Standing By Each Other
NOTE: THE HINDUS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS BLOG IS A SPACE FOR A HEALTHY EXPLORATION OF IDEAS PERTINENT TO OUR MISSION. THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS BLOG ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE OFFICIAL POLICY OR POSITION OF HINDUS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.
Aminah Ahmed is a high school student who is driven to raise her voice for social justice. She is a dynamic youth leader with her own TV show where she interviews other diverse youth leaders on myriad issues of concern to her generation and the world. I met Aminah through our partnership with Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), where she is a youth leader.
In recent weeks, right-wing Islamaphobic and Hindutva-aligned organizations have alleged that IAMC is an "anti-Hindu" and "pro-terrorist" organization. As Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) has stated several times, we consider these allegations to be preposterous. IAMC is one the largest and oldest Muslim American human rights organizations. As a Hindu organization that works closely with IAMC, we can vouch for their inclusiveness, sensitivity and respect for us as Hindus.
Apart from being a youth leader in IAMC, Aminah also happens to be a volunteer for our organization, Hindus for Human Rights. She has helped with many projects including the #Art4ShaheenBagh project that she and I launched together, our efforts to support grassroots organizations in India providing Covid-19 relief, our Reclaiming India conference in October 2020, and most recently our civil rights art and essay contest.
IAMC and HfHR are faith-based organizations striving to mobilize our respective communities to stand for truth and justice,. Since both organizations wish to see Hindu-Muslim unity, we help each other, we uplift each other's projects, we often collaborate, and we each have volunteers who come from the "other" faith community. In fact, IAMC's own Advocacy Director is a fellow Hindu.
This is our view of the world -- a celebration of our unity and common cause. We come together as Hindus and Muslims to put our collective shoulder to the wheel for justice for all.
It is important to encourage our youth leaders so that they are strong and resilient for all that is to come in life. Aminah is a brave high school student who is working so hard to build a world in which everyone's human rights are respected.
For me, the teachings of the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita are guiding lights which show me the way, and help me answer the question, "How do I live as a good Hindu in this world?" The Taittiriya Upanishad beseeches us to see our father, mother, teacher and even the stranger as embodying the qualities of the divine. Aminah is no stranger to us -- indeed, she is one of us. We love her as a sister, daughter, and friend.
We are deeply saddened, dismayed, and ashamed that people who claim to represent our faith community are so viciously attacking her.