the fate of many?SERIES THREE EPISODE 1: Manu’s Ark
SERIES TWO EPISODE 6 (FINALE): Standing Up and Speaking Out
SERIES TWO EPISODE 5: S's and Ardh's Genders
SERIES TWO EPISODE Four: YUDHISTIRA’S LIE
SERIES TWO EPISODE THREE: SITA WALKS AWAY
SERIES TWO EPISODE TWO: Ganesha's Favorite Foods
SERIES TWO EPISODE ONE: KANNAGI’S ANKLET
SERIES ONE EPISODE Three: GANESHA’s tusk
SERIES ONE EPISODE TWO: EKLAVYA’S THUMB
SERIES ONE EPISODE ONE: DRAUPADI’S SARI
SAMARA’S ESSAYS
Samara was a winner in the Civil Rights-themed Essay and Art Contest, organized by Hindus for Human Rights and Indian American Muslim Council in February 2021. Samara’s winning essay was published in American Kahani, where she has become a columnist. Read Samara’s essays here.