On February 6, 2006, San
Francisco publication Metroactive printed an article entitled
“Battling
the Past: Indian parents and scholars go to war over how
Hindu history is taught in California schools”.
The article discussed HAF's involvement in the representation
of Hinduism in California textbooks.
Dear Editor,
RE: “Battling the Past: Indian parents
and scholars go to war over how Hindu history is taught in
California schools”
In an otherwise fair article, your report
contained false allegations about the Hindu American Foundation
(HAF). Since forming in 2003, our group has worked tirelessly
to promote the human rights of Hindus where they are minorities
and for freedom of religion and pluralism in this country.
Our success in promoting understanding, tolerance
and pluralism has been recognized by Congressmen, federal
and state government offices and agencies, the media, other
human rights groups, organizations from other ideologies,
academics and the community at large.
We filed the 1st ever amicus brief on behalf
of Hindu Americans in the Texas 10 Commandments case before
the U.S. Supreme Court last year. We have also cosigned several
other amicus briefs as a part of the non-partisan, interfaith
Coalition for the Free Exercise of Religion.
We have condemned fraudulent conversion by
evangelists, terrorist attacks by Islamists and caste discrimination
by Hindus because we do not believe any community is above
blame for human rights abuses. Last year, we released the
1st ever report on the human rights of Hindus in South Asia
which has been referenced by human rights groups and government
commissions.
The allegations made about our group having
a “sinister agenda” and being “phony”
belie what we are doing and are part of the general Hinduphobia
that we are trying to combat.
We seek to work with people of diverse background
who share our goal of promoting understanding, tolerance and
pluralism.
Sincerely,
Mihir Meghani, M.D.
President, Hindu American Foundation
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