Presidential
Message | 2005 Achievements
Government
Education | Legal Activism
| Media Education | Human
Rights
Community Outreach | Pluralism
| Infrastructure |
Internships
Government
Education Campaign
HAF
Conducts 2nd Annual Government Outreach in Washington
D.C.
After conducting a very successful
"Government Outreach Day" with members of the U.S. Congress
in 2004, HAF once again met with various members of
the House of Representatives and Senate in Washington
D.C. on October 26-27, 2005. During personal
meetings with nearly a dozen members of the U.S. Congress,
HAF members presented briefs and held discussions on
topics such as Hindu human rights in Bangladesh, Pakistan,
and India's state of Jammu and Kashmir; religious liberty
and pluralism in the United States; and promotion of
closer relations between the United States and India.
On October 27, HAF became the first Hindu organization
to hold a Round Table Conference where members of the
"Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans"
were invited to discuss these issues in greater depth.
HAF also held a dinner reception on Capitol Hill attended
by various representatives of the U.S. Congress, Hindu
community leaders, and HAF members. Recognizing
their support for HAF's previously released Hindu human
rights report of 2004, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and
Gary Ackerman (D-NY) were presented awards for service
to the Hindu American community at the HAF dinner reception.
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, who hosted the reception
as well as the Round Table Conference, spoke of her
support for Hindus in the United States and for human
rights in South Asia during an address at the reception.
Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) also addressed the reception,
explaining his long-standing ties to Indian Americans
and Hindus in his district.
Throughout the year, HAF representatives also attended
meeting with elected officials in both Washington, DC
and in their home states. For example, HAF attended
the inaugural reception of the US-India League, the
Indian American Policy Day sponsored by Congressman
Crowley, the Congressional Conference organized by Indian-American
Forum for Political Education, and the Congressional
Reception hosted by the Indian-American Republican Council.
HAF Appreciates Congressional Hearing on Dalit Rights;
Concerned by Biases
Congressman Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the
Committee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International
Operations, held a hearing on October 6th, 2005 to address
alleged human rights violations and discrimination faced
by underprivileged castes, commonly referred to as Dalits
in India. Though the hearing was important in
attempting to address an unfortunate situation in India,HAF
was disappointed that Congressman Smith failed to similarly
recognize the vast network of Hindu social and charitable
organizations working with India's socially and economically
deprived populace while at the same time commending
the humanitarian work of Christian missionaries.
HAF members discovered the hearing also failed to address
caste discrimination, which affects not just Hindus
but all religions in India, and instead became a forum
for anti-Hindu sentiments.
HAF Publishes First-Ever Guide for Hindu Organizations
to Receive Federal Grants
Entitled "Faith-based and Community Initiatives in
the United States: A Guide for Hindu Organizations,"
on September 2, 2005 HAF released a guide which documents
the steps Hindu organizations need to take in order
to qualify for funding through the White House's "Faith-Based
and Community Initiatives" (FBCI) program. The
report provides a comprehensive guide for navigating
the FBCI grant application process and provides links
to important training resources that will enable any
interested Hindu organization to develop a professional
and sustainable program. It specifically informs
Hindu faith-based organizations of the steps required
to prepare for the grant process, identify funding sources,
write grant proposals, and comply with post application
rules and regulations. HAF attended FBCI programs
in Washington, D.C. as well.
Legal
Activism Campaign
HAF Files Supreme Court Brief on Behalf of Hindu Americans
in Public Prayer Case
Less than a year after becoming the first Hindu American
group to file an amicus curiae (friend of the court)
brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, the Hindu American
Foundation continued its legal campaign with another
brief in support of a petition for writ of certiorari
(a request to the Court to review a case). The case,
Simpson v. Chesterfield County, involved Cynthia
Simpson, a member of the Wiccan faith, who wanted to
lead prayer at a meeting of the Board of Supervisors
of Chesterfield County, Virginia. Ms. Simpson
was told that she could not pray at the meetings because
she did not practice a religion "within the Judeo-Christian
tradition." The latest HAF brief was
co-signed by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Association
of American Indian Affairs, and the Interfaith Alliance.
It was also supported by numerous prominent Hindu and
Jain organizations.
HAF Files Brief to Protect the Religious Land and Institutionalized
Persons Act
HAF, as part of a diverse league of religious and civil
liberties organizations, filed an amicus brief in "Cutter
v. Wilkinson" arguing that the Religious Land Use
and Institutionalized Persons' Act (RLUIPA) is constitutional.
RLUIPA is a federal law that protects the religious
rights of prisoners in federally funded state prisons.
It also includes provisions, not at issue in "Cutter",
which safeguard religious institutions against discriminatory
land use practices. The interfaith and bi-partisan
league of amici, called "The Coalition for the Free
Exercise of Religion," included representatives from
the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Native
American and Sikh faith communities.
On June 11, 2005, the Supreme Court unanimously decided
that the RLUIPA is in fact constitutional. "The
Supreme Court has reaffirmed our position that a law
protecting religious rights does not unduly advance
religion or entangle the government in religious practice,"
said Suhag A. Shukla, Esq., HAF's Legal Counsel.
HAF Attends US Supreme Court Hearing on 10 Commandments
Case
Suhag Shukla, Esq., legal counsel for HAF, was present
at the U.S. Supreme Court on March 2, 2005 as the court
heard oral arguments in the case of Van Orden v.
Rick Perry. In 2004, HAF along with nine co-signatories
representing Hindu, Buddhist and Jain organizations,
filed the only amicus curiae brief providing a non-Judeo-Christian
perspective to the case - which involved the placement
of a permanent monument of the Ten Commandments on government
property.
The Court issued a split decision
in the case, supporting the HAF position that public
displays of the overtly Judeo-Christian Ten Commandments
effectively promote a particular religion over other
religious traditions. However, the Court ruled
that the display of the Ten Commandments on the Texas
State Capitol grounds could remain.
The HAF amicus brief was cited in
the dissenting opinion authored by Justice John Paul
Stevens. "To have the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain
perspective acknowledged by the highest court is a first
for our community," said Ms. Shukla.
HAF Supports Fair
and Accurate Portrayal of Hinduism in Textbooks Review;
Initiates Formal Legal Contact with the
California State Board of Education
HAF continues to work to ensure that Hindus in California
are afforded the same opportunities as other communities
and Hindus are not discriminated in the processes of
the California State Board of Education (CSBE) and its
Curriculum Commission. HAF aims to ensure that the CSBE
adopts textbooks whose coverage of Hinduism is acceptable
for public education in California. When HAF felt that
legal authority was needed in the matter, Suhag Shukla,
HAF's legal counsel, wrote a letter to the California
State Board's Curriculum Committee indicating HAF's
stance on the matter.
Media
Education Campaign
Spotlight
on HAF at Religion Newswriters Meeting
For the 2nd year in
a row, HAF leaders attended the annual Religion Newswriters
Association meeting. Suhag Shukla, Esq., legal
counsel of HAF, was invited by the RNA as a panelist
to speak on a widely attended plenary session, "American
Hindus: Beyond Caste and Cows." Shukla spoke to
the audience about her experiences as a Hindu American.
She also discussed the various issues and conflicts
facing Hindu Americans, which led to the organization
of HAF.
HAF unveiled a large, lighted display at the conference
venue and offered specifically created media packets
to visiting journalists. Included in the folder was
basic information on commonly held Hindu beliefs, Hindu
demographics and a brochure specifically focused for
journalists covering Hinduism. The pamphlet, "Omissions
and Oversights: Frequent errors in media coverage about
Hinduism," featured direct quotes from articles
about Hinduism, taken from prominent American media
outlets, followed by an explanation as to how the coverage
was misrepresentative.
HAF Continues to
Respond to Media Misrepresentations of Hinduism
HAF continues to interact with political, legal, religious,
ethnic, and community reporters across America and the
world in order to correct any misrepresented coverage
of Hindu beliefs and practices, as well as to educate
the media and general public about Hinduism in general.
Many "Letters to the Editor", written by HAF members,
as well as press releases have been issued in response
to coverage seen as demeaning towards Hindus.
Some of the publications HAF has responded to are:
HAF
Receives Mention in Numerous Media Publications
Throughout 2005, HAF has continued to receive mention
for its work in over 1,500 media publications throughout
the world! Among the list of publications which
made note of HAF are (in no particular order): Yahoo!
News, Asian Tribune, Religion News Service, Hinduism
Today, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, India Post, India
Abroad, Harvard Pluralism Project, National Geographic,
Stanford Daily, The Madison Times, Inside Bay Area,
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Florida Times-Union, San Antonio
News, ABC News, Beliefnet.com, Hindu Press International,
Indiapost.com, HispanicBusiness.com, Rediff.com, Jewish
times, India Today, and Press Trust of India.
Hindu Human Rights
Campaign
HAF Releases First-Ever Annual Survey of Hindu Human
Rights
On July 13, 2005, HAF released a report on the atrocities
suffered by Hindus in Pakistan. Bangladesh, and India's
state of Jammu and Kashmir. Entitled "Hindus
in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Kashmir: A survey of Human
Rights 2004," the 71-page report - the first in
what will become an annual publication - was prepared
to document a humanitarian tragedy largely omitted in
reports by the United States State Department and larger
human rights organizations. It compiles media
coverage and first-hand accounts of human rights violations
perpetrated against Hindus because of their religious
identity.
The report was delivered to the co-chairs of the "Congressional
Caucus on India and Indian-Americans" Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
(R-FL) and Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), who both endorsed
it prior to its release. "With over 600 documented
attacks of murder, rape and physical intimidation of
Hindus in Bangladesh, Pakistan and India's state of
Jammu and Kashmir last year alone, the ongoing atrocities
against Hindus can no longer be ignored," said Ramesh
Rao, Ph.D., member of the HAF Executive Council who
contributed to the report. "We are gratified that leaders
in the U.S. Congress understand the magnitude of this
tragedy and are determined to raise their voices in
outrage."
HAF
Obtains Support of Congressional Leader on Hindu Human
Rights
On June 17, 2005, HAF Board Member Nikhil N. Joshi,
Esq., visited Capitol Hill and met with Congresswoman
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Republican Chair of the Congressional
India Caucus to discuss the serious human rights violations
that are occurring against Hindus in Pakistan, Bangladesh
and the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. He
obtained her backing of HAF's Hindu Human Rights report.
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen said that, "The human rights
violations that are occurring against Hindus must no
longer be ignored without reprobation.Hindus have a
history of being peaceful, pluralistic and understanding
of other faiths and peoples, yet minority Hindus have
endured decades of pain and suffering without the attention
of the world."
HAF Condemns Hinduphobic Resolution in the US House
of Representatives
The Hindu American Foundation expressed grave disappointment
over omissions in House Resolution 160 introduced by
Representative Joseph Pitts (R-PA) and Representative
John Conyers (D-MI) on March 16, 2005. The ostensible
purpose of the resolution was "to condemn all violations
of religious freedom in India." However, in letters
written to both Congressmen, HAF criticized the resolution
for its complete neglect of violations and persecution
against Hindus in not only India, but also other countries
of South Asia. HAF also expressed frustration
that the Congressmen made India a focus of a resolution
condemning religious persecution in South Asia while
Pakistan and Bangladesh escaped mention.
HAF Expresses Outrage at Attacks on Hindus Around the
World
As events around the world resulted in the deaths of
innocent Hindus, HAF expressed outrage and distress.
Here are a few examples of statements which HAF had
made in response to such events:
Community
Outreach Campaign
Domestic
Outreach
HAF
Co-sponsors Panel on Biases Against Hindus and Jews
on College Campuses
HAF co-sponsored (along with the American Jewish Committee
(AJC)) an academic panel at Stanford University on November
16, 2005. Titled "Countering Bias Against Hindus
and Jews in the College Campus," the panel featured
Dr. Arnold Eisen, Koshland Professor of Jewish Culture
and Religion at Stanford, and Dr. Ramdas Lamb, an Associate
Professor at the University of Hawaii. It was
aimed at promoting dialogue between Jewish and Hindu
communities on college campuses and brought to the surface
numerous cases of academic hostility against both groups.
Mihir Meghani, President of HAF, said that cooperation
between the two prominent minorities was not only advisable,
but vital. "We held this program at Stanford
because education has always been highly valued in both
communities," said Meghani, "and as both minorities
in this country coming from religions that don't believe
in evangelism, we face similar challenges in the academic
setting that need to be shared and taught."
HAF
Leaders Attend White House Diwali Reception
Board of Directors' member Nikhil
Joshi, Legal Counsel Suhag Shukla, and Executive Council
member Pawan Deshpande were invitees to the White House
Diwali reception held in Washington D.C. on November
1. The invite was yet another milestone
for HAF, as the event is limited to a small number of
prominent organizations and individuals.
HAF Works with American Jewish Committee
HAF has had ongoing interaction with representatives
of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) on how the groups
can further the cause of each community and promote
human rights, tolerance, pluralism, and understanding.
HAF Meets with the Simon Wiesenthal Center
Dr. Mihir Meghani, President of HAF, met with Rabbi
Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal
Center, on April 20, 2005. Dr. Meghani and Rabbi
Cooper discussed human rights problems in general, and
those faced by Hindus and Jews in particular.
Among the issues Dr. Meghani expressed concern about
were the non-pluralistic views of the new Pope, aggressive
proselytization campaigns funded by Christian agencies
targeting Hindus and Buddhists, Islamist terrorism,
and Hinduphobia pervasive in the media and academia
worldwide. Both leaders agreed to work together
to promote tolerance and harmony by continuing to explore
common values and themes that would bring Hindus and
Jews closer together for a better world.
HAF
Organizes its "Hindu Awareness Campaign" Across the
Country
Started in 2004, HAF continued to organize events across
the country (as well as in the UK) aimed at promoting
awareness of Hindu issues and concerns. The "Hindu
Awareness Campaign" events were held in cities such
as Miami, Tampa, Houston, Atlanta, Orlando, New York,
Fremont (California), and London (UK). HAF will
continue to hold events in a larger selection of cities
during the upcoming year.
HAF also spoke in Dallas at a program
sponsored by the Foundation for Pluralism.
HAF Warmly Received by the Council of Hindu Temples
of North America
Nikhil Joshi, Esq., Board Member of the Hindu American
Foundation, attended the Annual Meeting of the Council
of Hindu Temples of North America, held in Atlanta.
HAF's efforts in voicing Hindu American concerns and
positions to the government, courts, media, NGOs, and
within the academic setting were recognized by Dr. G.M.
Ramappa, current President of the Hindu Temple of Florida.
"HAF's work is critically important so that the
Hindu community in the U.S. can finally attain the strategic
relevance that is necessary for our community's heritage
and traditions to be sustained in the long-term. HAF
needs our support," said Dr. Ramappa.
HAF
Board Member Speaks at AASCA Conference and Arya Samaj
Maha Sammelan
HAF Board Member, Nikhil N. Joshi, Esq. addressed the
Asian-American Convenience Stores Association conference
in Tampa, Florida on legal topics affecting the community
- including the recent methamphetamine sting operation
conducted by federal officials against primarily Indian
convenience store owners and operators in northern Georgia.
He also spoke to the 2005 Arya Samaj Maha Sammelan,
held in Tampa, Florida. He called on the broader
Indian community, including Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists
and others, to become aware of the issues impacting
our communities, stay vigilant and participate in the
larger dialogue occurring in the United States.
HAF Continues to
Interact with Many NGO's
HAF has interacted with non-governmental organizations
(NGO's) representing many religions, ideologies, and
purposes in order to educate them about Hinduism &
Hindu issues. HAF leaders addressed leaders of
spiritual and community organizations at the Dharma
Summit held to address challenges facing dharmic traditions
in North America. HAF interacts with Hindu groups around
the world to understand the issues and concerns they
feel.
International
Outreach
HAF
Meets U.K.-based Hindu Groups and Officials
With the goal of trying to understand the challenges
faced by Hindus in the U.S. and the U.K., HAF participated
in a series of interactions with Hindu organizations
based in the United Kingdom (U.K.) as well as with officials
of the U.K. Government's Home Office in May, 2005.
In HAF's meeting with the Home Office's Faith and Community
Cohesion Unit, HAF expressed concern about recent legislation
which would prevent Hindu priests from immigrating to
the U.K. and would force temples to close down.
HAF also met with leaders
of Hindu organizations there.
HAF
Meets Religious and Community Leaders in Sri Lanka
Members of HAF's Board of Directors
met with Hindu and Buddhist leaders in Sri Lanka during
the months following the December 26, 2004 tsunami which
devastated south-east Asia. The HAF leadership
heard concerns from Hindu and Buddhist leaders over
tsunami relief from non-governmental organizations being
tied to affected victims being forcibly converted to
Christianity. HAF leaders heard additional concerns
about the lack of unity among Indic religions and the
need for pluralistic traditions to join together against
exclusive ideologies that threatened the tolerant and
pluralistic nature of Sri Lankan society.
Pluralism
Campaign
HAF
Prepares Release of First-Ever Hindu Hate Watch Report
HAF continued its work in compiling a report documenting
organizations spreading hatred towards Hinduism via
the internet. It will be released in 2006.
HAF
Concerned About Religious Freedom At U.S. Air Force
Academy
HAF expressed serious concern over multiple reports
that many in the faculty and staff at the Colorado Springs
U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) are abetting the spread
of evangelical Christianity on the campus while fostering
a climate of religious intolerance towards other religious
traditions. HAF expressed particular concern that
Hindus, as followers of a non-Abrahamic tradition that
is largely misunderstood in the U.S., would be even
more vulnerable to religious discrimination and concerted
prosletyzation.
HAF
Commends Agha Khan for Commitment to Pluralism
HAF wrote a letter on April 30,
2005 to His Highness the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader
of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim community, commending
him for his $40 million investment for the establishment
of the Global Centre for Pluralism in Canada.
The following are a few excerpts from the letter: "At
HAF, we believe that pluralism must be a fundamental
part of any nation that values diversity, democracy
and multiculturalism. HAF will support your efforts
to promote pluralism as this concept has always been
a central component of the Hindu faith as articulated
in an ancient Sanskrit hymn: 'Ekam sat vipraha bahudha
vadanti' meaning 'Truth is one, the wise call
it by many names.' We strongly feel that acceptance
of pluralism is the only way to bridge religious divisions
and to bring together people of all faiths during these
troubled times."
HAF
Disturbed by Reports of Proselytization by Tsunami Relief
Agencies
In a press release issued on January 25, 2005, HAF stated
its grave concern that some faith-based organizations
involved in tsunami relief work were actively engaged
in the proselytization of victims of the disaster in
south-east Asia. HAF condemns proselytization
to vulnerable and desperate victims as a reprehensible
exploitation that is a blow to the ideals of pluralism
that HAF firmly supports.
HAF
Condemns Orissa Temple's Decision to Bar Entry to Scheduled
Caste (Dalit) Hindus
In a press release issued on December 20, 2005, HAF
expressed deep disapproval of the barring of entry to
Scheduled Caste (Dalit) worshippers of the Jagannath
temple in Keraragard, a village in the Indian state
of Orissa. Newspaper reports say four Dalit women who
entered the temple were beaten and later fined $22.24
by the village council. HAF condemns discrimination
of all kinds.
Infrastructure
HAF
made many significant improvements in our infrastructure
during 2005 which will enable us to become even more
efficient and effective in our tasks. Here are
a few of our most significant actions:
Internships
In order to
inspire and educate a new generation of individuals
who will take on issues important to the Hindu community,
HAF conducted its first summer internship program during
2005. Thirteen high-school and undergraduate interns
from across the country were chosen after a rigorous
and competitive application process. The
interns worked on projects ranging from documenting
incidents of human rights violations in Hindu-minority
regions of South Asia to conducting surveys for education
and academic bias efforts.
Among the highlights of the summer, California-based
interns also met Mata Amritanandamayi (Ammachi) and
attended a separate intern dinner event. Other
interns presented their projects to members of the Board
of Directors and the Executive Council through group
conference calls. Several of the interns will
be returning to work with HAF on other projects in the
near future.
Pawan Deshpande,
a member of the HAF Executive Council and the coordinator
of the internship program, stated, "The summer internship
program is the first step in enabling youths to contribute
to a nationally recognized Hindu American organization.
We have seen a clear interest
in the program and look forward to growing it for the
summer of 2006." |
