University of Chicago has “Hindu Prayer Room”

Chicago (USA): The prestigious University of Chicago in USA has a dedicated “Hindu Prayer Room”.

Located in Rockefeller Chapel, this “Hindu Prayer Room” in Room 021 is accessible to any member of University community from seven am to 11 pm. Hindu students reportedly say daily prayers in this room. Yoga takes place every Tuesday evening in Chancel area of the Chapel. Rockefeller Memorial Chapel is ceremonial and spiritual center of the University of Chicago.

Applauding University of Chicago for provision of dedicated “Hindu Prayer Room”, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, described it as “a step in the right direction”. Zed commended University of Chicago for recognizing the intersection of spirituality and education.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged other USA universities, both public and private, to respond to the needs of diverse student body and follow University of Chicago’s action to provide prayer/meditation rooms for quiet reflection and spiritual exercise which would help in their personal growth.

University of Chicago, whose history goes back to 1892 and whose motto is “Let knowledge grow from more to more; and so be human life enriched”, claims 85 Nobel Prize winners, including eight in current faculty. Spread over 211 acres, it has about 16,000 students and over 154,000 alumni spread worldwide. Andrew M. Alper is Chair of the Board of Trustees, while Robert J. Zimmer is President.