Rajan Zed on a promotional spree
It looks like Rajan Zed, the Hindu leader from Nevada is on a self-promotional spree. Rajan Zed has been in news quite often these days. First It was when he had been invited to read prayers to the US Senate. The news got widespread international attention when the prayers were disrupted with shouting of some fundamentalist Christians in the senate gallery. Since then Mr. Zed has been trying to be in the news consistently and project himself as the leader of Hinduism in America. But this has not been warmly welcomed by other Hindu leaders in the USA.
Leaders of three Seattle-area temples said they knew of Zed from news accounts or not at all.
“I don’t know how he advertises himself or how he gets access to these things,” said Shyam Oberoi, secretary of the board of trustees of the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center in Bothell.
Swami Bhaskarananda of the Vedanta Society of Western Washington in Seattle said Zed sounds like “someone ambitious” whose appearance might be “politically motivated — he wants to be known.” [Via]
Zed again came to news when he demanded that a special screening of The Love Guru (a comedy by Mike Myers) be allowed to the members of Hindu community before it was released in June (the movie had full promotional support of the new-age spiritual guru Deepak Chopra). As a result, the Hindu American Foundation was granted a pre-secreening of the film prior to the release.
It looks like Rajan Zed (or it could be his P.R.O or a fan) is doing a lot of self-promotional work these days. I got two emails, which was sent to an email group that I am part of, that seemingly came from Rajan Zed. He sent two articles which titled “Hindus urge European Union to formally apologize to its Roma population for centuries of abuse” and “Hindu statesman Zed inaugurated & blessed a Christian church in Nevada” and both of them had a “For favour of publication” note in the beginning. Then I got another email which was meant for me (because it is about music), which titled “Famous American band releases groundbreaking album on ancient Vedas and presents to Hindu statesman Zed” and for my convenience he had also attached a photo of the event. All three of these articles had mentioned Rajan Zed’s name in almost every paragraph with decorations such as “Acclaimed Hindu and Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed” or “Zed, who is the president of Universal Society of Hinduism” etc.
From what it looks like, there is a self-proclaimed pope-in-the-making for Hindus in America. Watch out for more publicity stunts from Mr. Rajan Zed in the coming days.
Details of the picture above (As given by Mr. Zed in his email):
Andrea (left) and Sara Forman (right), lead singers of Shanti Shanti rock band, presenting the first copy of their new album “Veda” to acclaimed Hindu leader Rajan Zed (center) in Nevada (USA).
Picture by: Roger Bowen Weld
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September 29th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
hehhee…never heard about this guy before.. but this one seems a good addition to the already big list of publicity hungry personalities
September 30th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
A very interesting character. He would do very well in the USA. In his home country, India, he simply has far too much competition! He cannot hold a candle to many other charlatans of his ilk.
February 1st, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Interesting that Rajan Zed is with the “Shanti Sisters.” Since the sisters are Christians, how sincere can be their chanting to the Hindu Spirit Beings? Therefore, how sincere is Zed to Hinduism?
March 5th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
What is wrong if someone promotes Hindu Dharma. The Dharma of Peace !!! The comments here are out of jealoucy !!. Even if someone gets fame — and Dharma is promoted there should not be any objection to it. On similar grounds – you will condemn Swami Vivekananda also. He was so much in news those days — when he visited US nearly 125 yrs ago. Everyone on this blog should go and preach world about Dharma in these troubled times of [Christian] Crusades and [Islamic] Jehaad.
April 2nd, 2009 at 10:59 pm
hi: could you send me mr Zed’s email. I’m a journalist and want to explore what he is doing and what he is upto. thanks
krishna
510-213-1223
June 27th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Mallu JO has problem when a hindu is trying to spread hinduism.
August 13th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Never heard of the guy back here in India! One more charlatan defiling the name of Hinduism and Hindus and Indians! Never heard of the plea of Indian christians for an apology from the West! Hindu dharma is all inclusive. It is a way of life.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
I’ve posted several articles involving Rajan Zed and his interfaith associates at http://earthpages.org , if anyone wants to know more.
Probably best to click (or copy and paste) this link >>
http://epages.wordpress.com/?s=rajan+zed
December 15th, 2009 at 8:13 am
His pronouciation of Sanskrit verses is terrible.
His English is even terribler.
He is not fit to be called Hindu Leader.
He said in a video, so and so bishop’s knowledge of hinduism is more than my own. What a load of crap…he’s a demagogue, a nobody who found a niche.
I thought fake Godmen lived only in India
January 17th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
This Guy is actually stirring up trouble in my country – Malta. He wants us to amend our constitution and wants us to invite him over to talk to the pope on his next visit in April. Is this guy for real??
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:12 am
[...] I’ve ended up on Rajan Zed’s mailing list (the Hindu statesman is infamous for criticizing American cultural [...]
June 8th, 2010 at 4:17 am
Yeah, this guy’s a clown. Unfortunately, white guilt has overtaken and he’s leading Hindu prayers in Senates and city councils up and down the Western US. The self-appointed grand pubah of all Hindus in the universe is relying on lots and lots of cameras and news wires rather than Cardinals and cloisters to be recognized. He won’t be going away anytime soon.