Feb 2023 Newsletter: Calendars, events, advocacy & more!

January 8, 2023

HfHR's Monthly Newsletter serves as your guide to our progressive Hindu advocacy over the past month! Read on to learn about our webinars, podcasts, articles, advocacy updates, anti-caste initiatives, and more.

Dear Friend,

Our 2023 started by responding to the pouring appreciations on our Progressive Hindu Calendar and we couldn't have been happier!

January has also been a month of festivals such as Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Uttarayan, Pongal, and Vasant Panchami and important events such as Indian Republic Day and Martyr's Day. The phrases of "til gud ghya ani god god bola" (Marathi) and "ellu bella thindu, olle olle maatadu" (Kannada) remind us about having sesame and jaggery on Sankrati and speaking sweetly. Similarly, the verses of Jamaluddin Hansvi praising his master Baba Farid remind us about the need to talk sweetly and impart knowledge to others that nourishes their souls. At HfHR we have strived to raise voices against injustice yet not be violent in our speech and spread the message of peace and harmony!

Over the past month, we've continued our advocacy for pluralism, civil rights, and human rights for all in a number of fields. Read on to learn more!

Inspired by traditional Hindu devotional calendars you may be familiar with, this 2023 calendar celebrates progressive interpretations of our traditions, challenging conventional depictions of Hindu deities and sacred narratives. Let this beautiful calendar adorn your wall this year!

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Our 2023 Progressive Hindu Calendar distribution in India by Khudai Khidmatgar, recipient of our 2022 Swami Agnivesh Memorial Award, and Social Harmony Foundation!

Fight against Hindutva

Our Policy Director, Ria Chakrabarty, spoke at a Parliamentary Briefing with Justice for All Canada on the extremist targeting of minority women in India. The esteemed panel of expert researchers discussed why and how the Indian state can protect minority women and girls. The program also covered how global governments can participate in halting extremism targeting India's minority women and girls.

Parliamentary Briefing: Targeting of Minority Women & Girls in India

We held a joint Congressional Briefing on the dismissal of Hindu America Foundation's Lawsuit against our co-founders, Sunita Viswanath, and Raju Rajagopal, Executive Director of Indian American Muslim Council, Rasheed Ahmed, Chairman of the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America, John Prabhudoss, and Rutgers University professor, Audrey Truschke. The defendants and their attorneys spoke on this hard-fought legal win, and what it means for the protection of First Amendment rights and the ongoing fight against Hindu Extremism.

Congressional Briefing on Hindu American Foundation's Lawsuit Dismissal: A Victory for First Amendment and Human Rights

HfHR in the News

Joining numerous other faith-based organizations and leaders, we gathered at a virtual town hall on faith and reproductive freedom. We also signed onto a letter to President Biden, with 165 faith-based organizations, to urge the president not to enact an asylum ban or other new immigration restrictions.

"Faith Leaders And Organizers Unite On Reproductive Freedom For Roe's 50th Anniversary"

"Faith-based organizations urge Biden not to enact 'asylum ban'"

Events

HfHR organized a benefit concert by Brooklyn Qawwali Party at Barbés in Brooklyn, New York. It pays tribute to one of the world's great vocalists, the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, reworking his thunderous songs for an eclectic, ten-piece orchestra comprised of groundbreaking jazz musicians.

This benefit concert helped raise money for Hindus for Human Rights' advocacy work and programming for 2023!

Sunita Viswanath's Welcoming Remarks at HfHR Benefit in Brooklyn

We were excited to launch our Speaking Across the Divide Desh-Videsh Conversation Series with Indian American Muslim Council--a new monthly hybrid series among Indian Americans to begin difficult conversations on topics that are often seen as divisive.

The first in series for discussion was on India's UAPA law and Prisoners of Conscience (POCs) titled: "The UAPA Law – Curbing Terrorism or Stifling Dissent?" with Govind Acharya, Banojyotsna, Mihir Desai and Yug Mohit Chaudhry. This was a unique opportunity for the audience to get an on-the-ground report from lawyers who're working with UAPA detainees as well as from an activist.

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International Religious Freedom Summit

Ria spoke at the International Religious Freedom Summit 2023 on the work of the India Working Group in bringing attention to religious freedom violations in India, human rights advocacy in India, the legislative accomplishments of the past year, and more.

HfHR Policy Director Ria Chakrabarty's Remarks, International Religious Freedom Summit

It's been a busy month, to say the least!

We want to keep the intensity of this enthusiasm and passion in the future. Your support energizes us to build a bold and radically inclusive Hindu public voice that opposes Hindutva and caste, and prioritizes the rights of marginalized communities.

Please donate generously and support our progressive Hindu platform for advocacy for human rights for all.

Once again, thank you for your continuous support and well-wishes!

With our love, gratitude and solidarity,

HfHR Board and Staff

Bidisha, Deepak, Harita, Nikhil, Preeti, Punya, Raju, Ria, Shanti, Sravya, Sunil, Sunita, Swati, Swathi, Urmila, Vijay

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Interested in co-creating a pluralistic, inclusive and compassionate world based on human rights and values?

Come, join us as a donor, staff, volunteer, or even as a blogger by writing to us at info@hindusforhumanrights.org!

We urge those of you who can to become monthly subscribers, for at least $50 per month for the next year. Sustained financial support from progressive allies like you is more crucial than ever to ensure that we can do this work without interruption, and without being intimidated by the resourced right wing.

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