HfHR Announces Inaugural Swami Agnivesh Memorial Awards at Second Annual Gala

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
HfHR Announces Inaugural Swami Agnivesh Memorial Awards at Second Annual Gala

Press Contacts:

• Nikhil Mandaparthy, Advocacy Director, Hindus for Human Rights: nikhil@hindusforhumanrights.org

• Sunita Viswanath, Executive Director, Hindus for Human Rights: sunita@hindusforhumanrights.org

Award Winners Available for Interviews:

• Ajit Sahi, Advocacy Director, Indian American Muslim Council, ajit@iamc.com

• Dhanak for Humanity, dhanak.humanity@gmail.com

On the evening of Saturday, December 18th, 2021, Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) hosted Celebration of Hope, our second annual virtual holiday gala, to celebrate our wins of 2021 and look ahead to the upcoming year.

The gala was co-emceed by HfHR Advocacy Director Nikhil Mandalaparthy and HfHR Board Member Sravya Tadepalli. The event showcased performances by comedian Kajol Srinivasan, Carnatic musician Rithvik Raja, a star from "Indian Idol," and the Bangalore-based Indian Folk Band. 

The event gathered over 100 guests, and raised more than $25,000 from ticket sales and a live fundraising auction anchored by Shailly Barnes Gupta and Adam Barnes, of the Poor People’s Campaign and the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights and Social Justice.

All proceeds from this event will support HfHR’s 2022 goals of doubling its budget to $300,000, its staff (to two), and its impact. Nikhil Mandalaparthy gave an overview of HfHR’s achievements in 2021:

• Hired its first full time staff member

• Had 4 television appearances and 16 Congressional briefings featuring 69 frontline activists from India and the diaspora

• Published 27 articles in 9 different media outlets, including the Nation, Foreign Policy, and Religion News Service

• Received 43 submissions from South Asian American students for its first-ever Civil Rights essay and art contest with Indian American Muslim Council

• Joined a multi-faith delegation of 350 faith leaders and 1,500 others with Native American leaders who protested the Line 3 pipeline in northern Minnesota

• Organized 67 groups to sign statements condemning violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, and in response to the subsequent violence against Muslims in India’s Tripura state, sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of State signed by 35 organizations and 175 individuals.

The gala also featured several special messages about the impact HfHR’s advocacy has had over the past year.

“It is inspiring to see you fight the good fight and come out on top,” Indian American comedian Sai D said in a message to Munawar Faruqui. “[J]ust remember that anyone who dares call themselves a standup comedian and anyone who respects free speech … we’re all standing in solidarity with you.”

Indian student activist and prisoner of conscience Umar Khalid shared a video statement recorded just days before he was incarcerated:

“[A]n initiative like yours is extremely commendable in these times,” Khalid said, because HfHR “counters the Hindutva agenda that Hindutva is Hinduism.”

Anitha Rathod, Program Manager of International Commission for Dalit Rights, gave a message of solidarity:

“We applaud your resilience and the sheer will that you have shown,” said Rathod. “[W]e understand the challenges in staying resilient and courageous in today’s world. With rising authoritarianism and growing threats to organizations and individuals who speak for the right of others … It has been exceedingly difficult to carry out crucial work.”

Hindus for Human Rights also announced the inaugural Swami Agnivesh Memorial Award in honor of Swami Agnivesh (1939-2020), one of the few Hindu religious leaders to speak out against Hindu nationalism and caste. Swami Agnivesh was inspired by the Hindu teaching of vasudhaiva kutumbakam: “the world is one family,” and he fought for the rights of communities who were not necessarily his own: bonded laborers, religious minorities, Adivasis, and caste-oppressed communities.

Swami Agnivesh was close to many HfHR members, and in recognition of his fearless commitment to human rights for all, the Award recognizes one individual and one organization continuing his legacy by fighting for justice for all.

Swami Vedanand Saraswati, Spiritual Head of the Arya Samaj South Africa, shared a brief reflection on Swami Agnivesh’s life and mission. Saraswati noted Swami Agnivesh’s “most vibrant message: always ensure the freedom to doubt, the freedom to debate, and, if necessary, the freedom to dissent.” Hindus for Human Rights presented the 2021 Swami Agnivesh Memorial Award to Ajit Sahi and Dhanak of Humanity.

• Ajit Sahi is an Indian civil rights activist currently based in the United States, where he works as Advocacy Director of the Indian American Muslim Council. Ajit is a veteran journalist, and he has been a dedicated campaigner for civil liberties, human rights and religious freedom in India for over three decades. He has testified before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and spoken boldly about human rights violations in India. He has been a trusted mentor and close partner to HfHR, and, most inspiringly, being a Hindu, he has worked tirelessly for the rights of Muslim Indians. “He was a giant,” said Sahi about Swami Agnivesh. “People like him inspired tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, in my generation. And I hope that he’ll continue to inspire many more.” 

• Dhanak of Humanity is a nonprofit organization in India which ensures that interfaith, inter-caste, same-sex, and other non-traditional couples can get married safely in spite of family, societal and legal obstacles. 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. To date, Dhanak has helped over 5,000 individuals. “We are truly grateful and overjoyed to be recognized for our work today,” said Shailaja, a member of Dhanak. “Indeed, we should all celebrate hope as the year closes, as it is hope that gives us the strength to remain focused on our shared vision to move forward towards a pluralistic society.” “And though the work is difficult,” Asif Iqbal, co-founder of Dhanak noted, “fortunately we have partners and friends from all across [the] world.”

Hindus for Human Rights wishes everyone a happy holidays and pledges to ramp up its work for justice, human rights and religious freedom, in South Asia and North America, in 2022 and beyond.

Hindus for Human Rights is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization advocating for pluralism, civil and human rights in South Asia and North America, rooted in the values of our faith: shanti (peace), nyaya (justice) and satya (truth). We provide a Hindu voice of resistance to caste, Hindutva (Hindu nationalism), racism, and all forms of bigotry and oppression.

Our vision is a world defined by lokasangraha (the universal common good) — where there is peace among all people, and our planet is honored and protected.

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