April Roundup Newsletter

July 28, 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,

Despite the stunning silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the events in Manipur, HfHr remained steadfast in its efforts to keep attention focused on the ongoing civil war that has ravaged the state for nearly 80 days. Coming off an intense period of activism and protest planning during Modi's State Visit, July has been a month filled with meaningful initiatives. We are thrilled to launch our new Interfaith Harmony Student Fellowship with an incredible group of Fellows on campuses across the USA and our Third Annual Student Art and Essay Contest, focusing on South Asian activists. We are bringing together diaspora families for the #MereGharAakeToDekho (#ComeOverToOurPlace) event, infusing Indian Independence Day with a message of inclusion, friendship, and family that will resonate in the USA and India and across social media!

This month also saw a strong emphasis on anti-caste work, with continued advocacy for SB403 in California and various engagements. We hosted Ajaykumar of the Equitives Foundation, who addressed Climate Change and Marginalized Communities at the UN. He then took his message to DC for a Special Congressional Briefing and participated in a super impactful iteration of Desh Videsh Conversation Series in California.

Together, we've made July a month of positive impact and progress. Let's continue our journey in promoting human rights, social justice, and harmony. As we bask (or sometimes bake) in the warmth of summer - with our eyes on climate change - please stay connected with HfHR through our website and lively social media channels. Discover the latest updates and exciting opportunities to join hands in creating a lasting impact for a better future together. Let's make this season of change one to remember!

In the spirit of unity and growth for everyone under the sun,
HfHR

Focusing the World's Attention

Read our ED, Sunita Viswanath's, TIME magazine Ideas piece shedding light on the crisis in Manipur and the threat to democracy in India, and join us in standing up against Hindu nationalism and promoting human rights and social justice.
Read the article here

The Diaspora Supports Us - North America Manipur Tribal Association Head, Lien Gangte on the Conflict in Manipur at the Rally in DC cosponsored by HfHR

The Future Looks Bright

Interfaith Harmony Fellowships

We're excited to introduce the Interfaith Harmony Student Fellowship, an innovative initiative by Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) aimed at fostering dialogue and understanding between Hindu and Muslim student communities in the United States. This first-of-its-kind fellowship will bring together five pairs of students from different campuses, promoting collaboration and meaningful interactions during the 2023-24 academic year. To learn more about this groundbreaking fellowship and the amazing fellows leading it, visit our page. Let's build bridges and promote harmony together!
Learn more about the fellows here.

We Are Family #MereGharAaketoDekho

Join the #MereGharAakeToDekho (#ComeOverToOurPlace) initiative, co-sponsored by HfHR in partnership with organizations in India! On August 15th, diverse families will share short videos and social media posts with the #MereGharAakeToDekho hashtag -- of breaking bread with 'other' families, celebrating unity and diversity. Let's come together, break barriers, and spread the love. Sign up to participate and be a part of this meaningful event! Register Here

DEADLINE APPROACHES.! ENTER NOW!

Which South Asian Social Justice Activist Do You Admire and Why?
Deadline: 12 pm EST on Tuesday, August 15th, 2023
Prize: $1,000 for winners, $500 and $250 for runner-ups
Pre-Register to indicate your interest so we can hold a place for you.

Submit your final essay or work of art here

Remembering our Heroes

On the 2nd anniversary of his death, we honored Father Stan Swamy, a beacon of hope and resilience, who stood up for the rights of marginalized communities in India. He paid the ultimate price for his courage, falsely imprisoned and denied medical care. Let us remember him by continuing his fight for justice and standing against religious persecution.
Father Stan and the Triumph of Memory
Father Stan and the Audacity of Hope

Anti-Caste Work on Multiple Fronts

Watch the video below from the latest version of the Desh Videsh Conversation Series with insights from Dalit leaders about the meaning and impact of SB 403, as well as their perspective on eradicating caste discrimination in the United States and India.

Mirages of Victory: the latest episdoe in the Desh Videsh Conversation Series with insights from Dalit leaders about the meaning and impact of SB 403, as well as their perspective on eradicating caste discrimination.n in the United States and India.

Read our interview with Ajaykumar the ED of the Equitives Foundation about Empowering Communities in South Asia and Globally for Climate Solutions. And watch Ajaykumar in both the Desh Videsh Conversation Series in the video above and his comments at the recent Special Congressional Briefing on Democratic Backslide in India.

Ajaykumar the ED of the Equitives Foundation speaking at the Special Congressional Briefing on Democratic Backslide in India on July 19, 2023

At the latest of the SB 403 caste bill judiciary hearings in Sacramento, a debate was held between HfHR's own Raju Rajagopal and Dilip Amin, who is against the bill. A true example of public debate in the community. Check out the full discussion moderated by @DiyaTV above.

In this episode of the Religious Socialism podcast, Heart of a Heartless World, HfHR's Harita Iswara discusses the growing alliance between the U.S. and the Indian far right, the various appearances of Hindutva (Hindu Nationalism) in US public life, the important topic of anti-caste discrimination, and the intriguing connection between Hinduism and socialism. Listen below...
https://soundcloud.com/religioussocialism/hindu-nationalism-and-the-us-far-right

This event with HfHR's Sunita Viswanath and Tushar Gandhi on "Ideological Contestations in India: Secular-Plural vs Majoritarian" was a challenging conversation with valuable lessons to be learned. It provided insights into the complex state of politics and ideology in India, emphasizing the importance of embracing diversity and promoting secular-plural values for a harmonious society.

Working with our Allies

Desh Videsh Conversations: Kashmir Part 2

Join us for the second part of our Bay Area Desh Videsh Conversation Series on Kashmir. In March We organized a successful Desh Videsh Conversation on "Untold Stories from Kashmir" and now in May this important conversation continues with "Untold Stories from Kashmir Part 2" with Kashmiri Muslim voices!

Fight for Reproductive Rights and Justice

HfHR member Sandhya Gupta represented the organization at an interfaith prayer gathering for reproductive freedom organized by Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The prayer gathering was held at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation in Washington, DC, on Saturday April 15th, and was co-convened by Catholics for Choice, Faith for Black Lives, National Council of Jewish Women, Heart, Sacred, Women of Reform Judaism/Religious Action Center, and of course, Hindus for Human Rights. Below is an excerpt from Sandhya's speech.

"Since the faith and interfaith spaces are the ground zero for the assault on our democracy and the human and civil rights we hold sacred, we must ensure a robust, unwavering, and indivisible interfaith resistance to it.

Whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim or Hindu, the religious right is exclusivist and strives to divide us and move us to mistrust, hate and harm towards each other. The most formidable resistance to the religious rights and the hate it pedals in, is to be undivided from each other, across our differences. To be a rainbow alliance of resistance rooted in justice and love."

Read more of what Sandhya shared here!

And, in light of the recent Texas court decision, denying FDA approval for a safe and effective abortion drug —and ultimately outweighing medical professionals’ evidence-based judgement—we appeal to you in support of reproductive rights. Together we can work towards equitable access to medication and effectuate policies that safeguard medically sound outcomes while protecting our right as individuals to make choices regarding healthcare decisions. Join Hindus for Human Rights and add your name to Planned Parenthood's People's Brief now.

Opposing Caste Discrimination

HfHR joined a coalition of Ambedkarite, Dalit, and other South Asian organizations in Sacramento to support California State Senator Aisha Wahab and SB 403's passage through the Senate Judiciary Committee. We succeeded in our advocacy, as SB 403 passed committee unanimously, and will now be sent up to the Appropriations Committee, where once it passes, it will come up for a floor vote in the California State Senate. If all goes well, we repeat this process in the Assembly. This win could not be possible without our robust coalition. We are so proud of our community and our coalition partners including

Ambedkar International Center, and Ambedkar King Study Circle, for standing on the right side of history. And of course, we thank Senator Aisha Wahab for her fearless leadership on this bill.

As Hindus of conscience, our dharma guides us to oppose all forms of oppression and discrimination, especially caste discrimination. #SB403 does not harm us, it only strengthens our fight for anti-caste Hinduism.

Take Action:

Join the Email Campaign:

The California Coalition for Caste Equity urges you to take 2 minutes to send an email to all of the California legislature so that they know why caste equity matters to you!

Rising Religious Violence in Pakistan

Hindus for Human Rights and coalition partners have released a press statement on the growing violence against religious minorities in Pakistan. Join us in advocating for:

Repeal of Pakistan's blasphemy laws
Fair portrayal of religious minorities in Pakistani school textbooks
Protection of all religious minority places of worship

Read and share the letter to raise awareness.
Let's promote peace and understanding among different communities!

Other Advocacy

Hindus for Human Rights and the Indian American Muslim Council jointly released a statement expressing concern about Georgia Assembly's House Resolution 701 condemning Hinduphobia. They urge the Assembly to reconsider the resolution as it may lead to attacks on academic freedom and violence against critics of Hindu supremacist policies. The organizations remain committed to promoting pluralism, civil and human rights, and social justice for all people in South Asia and North America.

Meet Our New Staff

We're excited to introduce some great new talent to the Hindus for Human Rights team! Join us in welcoming saahil m., our Education and Outreach Director; Angelica Razak-Francis, our Administrative Coordinator; and David Kalal, our Communications Director.

Community Updates

This past month we've had the opportunity to gather with many of our coalition partners in DC, New York, and the Bay Area! We've come together with our friends from Indian American Muslim Council, India Civil Watch International, our new staff members, and friends from other advocacy partner organizations.

We'd also like to wish a bittersweet farewell to our Deputy Executive Director Nikhil, who after 2 years with HfHR, is moving on to new adventures. Nikhil joined as HfHR's first staff member in 2021 and worked to build up our organization into what it is today. We are so grateful for Nikhil's contributions and leadership, and we'll miss him dearly as he embarks on his next big journey!

HfHR in the News

It's been a thrilling month of progress and positive change here at Hindu for Human Rights, with your support driving us to create an ever-more bold, inclusive public platform advocating human rights for all.

We look forward to our continued partnership in the future as we strive together towards making marginalized communities' voices heard. Let us move onwards into this journey united: please donate generously today so that we can make each step count on the way there!

With immense love and appreciation from HfHR Board & Staff members - thank you again heartily for being part of these incredible strides forwards.

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

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