Parivartan, a student organization concerned with the social, political and economic conditions of India, has been recognized by the University.

The organization, which began meeting informally in November, received provisional status from the University Jan. 15.

The group's goals are to educate all people about India, and to serve as a forum for ideas about the future of the nation, explained Rajib Doogar, a group organizer.

"Most people here are getting fundamentally the wrong idea about India. There is a lot of factual misunderstanding. We are trying to improve people's understanding in this environment," he said, referring to Americans' misconceptions of India.

Rahul Puri, acting president of Parivartan, agreed.

"Most people need to be more aware of what is going on in India," he said.

Some of Parivartan's concerns include India's political and religious strife, illiteracy among its people, rate and direction of social change and women's rights, said group member Pinku Mukherjee.

However, Parivartan is not a political organization, Doogar said.

"What we are is a task force to educate both Indians and Americans," he said. "But it is impossible to discuss these issues without bringing politics into it."

To address some of these issues, Parivartan sponsored a panel discussion entitled "The Role of Regional and Secessionist Movements in the Indian Subcontinent" Saturday afternoon.

"A lot has happened in India since it gained independence. Many westerners are unaware of the tremendous progress that has been made. We want people to know about it . . . to change their stereotypical view," Mukherjee said.

This progress includes tremendous technological advantages, Doogar said.

"India is now a modern industrial nation . . . in spite of all its diversity, complexity and poverty," he said.

People are also unaware of India's political history, Doogar said.

"We want to address the lack of political leadership and the turmoil that exists," Puri said.

However, despite the political problems of the nation, there have also been triumphs, Doogar said.

"India is the only country that has become independent in the 20th century without military rule. We never had any violation of our constitution in 40 years of independence," he said.

In addition to its planned activities which include documentary screenings, discussions and guest speakers, Parivartan members are organizing the first annual conference on Indian social issues to be held in March at several colleges and universities, including Penn State.