Happy Black History Month from your friends at Hindus for Human Rights! All month long, we'll be celebrating and reflecting on stories of Black power, strength, and pride. Black History Month is inherently linked to South Asian history; in February 1959, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott, traveled to India.
Keep an eye out for our blog post on this monumental moment for peace, justice, and interfaith relations in the coming days! |
77 Years of Sri Lankan Independence: Reflections on Freedom, Conflict, and Reconciliation |
Seventy-seven years ago, on February 4, 1948, Sri Lanka—then Ceylon—stepped into the light of independence, shedding the yoke of British colonial rule.
It was a moment of pride, of rebirth, of boundless potential. Yet, the story of Sri Lanka’s independence is not just one of self-rule; it is also a story of struggles over whose freedom was truly secured and whose voices were left unheard. |
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February 5th, 2025: Webinar on "The Growing Influence of African and Asian Women in Western Leadership": Join us for an inspiring and thought-provoking webinar hosted by Amina Khalid, Head of Initiatives of Change’s UK Sustainable Communities Programme. This session will explore the growing influence and prominence of African and Asian women in leadership roles within the Western world. The panel includes some incredible women’s rights activists from around the globe. Learn more here.
February 5th, 2025: South Asian Resistance and Solidarity: 9/11 to Present in Los Angeles, CA: Join us for a powerful conversation exploring the journey of South Asian resistance and solidarity from 9/11 to the present. This engaging panel discussion brings together prominent voices who have fought for justice, community, and liberation, examining the challenges and opportunities under the new administration. Learn more here.
February 6th, 2025: Countering Religious Nationalisms in Washington, D.C.: Join Hindus for Human Rights at this critical summit addressing the rise of religious nationalisms globally. As part of the panel on Hindu Nationalism and Christian Nationalism (10:45 AM – 12:15 PM), our representatives will explore the intersection of Hindu nationalism with global authoritarian trends and its impact on religious minorities. Learn more here.
FRIDAY, February 7th, 2025: The Role of Faith Leaders in Peace-Building: As part of Interfaith Harmony Week, The London Story and the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) are bringing together faith leaders, academics, and civil society members to discuss the role of faith in peace-building and interfaith harmony. This event is online. Learn more here.
SATURDAY, February 8th, 2025: HfHR Philly Chapter Organizing Meeting: Join Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) members and supporters as we gather to build community, share concerns and priorities entering the new Trump era, and strategize together on how to build an HfHR chapter in Philadelphia. Let’s organize for justice and solidarity in these critical times! Learn more here.
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Join us for or the first installment of HfHR’s Baithaks for Liberation: Conversations on Building a Liberatory Hinduism!
Baithaks for Liberation is a new series of virtual conversations, intended as a space for critical discussion and exploration of what it would mean to construct a truly liberatory and justice-oriented Hinduism. This series will bring together scholars, practitioners, and activists to explore how Hindu traditions and teachings can offer insights on pressing issues such as queer liberation, feminism, the annihilation of caste, racial justice, and more.
This first session of our monthly webinar series will occur on February 22nd, 2025 and consist of an exciting panel discussion on the life and legacies of the renowned 19th-century Hindu philosopher Swami Vivekananda. We’ll discuss the complexities of Vivekananda’s teachings and thought, and what lessons they can offer us as we strive to build a liberatory Hinduism in our present moment. |
Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency: A Bold, Messy Battle Over Indira Gandhi’s Legacy |
Cinema has always held a unique power to explore the lives of those who shape history, reflecting not only their complexities but also the times in which they lived.
Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency is an ambitious attempt to capture the life of Indira Gandhi, one of India’s most polarizing figures, yet it is equally a reflection of Ranaut herself—a filmmaker and politician whose public persona is as contentious as the subject she seeks to portray. Watching the film, one cannot help but sense that it grapples with dualities: power and paranoia, reverence and critique, history and myth. |
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| Know Your Rights Resource Guide
Muslims for Just Futures have released a comprehensive Know Your Rights (KYR) guide as ICE raids increase within the United States. Their guide includes double-sided, printable posters in a multitude of languages including Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Bangla, and more which include a script and a general national number to report a raid and seek support. |
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| HfHR UK Condemns Police Tactics at January 18 Pro-Palestine Protest
Hindus for Human Rights UK is a signatory to a joint letter addressed to Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, raising serious concerns over the procedural irregularities and heavy-handed police tactics employed at the January 18 pro-Palestine demonstration in London. HfHR is committed to defending the right to protest and standing against suppression of dissent. |
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| Why Hindus Should Celebrate Black History Month
As Black History Month approaches, it's worth revisiting this 2022 article from Religion News Service, which explores the deep but often overlooked ties between Hindu thought and the Black experience in America. From Swami Vivekananda’s stand against segregation to W.E.B. Du Bois’ intellectual engagement with Hindu reformers and Martin Luther King Jr.’s adoption of Gandhian principles of nonviolence, these connections have profoundly shaped struggles for justice.
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| Below Delhi, the search for India's mythical past
As Black History Month approaches, it's worth revisiting this insightful 2022 article from Religion News Service, which explores the deep but often overlooked ties between Hindu thought and the Black experience in America. From Swami Vivekananda’s stand against segregation to W.E.B. Du Bois’ intellectual engagement with Hindu reformers and Martin Luther King Jr.’s adoption of Gandhian principles of nonviolence, these connections have profoundly shaped struggles for justice. |
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Become an HfHR Member Today! |
An HfHR membership gives you access to a community of progressive, change-oriented Hindus, our exclusive WhatsApp community, affinity groups, weekly community calls, merch discounts, local organizing groups, and more. Join today! |
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The HfHR weekly digest serves as your weekly guide to progressive Hindu advocacy. Find things you can do to take action, articles to read, podcast episodes to listen to, and more!
*Note: Readings are curated from a diverse range of sources and do not necessarily represent the views of HfHR.
Let us know what you think of our weekly digest! If you have ideas for news items you want to see included, or suggestions for action items or articles to highlight, let us know via the button below. |
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