Feb 2022 Newsletter: Watch Sunita's powerful interview, participate in Essay & Art Contest, and more!

March 1, 2022

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,

The month of February has kept us busier than usual as our work has started gaining space in the Indian media as well as the international media. With media apperances, writings, events and several other activities, we have received immense support this February. We would like to remember Sahir Ludhianvi's poetry amidst the rising communal hate in India and share the entire song which is very apt in today's context. Let us prioritize humanity over communalism!

We've continued our advocacy for pluralism, civil rights, and human rights for all. Read on to learn more!

Fighting against Hindutva

HfHR's Executive Director Sunita Viswanath was interviewed by Karan Thapar of The Wire! She explained why HfHR played a lead role, alongside 16 other civil society organisations in the US, in lobbying the US Congress against the treatment of Muslims and minorities in India on the 12th and 26th of January. Watch her powerful and timely interview:

"The fact Hindus are silent is alarming and dangerous … if Hindus don’t participate, it’s impossible to fight Hindutva.”

In another interview for The Wire, HfHR's Executive Director Sunita Viswanath defended the former Vice President Hamid Ansari who was targeted for raising an alarm over the ongoing human rights situation in India, in one of our Congressional Briefing. She discussed how the international fora are aligning and raising an alarm over extremist violence in India. Watch the full interview:

U.S. Briefing on Human Rights: "Hamid Ansari and IAMC Being Targeted Because They Are Muslim"

HfHR Advocacy Director Nikhil Mandalaparthy was interviewed by the First Amendment Museum for their show "One on 1 conversation". Here, Nikhil discussed the importance of religious pluralism with the threats of rising religious nationalism both in India and the US.

"Religious freedom is a fundamental value for any pluralistic, diverse society."

#HijabBan and Islamophobia

HfHR organized a Congressional Briefing titled "India attacks Muslim women's right to wear the Hijab" with Indian American Muslim Council and partners about the attacks on Indian Muslim women's right to wear the hijab, featuring activists on the ground from India, the US, and UK.

A Congressional Briefing on "India attacks Muslim women's right to wear the Hijab"

HfHR Co-founder and board member Punya Upadhyaya appeared on Satya-Hindi, a popular YouTube Channel, to discuss the ongoing hijab uproar and protests in Karnataka.

HfHR Cofounder Punya Upadhyaya Discusses Karnataka Hijab Ban

HfHR board member Sravya Tadepallli spoke at Justice for All's virtual rally in support of Muslim girls’ right to religious freedom and equal education.

"We must stand up because what is happening in India is fundamentally unjust, and this injustice is being done in the name of our religion."

HfHR Australia-New Zealand chapter member Mohan Dutta spoke at CARE: Center for Culture-Centered Approach to Research and Evaluation's launch event for their report on digital hate against Indian Muslims.

Experiences of Indian Muslims with Digital Hate: A Preliminary Report

Uniform vs. Uniformity—the Karnataka Hijab Controversy

The State's Arbitrary Power and the Killing of a Young Vegetable Vendor

The Delhi Riots, Two Years On

India and Genocide

As calls for Genocide of Muslim have echoed across India since December, violence against both Muslims and Christians has escalated. HfHR organized a Congressional Briefing on "Worsening Hate Speech and Violence in India", with distinguished speakers including Noam Chomsky and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.

A Congressional Briefing on "Worsening Hate Speech and Violence in India"

HfHR's Advocacy Director Nikhil Mandalaparthy spoke at Forces of Renewal Southeast Asia (FORSEA)'s marathon livestream event, entitled "A Scream from Global Civil Society: India Genocide Warning." Watch Nikhil's remarks, in which he delivers a powerful call for Hindus in India and the diaspora to end their silence as extremists issue genocidal calls in the name of their faith.

"This ideology of hate does not represent the India that I love."

HfHR was a Summit Partner for "India On The Brink" event organized by the Genocide Watch in collaboration with several partners from Feb 26-28--the 20th anniversary of the horrific communal riots in Gujarat in 2002 that killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands of Indian Muslims to commemorate, share, and look ahead. HfHR's Executive Director Sunita moderated a panel "Silence is Complicity: Hindu Response to Majoritarian Violence" where panelists spoke about the need for Hindu leaders, institutions, and ordinary community leaders to speak out against violence and hate carried out in the name of a monolithic Hindu identity.

Silence is Complicity: Hindu Response to Majoritarian Violence at India Genocide Summit 2022

Essay and Art Contest on Civil and Human Rights

In partnership with Indian American Muslim Council and Dalit Solidarity Forum, HfHR announced the second annual Essay and Art Contest on Civil and Human Rights for South Asian diaspora students in grades 6-12!

Theme: Intersections Between Caste Discrimination and Anti-Black Racism.
Deadline: 12 pm EST on Wednesday, March 30th, 2022
Prize: $1,000 for winners, $500 and $250 for runner-ups

Celebrating Black History Month

This Black History Month, we highlighted the rich history of support and solidarity between Black and South Asian advocates for justice, which included sharing stories of Bayard Rustin, Ram Manohar Lohia (an Indian socialist parliamentarian and freedom fighter who spoke out against American racism and was arrested protesting segregation in 1964) and Paul Robeson (the legendary actor, singer, and left-wing activist whose forceful anti-imperialist stands made him a hero to many throughout India).

Other initiatives

We are excited to launch Ulti Pulti Baat, our newest collaboration with our friends at PAIGAM! In this series, we will be debunking the most popular fake news and false propaganda spreading in India. Stay tuned for our first episode, and in the meantime, watch this teaser clip:

Ulti Pulti Baat teaser launch!

Team Retreat

HfHR team members met in DC for a strategy retreat to discuss our plans and goals for 2022!

It's been a busy month, to say the least! We want to keep the intensity of this enthusiasm and passion going forward. Your support energizes us to build a bold and radically inclusive Hindu public voice which opposes Hindutva and caste, and prioritizes the rights of marginalized communities.

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, Pranay, Punya, Raju, Sravya, Sunil, Sunita, Swati, Swathi, Urmila, Vijay

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