Dear friends and supporters of Hindus for Human Rights,

As 2025 dawns, it's up to all of us to help make the year a less painful one for all the oppressed and besieged peoples of the world, including Palestinians in Gaza; Muslims, Christians, and Dalits in India; Hindus in Bangladesh and Pakistan; and women in Afghanistan.

Hindu traditions often speak of victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. In these troubling times for democracies everywhere, let us wish for a new dawn when all peoples of the world can work together for peaceful coexistence and justice for all. With that earnest hope in my heart, I share this beautiful hymn in praise of dawn from the Ṛgveda:

"Common, unending is the Sisters' pathway; taught by the Gods,
alternately they travel.
"Fair-formed, of different hues and yet one-minded, Night and Dawn clash
not, neither do they travel.
"She, stirring up the world, hath shown us riches: Dawn hath awakened
every living creature.
"In the sky's borders hath she shone in splendour: the Goddess hath
thrown off the veil of darkness.
"Bringing all-sustaining blessings with her, showing herself she sends
forth brilliant lustre.
"Arise! the breath, the life, again hath reached us: darkness hath passed
away and light approacheth."
-- Ṛgveda: Hymn CXIII, Dawn (excerpts)

(Hope that we don't have to wait another four years for the darkness to pass.)

On a personal note, my plan for 2025 is to focus on writing about my personal efforts towards communal harmony and social justice over the last three decades spent both in India and the US. Now that a passionate and powerful young team is leading HfHR’s work, I will be reducing my day to day involvement, but will continue to be active on the board.

Please ‘follow’ my personal X account @Raju4Equality to get updates of my continuing personal efforts to resist all forms of bigotry and hate.

Love and Regards,
Raju Rajagopal, Cofounder, Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR)
@Raju4Equality and rajurajagop@gmail.com