Diwali Special | “My Mom Thought I’d Joined a Punk Rock Band.” | The Story of an Irish Catholic Hindu: Where Faith Meets Philosophy | Shaunaka Rishi Das

Happy Diwali to all.  As the diyas light up our homes and hearts, I often wonder — has the essence of this festival been lost in the shadows? Amidst the mithai, fireworks, and endless Diwali parties, somewhere between the rituals and the revelry, the deeper meaning flickers faintly.  This Diwali special on India: A Story in the Making asks:  What does “Hinduism” truly mean, and where does it stand in today’s world of theology, philosophy, and existential thought?   In an age where religion often divides, and spirituality has become both a buzzword and a booming industry — have we gone wrong somewhere?  Is faith inherited or discovered?  Can faith exist without religion?  What makes Hinduism different from Hindu Studies?  And why is Hindu thought — with its timeless wisdom — often missing from global conversations on sustainability, wellbeing, and meaning? What does it have to offer?  If there is God, how can He allow such levels of misery to exist?  If you want your mindset to be challenged, this is the episode for you. A calm conversation that left my mind buzzing with thoughts — with Shaunaka Rishi Das, born Timothy Kiernan in Wexford, Ireland — the first Hindu Chaplain at Oxford University and the founding Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. ( https://ochsonline.org )  The Centre, established in 1997, existed long before India itself had a comparable institution dedicated to studying its own traditions.  His story fascinated me — how a boy raised in a small Irish town, with no connection to India or Hinduism, found his spiritual home in its philosophy, love, and discipline.   Shaunaka’s mother once thought he’d joined a punk rock band when he came home with a shaved head!  In this conversation, I discovered more about the ethos and spirit of the faith I was born into than I ever had before.   Some food for thought this Diwali — along with the mithai J  Episode 40 of India: A Story in the Making, titled “My Mom Thought I’d Joined a Punk Rock Band.”   ENJOY  📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@loveenatandonproductions  🎙️ Podcast – Smart Link:  https://bingepods.com/podcast/podcast-rn7moe 💬 Join Our Discord Community: https://discord.gg/p2UYt9uV5d  Please do like SUBSCRIBE AND CONNECT ON DISCORD.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices