HAF Meets U.K. Based Hindu Groups and Officials

Date: May 30, 2005

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: The Hindu American Foundation concluded a series of interactions with Hindu organizations based in the United Kingdom (U.K.) & officials of the U.K. Government's Home Office. With the goal of trying to understand the challenges faced by Hindus in the United States of America (U.S.A.) and the U.K., a series of high level meetings were held with several Hindu organizations. By the conclusion of the trip, HAF had forged partnerships with several U.K. Hindu groups to further issues of importance to Hindus in the U.K. and U.S.A. and promote pluralism and understanding.

Dr. Mihir Meghani, President of HAF, with Dilip Lakhani, at the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Neasden, U.K., during arti

In HAF's meeting with the Home Office's Faith and Community Cohesion Unit, HAF expressed concern about recent legislation that would prevent Hindu priests from immigrating to the U.K. and would force temples to close down. Anil Bhanot, Executive Director of the Hindu Council U.K. (HCUK), stated, "Home ministry officials have expressed their appreciation for HAF's input and assured both HAF and the HCUK that they would consider our input and forward our concerns to Members of Parliament."

Hindus in the U.K. voiced several other concerns to HAF including the lack of British government funding for Hindu groups while other faith groups had a dramatic increase in funding, the lack of Hindu Members of Parliament, Hindu human rights globally, disunity in the Hindu community in U.K., the misappropriation of Hindu symbols for commercial purposes, and apathy in the community to Hinduism in general.

The HCUK organized a program at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan on Sunday May 15, 2005. There was a large attendance from various Hindu organizations and communities. As part of the topic of "Transnational Identities," HAF President Dr.Mihir Meghani presented HAF's Hindu Awareness Campaign (HAC) which highlighted the situation of Hindus in the U.S.A. and HAF's role in addressing the challenges and opportunities facing them. Anuja Prashar, an Executive Board Member of the HCUK, added, "This program is about talking about the role Hindus can play in western society. The Hindu American Foundation is contributing greatly to the development of a global Hindu voice and in promoting a credible Hindu voice in the institutions that shape public perceptions and policy."

The Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB) organized a press conference in London on Saturday, May 14, 2005 where HAF released the 2004 Hindu Human Rights Report on Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India's state of Jammu & Kashmir. Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of the HFB, explained that, "The report catalogues a series of human rights violations in the region. It is important for the world to sit up and take note of these attacks just as much as it does of human rights violations against other communities." Dr. Meghani added, "The Hindu minority in this region are regular victims of terrorism, murder and religious cleansing and we urge international human rights organisations and governments across the world to acknowledge the full extent of these human rights abuses and take action to address these injustices."

Dr. Meghani with leaders of the National Hindu Students Forum of U.K.

On Saturday, May 14, 2005, Dr. Meghani addressed the sabha at the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Neasden which has an attendance of around 2,000. He presented HAF's HAC presentation. Commending the work of BAPS and the leadership of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Dr. Meghani said, "BAPS is doing important work to promote universal and spiritual values. Many Hindus such as myself are inspired by the message of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Pramukh Swami, and the millions of volunteers of BAPS worldwide. HAF is providing the interface between sampradayas like BAPS and the institutions worldwide that shape public policy."

HAF met with leaders of the Hindu Human Rights Group. Dr. Meghani lauded the group for its efforts in countering defamation, educating the public about issues facing Hindus in the U.K., and working proactively to counter hate in U.K. HAF also met with leaders from the Chinmaya Mission, National Council of Hindu Temples, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir, Indo-European Kashmir Forum, Human Rights Commission for Bangladesh Minorities, National Hindu Students Forum, and Vivekananda Centre.