A VIGIL FOR OCTOBER 7TH

Two Years After October 7th

Conscience, Courage, and the Call for Peace

Two years after the devastating events of October 7, 2023, Hindus for Human Rights has held an online vigil to remember the lives lost and to renew our moral and civic commitment to ending cycles of violence. From Gaza to Israel and beyond, our faith and our principles compel us to work toward justice, security, and peace for all.

Our online vigil features recorded messages from around the world—contemplative, defiant, all rooted in love and the pursuit of justice.

Sunita Viswanath, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Hindus for Human Rights, opens our global vigil marking two years since October 7, 2023. Her words call us to mourn, reflect, and stand in solidarity as we share voices from around the world—each offering prayers, reflections, and calls for justice.

OUR VOICES — From Across the Globe
Messages of mourning, solidarity, and hope for peace and justice.

Omar Haramy - Director of the Sabeel Ecumemical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem

Linda Hess - Scholar of Kabir, Senior Lecturer of Religious Studies at Stanford University, and Hindus for Human Rights Advisory Board Member

Swami Raghvendra - Founder of Satya Dharam Samvad

Mallika Sarabhai - Director of Darpana Academy and Hindus for Human Rights Advisory Board Member

Arundhati Dhuru - Human Rights Activist and National Convener of the National Alliance of Peoples Movement in India 

Raju Rajagopal - Co-Founder of Hindus for Human Rights

Deepak Joshi, cofounder and board member, Hindus for Human Rights Australia and New Zealand

Father Dennis Leder - Jesuit Priest and Artist based in Guatemala

Aravinda Pillalamarri - Hindus for Human Rights DMV Chapter Member and Human Rights Activist 

Swami Korneshwar, Lingayat Swami and member, Satya Dharam Samvad

Om Sri Guru Basavalingaya Namaha

Greetings to everyone

My dear Brethren

in Palestine and similar places around the world

In times where Violence and genocide is committed against innocent people

I send my deepest prayers from my heart that

the violence and genocide comes to an end

That international law must be followed

that All humankind follow the path of peace and compassion 

In the words of the Mahathma Basavanna

Do not treat me as a stranger

Treat me as your own

Treat me as a son born in your own home

Let such thoughts that the world is my family

spread around the world

that all humankind are children from one mother

The people who try to create division and separate those children are blind

This is not just a concern of society or a country

This is a test of pain and suffering of the entire humankind

Dharma and human spirit together must carve a new path in this world

Hate must be replaced by love

Peace must reign instead of violence

Truth and dialog must continue

To bring all of us together in the world

Let every person on earth flourish

Let the world prosper

Om Shanti Shanthi Shanthi

Nerisha Bedi, NJ Hindus for Human Rights chapter member and pro Palestine activist

Maung Zarni - Genocide Scholar, Education, Human Rights Activist, and Nobel Prize Nominee

Anantanand Rambachan- Professor of Religion, Philosophy, and Asian Studies at St. Olaf College, Author, and Hindus for Human Rights Advisory Board Member

Sadhvi Madhvi, member, Satya Dharam Samvad

Nandini Sen Mehra - Poet, Communications at Hindus for Human Rights ANZ, and Host of Pause with Nandini 

Harsh Mander - Founder of Karwan-E-Mohabbat and Author, Nobel prize nominee 

Dharamkiri Maharaj Parbhanikar (Varkari Saint), member, Satya Dharam Samvad

Jai Hari may the darkness of evil go away, may the universe see the sun,

And then: Glory to Hari. As Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj of Maharashtra has said: may everyone’s life be filled with light; may happiness and brightness enter the lives of the poor. Let humanism spread across the world, and may the welfare and auspiciousness of the entire world prevail. Our saints offered such universal prayers. But we see that inequality and conflict are rising across the world. There is widespread unrest—look at Palestine and Gaza, the Israel–Palestine conflict. In many places people are being killed, ordinary civilians are being massacred, children are being killed, and the world is submerged in violence.

We pray that we may soon be freed from this violence, that the world’s welfare be ensured, that auspiciousness prevail, and that peace and prosperity come to all lives. I condemn the violence taking place in the world and express sorrow over it. I also pray for everyone’s well-being and safety, that all may be fine. Thank you.