Inside This Newsletter

HAF CONDEMNS THE KILLINGS OF HINDUS IN EARTHQUAKE-DEVASTATED KASHMIR

HAF APPRECIATES CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON DALIT RIGHTS; CONCERNED BY BIASES

SPOTLIGHT ON HAF AT RELIGION NEWSWRITERS MEETING

HAF OFFERS CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF SIMON WIESENTHAL
 

HAF Condemns the Killings of Hindus in Earthquake-Devastated Kashmir

October 13, 2005

TAMPA, FL: The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) expresses anger and anguish at the killing of ten Hindus on October 10, 2005 in the Rajouri District of Jammu and Kashmir. When the people of Kashmir have been devastated by a massive earthquake, and when people on both sides of the India-Pakistan border have suffered so terribly in the past week, this vile act of slitting the throats of Hindus by Islamic terrorists belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Lashkar-e-Toiba shows the utter inhumanity of those who have been aided and abetted by various Pakistan governments over the past two decades (http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=56336). This act of terror is the latest in a long string of such inhumane acts that has led to the deaths of more than 3,000 Kashmiri Hindus and the ethnic cleansing of 300,000 more from the region.

The Hindu American Foundation urges the world media to draw attention to such acts of brutality and demand from the Pakistan government an end to the support of radical Islamists who have made their home in Pakistan.

In July of 2005, HAF released the first annual report on the status of Hindu human rights in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Kashmir. The report called for the creation of minority and human rights commissions to pressure the governments of these regions to provide security and uphold the rights of minority Hindus. The full report can be downloaded at www.hinduamericanfoundation.org/HHR2004.pdf .

For further information: Please contact HAF.
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HAF Appreciates Congressional Hearing on Dalit Rights; Concerned by Biases

October 12, 2005

TAMPA, FL: Congressman Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the Committee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, held a hearing on October 6^th, 2005, to address alleged human rights violations and discrimination faced by underprivileged castes, commonly referred to as Dalits in India.  The Hindu American Foundation (HAF), which supports congressional efforts to document and highlight the denial of human rights abuses of all Hindus in South Asia, expressed special concern that the hearings were deliberately biased and misrepresentative of India and Hinduism.  HAF specifically pointed to the slate of witnesses that included individuals widely known for their anti-Hindu activism.

“Holding a hearing ostensibly to bring people together to improve the plight of India’s Dalits is a commendable goal,” said Mihir Meghani, M.D., President of the Hindu American Foundation.  “But to stack the witness chair with delegates with virulent Hinduphobic perspectives that lack any credibility in India or abroad reduces any positive impact such a hearing could have made.”

HAF was disappointed that Congressman Smith, while commending the humanitarian work of Christian missionaries, failed to similarly recognize the vast network of Hindu social and charitable organizations working with India’s socially and economically deprived populace.

“Caste discrimination is a social evil that must be eradicated, and all faith-based groups, Christian or Hindu, should be congratulated for their dedicated services in India,” said Swaminathan Venkataraman, member of the HAF Executive Council, “But those organizations that allow the people among whom they work to maintain and celebrate their native culture and practices without any pressure to convert or renounce their religion deserve special praise.”

HAF members said the hearing also failed to address caste discrimination that affects religions other than Hinduism in India, and instead became a forum for anti-Hindu sentiments.  Several key speakers at the hearing including Dr. Joseph D’Souza, Dr. Udit Raj, and Dr. Kancha Ilaiah have all overtly called for Hindus to convert to Christianity in past.  D’Souza, who is President of the All India Christian Council (AICC), previously termed the conversion of Hindus to Christianity as, “the process of breaking this spiritual darkness.”

Congressman Smith alluded to the ongoing Indian Supreme Court proceedings regarding the granting of special reservations in government and education sectors for Dalits who have converted to Christianity.  Ironically, Dalits who convert to Christianity in a bid to escape social stratification under the caste system, continue to agitate for affirmative action benefits even after becoming Christians, thereby demonstrating that the inequalities of the caste system are not specific to Hinduism.

For further information: Please contact HAF.
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Spotlight on HAF at Religion Newswriter Meeting

October 4, 2005

Tampa, FL: Members of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) interacted with several prominent journalists at the annual Religion Newswriters Association (RNA) meeting held in Miami Beach, Florida on September 29, 2005.  Suhag Shukla, Esq., legal counsel of HAF, was invited by the RNA as a panellist on a widely attended plenary session entitled, “American Hindus: Beyond Caste and Cows.”  On a dais shared by Vasudha Narayan, Ph.D., Professor of Religion at the University of Florida, and Anuttama Dasa, Director of Communications for the International Society of Krishna Consciousness, 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 Legal Counsel, Suhag Shukla, Esq. represents HAF at the Religion Newswriters Association meeting in Miami, FL.

“There is a dichotomy in how we, as practicing Hindu Americans, view ourselves and our faith as compared to how we are perceived and described in popular media,” said Ms. Shukla during an address to approximately 250 religion writers from throughout the United States.  “This gap can be bridged with understanding of proper context, knowledge of diversity within Hindu traditions and a sincere engagement between journalists and representative groups such as HAF.”

HAF presented 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 the Hindu focus on tolerance and pluralism as well as a brochure specifically focused for journalists covering Hinduism.  Entitled, “Omissions and Oversights: Frequent errors in media coverage about Hinduism,” the brochure featured direct quotes from articles about Hinduism, taken from prominent media outlets, followed by an explanation as to how the coverage was misrepresentative.    

Discussing specific issues with religion newswriters and editors, both on the panel and in individual meetings, HAF representatives encouraged the seeking of analyses from experts and academics who are practicing Hindus.  “Too often, journalists rely on academics that study Hinduism to provide insight into Hindu practice and beliefs,” said Ms. Shukla.  “We encouraged RNA members to seek out academics and spiritual leaders that actually practice the religion and do not just approach Hinduism as an object of exotic or ethnographic study.”

HAF announced its plans to continue engaging RNA members at the annual conference and the foundation will be represented at the next meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah in September, 2006.

For further information: Please contact HAF.
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HAF Offers Condolences on the Passing of Simon Wiesenthal

Simon Wiesenthal, often referred to as the “Conscience of the Holocaust”, passed away on September 20th, 2005 in Vienna at the age of 96.  After being freed from a concentration camp at the end of World War II, Wiesenthal became the permanent representative for victims of the Holocaust.  Over his lifetime, he helped to bring over 1,100 Nazi war criminals to justice.  In 1977, the Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC), international human rights NGO with currently over 400,000 members, was founded in his name.  Below is a letter that the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) sent to SWC expressing condolences on the passing of Simon Wiesenthal.

October 3, 2005

Dear Rabbi Cooper and Friends at the Simon Wiesenthal Center,

On behalf of the Hindu American Foundation, we offer our condolences on the recent passing of Simon Wiesenthal. His dedication to human rights is an inspiration not only to the Jewish community but also to the Hindu community.

His merciless hunt for over 1100 Nazi war criminals has shown that one man, who often carried the burden of justice of the Holocaust alone, can change the world. His life has taught us that organizations, such the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Hindu American Foundation, must never let down their guard for the protection and safeguarding of basic human rights. He best expressed the need for constant vigilance when he said, "The only value of nearly five decades of my work is a warning to the murderers of tomorrow, that they will never rest."

We trust that his legacy and message of tolerance will be continued by the Simon Wiesenthal Center and wish it the best in its efforts.

Sincerely,

Mihir Meghani, M.D.
President & Member, Board of Directors
Hindu American Foundation

Pawan Deshpande
Member, Executive Council
Hindu American Foundation

For further information: Please contact HAF.
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