Microsoft blesses Hindus and their temple
By Yasmin Ahmed

How does an H1B visa or a green card connect with the popular deity Krishna? Can’t say it actually does, since Krishna went abroad first to the US, long back with the ISKONS! But this time, it isn’t the ISKONs that is sponsoring Krishna worship, but, hold your breath, our own Bill Gates Company,  software giant Microsoft!

Yeah, the Seattle Times reports that Microsoft has offered to match the donations of its Indian employees’ donations to the Hindu Temple at Bothell dollar for dollar. Several Indians abroad do volunteer service at the temple, and Microsoft offers $17 dollar per hour on behalf of the employees of Microsoft as well. The Microsoft is not alone in this; Boeing has a comparable agenda too.

Microsoft has always encouraged its employees to donate to charity, but does a temple which promotes and sustains Hinduism, and is of an obvious religious nature qualify for a label of charity? The rules, it is reported, strictly restricts the donations to organizations of a secular nature! The temple at Bothell is now planning to bring on a new worship space costing a few million dollars; the donation from Microsoft is a big part of the plan coming to fruition. Perhaps this fits in with Microsoft’s agenda of encouraging employees to bridge the two worlds and celebrate their own culture! Remember, the Microsoft offices in USA have a large part of its work force from India. Not a bad idea culturally pampering your people to stay back with you, especially when the competition in the area is not too bad!

Lord Krishna has the divine powers of playing games to teach evil forces a lesson.  Perhaps the blessings of our gods will help Microsoft as it battles Apple, Linux and freeware.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/pacificnw/2004344992_pacificpvisas13.html