Language English
5.4. Analysis of Objective Three
5.4.1. Analysis of question 3.1
Question 3.1. asked: "Aside from using the printed material, how is cultural and religious information disseminated?"
The various methods of information dissemination aside from the use of printed material were investigated.
Organisations that prefer the use of printed material to provide information
Fourteen reformed Hindu organisations favoured the use of printed material to provide information to devotees. Four organisations did not use printed material to provide religious and cultural information but did rely on lectures for information dissemination. Lectures given in conjunction with printed material were preferred by eight organisations. Two organisations used lectures, printed material and other formats were used when needed and when available.
Non-print media used to provide information to devotees
Talks/lectures (non-print media) were also used to provide information to devotees by 14 organisations. Eleven organisations used CDs as information media. Nine organisations used DVDs, videos, e-mail/Internet, websites, and cassettes as means of disseminating information. Plays/sketches, seminars, and story telling were also used by two organisations as means of disseminating information to devotees. Three organisations used TV and radio channels to disseminate information.
Problems experienced when using non-printed methods of information dissemination The types of problems that organisations experienced when using non-print methods of dissemination were investigated.
Table 17: Problems experienced when using non-printed methods of information dissemination
Problems
Devotees forget information given orally Limited access to electronic formats and equipment
Cost of owning and maintaining equipment is too high
Lack of interest on the part of devotees Faulty equipment
Setting appropriate dates so that most of the devotees could attend functions Problems in transferring information on cassette to CDs
Other
Number of organisations 6
5 5 4
2 2
All 19 organisations responded to this question. The worst problems appeared to be that devotees forget the information shared with them orally. Five organisations experienced problems with access to electronic formats of information and equipment required to utilise the formats. Five organisations found costs of owning and maintaining other formats of information too expensive. A lack of interest by the devotees themselves was experienced by four organisations. Three organisations found equipment required to utilise other non-print formats to be faulty as the equipment had to be hired or borrowed. The "other" responses included enlisting the help of appropriate speakers to address the devotees, piracy of CDs and DVDs, and the fact that the information provided on electronic formats had little meaning when live explanations were not given.
Locations/venues/ circumstances best suited to information provision outside the temple/ashram
The question was asked to ascertain what locations/venues/circumstances were used to provide information to interested individuals.
Table 18: Locations/venues/ circumstances best suited to information provision outside the temple/ashram
Locations/venues/circumstances Invitations from other organisations Special functions
Religious festivals Community Halls
Any facility where there may be interested individuals
Small temple organisations that may be Sanathanist
Fairs
Classrooms of schools when invited Members go door-to-door
Other
Number of organisations 15 12 9 8 7 7 6 5 2 2
All 19 reformed Hindu organisations responded to this question. Invitations from other Hindu organisations during religious festivals was seen as the best locations/venues/
circumstances suited to information provision outside the temple/ashram by 15 reformed Hindu organisations. Twelve reformed Hindu organisations found that special functions
hosted by Hindu organisations, like those held to commemorate founding members who are now deceased, as being suitable occasions for the provision of information outside the temple/ashram. Religious festivals and community halls (where functions were being held) were accepted as good places to disseminate information. When the reformed Hindu organisations work closely with school communities, they are often invited to share values and ethics with learners and teachers. This was accepted in a positive way by the reformed Hindu organisations concerned.
Methods of information dissemination used at outside locations/venues/ circumstances Eighteen organisations responded to this question. Six reformed Hindu organisations held special campaigns. Seven organisations used stalls at fairs and community events and five organisations had displays at a variety of venues and functions. During special campaigns areas or groups of people were targeted for information dissemination, for example, a particular part of Chatsworth may have been the target area because of social problems being experienced there.
Individuals tasked with information dissemination
The question was asked to find out which individuals within the reformed Hindu organisations were tasked with information dissemination.
Table 19: Individuals tasked with information dissemination
Individuals
Senior members of the organisation Any member with training & practice Secretariat
Guru/swam i
Information Officer
Individuals with academic qualification Selected individuals
Priests Trustees Other
Number of organisations 11
8 4 4 4
"3 J)
->
J
2 2
Senior members of the organisations were the chosen individuals tasked to disseminate print and non-print information by 11 organisations as they knew the teachings and the religious
texts that the organisation focussed on. Eight organisations had members with training and practice to disseminate print and non-print information. However, these members had to be bona fide members of the reformed Hindu organisation for a long period of time. The "other"
category included devotees and volunteers who were known to members of the organisation.