City of Chowchilla in California (USA) has now declared October 25, 2012 as “Rajan Zed Day”, after such recent proclamation of Madera (California). 

Rajan Zed is an acclaimed global Hindu and interfaith statesman, who besides taking up the cause of religion worldwide, has also raised huge voice against the apartheid faced by about 15-million Roma (Gypsies) in Europe.  

Chowchilla Mayor Janan Hebert, in a signed and sealed proclamation, mentioned “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.” 

It noted:  “we honor Mr. Zed’s leadership roles in attempting to help the helpless”.  

It stated: “honoring his efforts to help the Hindu communities spread throughout the United States of America and the world, including California”. 

Proclamation acknowledged: “his work to uplift approximately 15-million Roma (Gypsies) people of Europe who live in apartheid conditions by frequently voicing their maltreatment, issues and concerns; and urging other religious leaders to do so”. 

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, delivered on July 24 the first historic Hindu invocation of Chowchilla City Council in its 89 years of incorporated existence. After sprinkling few drops of water from holy river Ganga of India, he recited from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, besides lines from Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), both ancient Hindu scriptures.  

October 25 is Zed’s birthday. 

Bestowed with World Interfaith Leader Award; Rajan Zed is Senior Fellow and Religious Advisor to Foundation for Religious Diplomacy, Spiritual Advisor to National Association of Interchurch & Interfaith Families, etc. 

Chowchilla, which translates as “Murderers”, is known for soccer team Chowchilla Gladiators. For every 100 females in Chowchilla, there were 42.7 males as the population figures included inmates of two California women’s prisons located in the city. Jim Kopshever and Mark Lewis are Mayor Pro Tem and City Manager respectively of Chowchilla, whose vision includes “Community pride” and whose tagline is “gateway to prosperity”. 

Details of the picture attached:

Just before the recent Chowchilla City Council Hindu invocation, from left to right, are—Councilmember Isaac Jackson, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kopshever, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, Mayor Janan Hebert, Councilmember Dennis Haworth and Councilmember David Alexander.