SUBMITTED BY RAJAN ZED
Hartford, the capital city of Connecticut, has proclaimed Oct, 25, 2011, as “Rajan Zed Day”, recognizing Reno based Zed’s work in interfaith dialogue, Hinduism, European Roma upliftment, etc.
The Proclamation, signed by Hartford Mayor Pedro E. Segarra, says: “We honor Rajan Zed’s leadership role in his continuous efforts to help the helpless”, and adds: “Mayor of the City of Hartford, along with the Court of Common Council, and the citizens of Hartford, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, October 25th, 2011 as Rajan Zed Day In the City of Hartford”.
It mentions “Rajan Zed’s initiatives to bring various religious communities together throughout the world so that they can live in peace and mutual trust and enrich themselves through dialogue”; “Rajan Zed’s work to uplift about 15 million Roma (Gypsies) people of Europe who live in apartheid conditions by voicing their issues and cocern’s frequently”; and “Rajan Zed’s efforts to help the Hindu communities spread throughout Connecticut, USA, and all around the world”.
Rajan Zed, who is the President of Universal Society of Hinduism, read the first Hindu invocation of Hartford City Council in its 227 years of existence as incorporated city on June 13 evening from ancient Hindu scriptures—Rig-Veda, Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita—in Sanskrit followed by its English translation.
Zed is a religious statesman who has taken up interfaith, Hinduism, religion, environment, Roma and other causes all over the world. He has read opening prayers in US Senate, various state senates and houses of representatives, counties and city councils all over the country. He was invited by President of European Parliament in Brussels for a meeting to promote interfaith dialogue. He is panelist for “On Faith”, a prestigious interactive conversation on religion produced by The Washington Post. He is bestowed with “World Interfaith Leader Award” and is Senior Fellow and Religious Advisor to New York headquartered Foundation for Interreligious Diplomacy, Director of Interfaith Relations of Nevada Clergy Association, Spiritual Advisor to National Association of Interchurch & Interfaith Families, etc.
Hartford, named in 1637, houses USA’s oldest public park (Bushnell Park), oldest continuously published newspaper (Hartford Courant), oldest public art museum (The Wadsworth Atheneum); besides Trinity College and Hartford Seminary. Notable people associated with it include dictionary author Noah Webster, inventor Sam Colt, financier J.P. Morgan, author Mark Twain, broadcasters Howard Stern and Bill O’Reilly, actress Katharine Hepburn, musician Mike Carabello, basketball player Marcus Camby, etc. rJo Winch is City Council President while David B. Panagore is Chief Operating Officer of Hartford, which is nicknamed as “Insurance Capital of the World”.
Oct. 25 is Zed’s birthday.
