RECAP  NEWSLETTER 

In her compelling op-ed featured in TIME on March 21, 2024, Sunita Viswanath, Executive Director of Hindus for Human Rights, presents a critical perspective on the current state of India's democracy. As the nation approaches a monumental election, she paints a concerning picture of increasing suppression and the rise of Hindu supremacy, posing significant threats to minorities, especially Muslims. Her account is both a warning and a call to action, urging support for a democratic, secular, and inclusive India. To grasp the full extent of these issues and the spirited resistance against them, read Sunita Viswanath's full piece in TIME. 

In our latest press release, we demand the Indian government ensures free and fair elections in April and cease its attacks on Indian political opposition. While Hindus for Human Rights does not support any political party, we note that a vibrant political opposition is crucial for a functioning democracy. Ahead of India's Lok Sabha elections in April, Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren have been arrested for alleged crimes under the PMLA. Kejriwal’s and Soren’s arrests and the pursuit of prosecutions of other Indian opposition leaders under the PMLA are no coincidence. The BJP has faced serious allegations that it has weaponized the ED to undermine political opposition, and these allegations have become glaring in the leadup to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. 

Hindus for Human Rights is proud to be one of the 100+ civil society groups that have signed onto Savera's Joint Declaration on Hindu Supremacy! The Hindu supremacist movement's spread in the US, and their ties to other authoritarian and far-right movements, is a danger we must all stand against. We are overjoyed to be a part of Savera's interfaith, multiracial, anti-caste coalition in the fight for a just, multiracial democracy. 

Welcome to another engaging episode of "Ulti Pulti Baat," our animated series that brings to life the everyday debates we all find ourselves in with friends and family. In this episode, we step into the complex and often misunderstood world of secularism in India. Our characters, Raj and Priya, engage in a light-hearted yet enlightening conversation, mirroring the discussions that happen in living rooms and tea shops across the country. Their sunny afternoon debate in the park sheds light on crucial topics that shape the social and political fabric of India.

In this class, you will learn friend of HfHR Parijat Desai's approach to teaching garba—as a welcoming and inclusive circle dance. This class is for any adults with dance experience.

Come away with knowledge of:

• Common garba footwork patterns
• The elements of daudiyu, popular traveling phrases
• How group improvisation works in Navratri
• Raas patterns
• Grounding, invigorating somatic warm-up methods

...and learn choreography!

Garba-Raas Party on the last day!

Where? Long Island City, NYC (1 stop from Midtown!) 

When? 4 Saturdays in a row, March 30th-April 20th 2024, 11 am - 1 pm

Questions? Email info@parijatdesai.org.

Discount Code: JIVADISCOUNT ($15 off)

(if need further cost assistance inquire about the sliding scale)

This month, we were grateful to welcome two new board members to the HfHR family. Read on to learn more about them. 

Ramya Devan is a professor of Economics and Global studies at Stockton University. Her scholarly and public facing writings have been on various topics in feminist and global political economy including immigration and refugee resettlement, dynamics of race and gender in the labor market, colorism, and global financial institutions. She has been a long-term volunteer with refugee resettlement agencies in the Philadelphia area.

Ramya was raised in various Indian cities spanning the east, west, north, and south by her parents who fully embraced the spirit of the unity in diversity credo that she was taught in school. This cherished upbringing allowed her to experience and learn from the wide spectrum of syncretic cultures and traditions in India. Ramya is student of yoga and trained as an instructor at KYM in Chennai.

Govind Acharya has spent two decades working in social justice and human rights, mostly centered in South Asia. Until recently, he was the India Country Specialist for Amnesty International USA in addition to having a couple of stints on their Board of Directors. He also has a passion for housing rights and advocates for safer and better pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. He works at the University of California, Davis. 

Last weekend, our Australia chapter held a vibrant and joyous Holi celebration. As they wrote on X, "The more they want to divide us, the greater our resolve to come together. Our Holi with a Difference event brought together diverse political faith and community leaders, diverse performers and a multi-faith audience. Happy Holi!"

Photo by Felix Rostig on Unsplash

How Easter Became A Holy Time For Some Hindus And Muslims

In this engaging and educational piece, HfHR's former Deputy Executive Director Nikhil Mandalaparthy explains how Easter has become a sacred time for both Hindus and Muslims in South Africa to celebrate their own religions and traditions. 

India, Globally: CAA, Manipur, and the Human Rights Crisis

In their fortnightly highlights, The Wire references a question asked by UK Parliamentarian Baroness D'Souza to the House of Lords on behalf of HfHR UK, in which she inquired about the state of Indian democracy. This comment sparked a debate in the House of Lords on India's human rights record. To learn more about the Baroness' comment, read our blog post below.

Left: Sunita Viswanath, Swami Raghavendra, and Swami Korneshwar underneath a huge statue of Basavanna, in Basavakalyan, Karnataka, on Feb. 5

Right: Sunita Viswanath with Bala Prajapati at a temple at Ayyavazhi ashram, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, on Feb. 10. 

Kejriwal Arrested But Deals Hidden in Electoral Bond Data Go Unprobed; Reliance Making Indic Democracy Index for Modi; Is Populism Waning?

The India Cable's recent newsletter covers Executive Director Sunita Viswanath's recent op-ed for TIME, quoting her: “the brave Hindu leaders I have met, guardians of inclusive traditions that have survived millennia, are quick to admit that India is going through a dark period. But, they say, it will return to the path of secular democracy and unity. I hope that comes sooner than later.”

Photo from University of Oslo

A Party Divided By Faith

Anthropologist and award-winning author Alpa Shah gives Hindus for Human Rights and their work a shoutout in her recent interview with the New Statesman. Her newest book, The Incarcerations, pulls back the curtain on Indian democracy to tell the remarkable and chilling story of the Bhima Koregaon case, in which 16 human rights defenders (the BK-16) – professors, lawyers, journalists, poets – have been imprisoned, without credible evidence and without trial, as Maoist terrorists.

As we leave Women's History Month and approach Dalit History Month, let's honor one amazing woman who has made waves in both women's rights and Dalit rights: Ruth Manorama. Since the 1980s, Manorama has worked tirelessly to advocate for Dalits, women, slum dwellers, and the unorganized sector, working at the intersection of caste, gender, and class. She has served key roles in many human rights organizations in India, including but not limited to: the General Secretary of Women's Voice Karnataka, the President of the National Alliance of Women, the Secretary of the Karnataka State Slum Dwellers Federation, and the President of the National Federation of Dalit Women. Manorama is very vocal about the need for women in politics, particularly Dalit women. In 2006, she received the Right Livelihood Award for "her commitment over decades to achieving equality for Dalit women, building effective and committed women’s organizations and working for their rights at national and international levels.”

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.

Let us know what you think of our monthly recap! If you have ideas for news items you want to see included, or suggestions for action items or articles to highlight, let us know with the button below.

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