Swami Agnivesh Memorial Award
Swami Agnivesh was one of few Hindu religious leaders to speak out against Hindu nationalism and caste in recent years. He was inspired by the Hindu teaching of vasudhaiva kutumbakam: “the world is one family.” This teaching inspired him to fight for the rights of communities who were not necessarily his own: bonded laborers, religious minorities, Adivasis, and caste-oppressed communities.
In 1981 he founded the Bonded Labour Liberation Front. In the midst of the anti-Sikh pogroms of 1984, Swami Agnivesh directly confronted Hindu mobs in Delhi, sheltered Sikh community members, and called for an end to the violence. He was physically attacked by Hindu extremist mobs on many occasions, including in 2011 and 2018. Even outside India, he received threats from these groups, such as at the 2018 Parliament of World’s Religions in Toronto, Canada, where he was a keynote speaker.
Swami Agnivesh was close to many of us in Hindus for Human Rights; some of us stood with him at the Toronto Parliament and Hindus for Human Rights’ first retreat was held at his ashram. Sadly Swamiji passed away in 2020. In recognition of his fearless commitment to human rights for all, the Swami Agnivesh Memorial Award recognizes one individual and one organization whose faith inspires them to fight for justice for all.
2023 Award Recipients
JVP’s Beth Miller with their 2023 SAMA
Aakashi Bhatt
A dedicated advocate for her unjustly imprisoned father, Sanjiv Bhatt, a former Indian Police Service officer admired for his integrity and bravery, she balances her career as a surgeon and researcher in the UK with her commitment to justice. Her unceasing efforts, impactful speeches and a strong social media presence, highlight the political persecution faced by her father, garnering international awareness. She champions not only her father's cause but also the broader fight against oppression, making their struggle a symbol of resilience against injustice.
Jewish Voice for Peace
Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) is more than just an organization that promotes human rights and works to end oppression through interfaith and intercultural initiatives; it has been an invaluable partner and ally to Hindus for Human Rights. JVP's brave stance in calling for a ceasefire in Gaza amid escalating violence mirrors our shared commitment to peace and justice. They have stood shoulder to shoulder with us, amplifying our voices and strengthening our collective impact. Through joint advocacy efforts, we have been able to shed light on pressing issues, demand accountability from those in power, and effect meaningful change.
Yusuf (top) and Imran Dawood
Florence Nianghoihlun Lowe from the North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA)
Yusuf and Imran Dawood
Imran and Yusuf Dawood's relentless 20-year fight for justice, highlighted in a BBC documentary, began after the young Imran survived a family tragedy during the 2002 Gujarat riots. They bravely challenged the targeted violence against Muslims and governmental misinformation. Their journey, more than a personal battle for truth, has inspired global conversations about political accountability and reignited memories of the riots, emphasizing the need for justice and challenging political motives.
North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA)
The North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA) has been a vocal advocate for tribal rights and peace among communities. NAMTA has worked tirelessly to draw attention to the crisis in Manipur, where human rights violations against the Kuki-Zo people are rampant. Their efforts in education, cultural preservation, and advocacy have been crucial in fostering understanding and cooperation among diverse groups. Their tireless advocacy goes beyond just raising awareness and has been pivotal in bringing about change and elevating the discourse on tribal rights at an international level.
2022 Award Recipients
Mirza Ghalib Victor Begg, is an interfaith peace activist, devout Muslim, and champion of Hindus for Human Rights. We would also like to recognize and honor Victor’s recently departed wife Lata or Shahina Begg, also a tireless bridge-builder for interfaith harmony. Our prayerful condolences to Victor and his whole family.
Victor has founded a number of organizations focused on serving and representing the voice of Muslims in Michigan and promoting interfaith dialogue, including the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan (CIOM) and the Muslim Unity Center mosque in Bloomfield Hills.
In the 2000s, Victor bhai led several interfaith efforts to unite religious leaders. In 2007, Victor bhai organized Sunni and Shi’ite leaders in Michigan to sign a peace pact affirming their commitment to speak out against conflicts between the two sects. Then in 2009, Victor bhai collaborated with Jewish community volunteers in metro-Detroit called “Mitzvah Day,” where non-profit Islamic and Jewish groups collaborated to feed and clothe local residents on and around Christmas.
In 2019, Victor bhai published his moving memoir, Our Muslim Neighbors: Achieving the American Dream, an Immigrant’s Memoir, which details his own faith and interfaith journey, including his beautiful interfaith relationship with Shahina.
Victor Begg
2021 Award Recipients
2021 Recipient, Swami Agnivesh Memorial Award
Ajit Sahi is an Indian American civil rights activist currently serving as Advocacy Director with Indian American Muslim Council. Ajit has been a dedicated campaigner for civil liberties, human rights and religious freedom in India for over a decade. He has testified before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and spoken boldly about human rights violations in India. Previously, Ajit was a journalist working with leading Indian publications and television news stations. He served as Executive Editor of the investigative Tehelka news magazine, and in 2011, he traveled to Egypt as a reporter and covered the Arab Spring from Cairo.
You can follow his work at @ajitsahi on Twitter.
Ajit Sahi
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan – a freedom fighter and close friend of Mahatma Gandhi, known also as Badshah Khan, or Sarhadee or Frontier Gandhi – founded Khudai Khidmatgar (Servants of Humanity) in 1929. His contributions to India’s Freedom Struggle and propagation of the values of non-violence and egalitarianism are immense.
Khudai Khidmatgar was revived by activist Faisal Khan with his team in New Delhi in 2011. For the past decade, Khudai Khidmatgars have been working across the length and breadth of India on many salient issues including communal harmony, youth leadership, women’s empowerment and education access.
Khudai Kidmatgar worked relentlessly on covid relief work in several districts across India, serving the poorest communities with ration kits, food, medicine, and oxygen. This year, they opened the Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan library in Mewat Haryana. Just last month, Khudai Kidmatgar organized an 11-day 'Save Our Constitution' cycle yatra from Nagapatnam to Chennai. These are just a few of the innumerable communal harmony initiatives undertaken by Khudai Kitmatgar’s local teams across India. When we met Faisal Bhai, Inamul Bhai, and other Khudai Kidmatgars in India in 2019, when Hindus for Human Rights was just a few months old, Faisal Bhai immediately agreed to join our advisory board. Swami Agnivesh, was of course, a big supporter of Khudai Kidmatgar when he was alive, and would be so happy about this recognition.
Khudai Kidmitgar
2021 Recipient, Swami Agnivesh Memorial Award
Founded in 2005, Dhanak of Humanity is a nonprofit organization in India made up of interfaith couples, inter-caste couples, and individuals who believe in human rights and freedom of choice. Dhanak fights for an individual’s right to choose in matters of marriage or relationships, against religious conversion for the sake of marriage, against honor-based crimes, and against forced marriages in India. Dhanak provides support and conducts advocacy for interfaith and inter-caste couples, LGBTQIA couples, and individuals who choose to assert their autonomy. Over the years, Dhanak has touched the lives of over 5000 people.
You can follow their work at @Dhanak_Humanity on Twitter.
