How to Be A Hindu Activist 101

When faced with this near-endless onslaught of discrimination, the question naturally arises in all our minds - what can I do?

Advice and thoughts from a Gen Z perspective.

As Hindus, there are many issues that we observe on a near-daily basis that disturb us immensely. We see the ever-continuing effects of events such as the seven Kashmiri ethnic cleansings and the persecution of Hindus in nations such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, which are only compounded by the negation of this trauma by Hinduphobic forces. We see the introduction of and advocacy for Hinduphobic policies and resolutions promulgated by universities and governmental institutions. And of course, we see the casual and unfortunately ubiquitous Hinduphobia that manifests itself both on social media as well as through personal interactions that Hindus have with others who often do not understand or harbor resentment of our faith. 

When faced with this near-endless onslaught of discrimination, the question naturally arises in all our minds - what can I do?

Observing the magnitude of the problem often produces a feeling of helplessness - that there is nothing that we can do to counter the issues that we are facing. Through this article, I’ve tried to share some of the steps that have worked for me in my journey as a Hindu activist. Though everyone’s activism journey is different - the path you tread is an intensely personal one - I hope that these tips can provide some support as you consider how to involve yourself in Hindu advocacy.   

1. Practice and Engage with Your Faith

In my view, an excellent way to get started with Hindu activism is to engage with and practice our Hindu faith. Hinduism is distinctive in that it is intensely personal; every practitioner has the opportunity to forge their own path and their own connection with the Divine. A discussion between a group of young Hindus, including myself, centered around this question: 

Do you need to be a practitioner of Hinduism in order to advocate for it? 

In my view, the answer is - yes, absolutely. 

The reason for this belief is best encapsulated by something one of my friends mentioned her father said - “If you don’t practice the faith, what’s the point in advocating for it?” This isn’t to say that you have to perform intensive, hours-long pujas on a daily basis - and no one else is dictating what constitutes properly practicing your faith (which is the true beauty of Hinduism). Maintaining and cultivating a relationship with your Hindu faith as you embark on your activism journey will provide you with much-needed support and comfort on the road ahead. For me, performing my Sandhyavandanam - a sacred daily worship of the Sun - is one of the ways I maintain a strong relationship with my Hindu faith. Pursuing forms of Indian classical dance or music - which are intertwined with Hinduism and involve a veneration of the Divine - can also be an excellent way to connect and engage with our faith.

2. Educate Yourself - like really

It can often seem that learning about Hinduism and Hinduphobia is almost impossible, simply due to the amount of information that’s there to absorb. While Hindu advocacy is a process of constant learning, there are some excellent sources you can explore to better understand both our faith and the threats that face it. Listed below are some suggested sources that can serve as a starting point for your exploration, and that I personally feel are valuable to start learning. This is by no means an exhaustive list - as you continue to learn about our faith, you’ll certainly discover other sources that speak to you and that you find meaningful. In addition to checking out the resources below, you can also consider joining a local class or study group (often offered through Hindu organizations; see Step #3) that delve into texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, or Vedanta (a branch of Hindu philosophy). Another important aspect of your activism and spiritual journey could be finding a guru (spiritual teacher), who can serve as a guide in your spiritual journey. Your guru may be an individual that is part of your family sampradaya (Hindu tradition), or it could be someone you encounter on your own spiritual quest. 

Books and Print Media

• Hinduism Today. Hinduism Today is a magazine that is published, four times a year, by the Himalayan Academy, part of the Hawaii-based Kauai Hindu Monastery. A well-respected publication that has been around for decades, Hinduism Today editions cover various theological elements of the Hindu faith, feature important places of pilgrimage, both in India and abroad, and analyze contemporary Hinduism-related news and developments across the globe. You can subscribe to a physical version of the magazine, and also view present and previous issues online at www.hinduismtoday.com. Hinduism Today also has published an excellent book entitled What is Hinduism?, which has compiled much of their magazine content over the years to provide a comprehensive look at our faith. It is a must-read primer for anyone who wants to learn more about Hinduism.

• India’s Culture and India’s Future by Michael Danino. Danino examines the rich history of India, which is intrinsically tied with Hinduism and speaks of the road ahead for the nation, from a dharmic perspective. The author himself lends a unique angle to the work - he immigrated to India from France at a young age and has lived there for decades. The “recommended reading” section at the end of the book is also a treasure trove of resources on Hinduism and India.

• Our Moon Has Blood Clots by Rahul Pandita. The Kashmiri ethnic cleansings are a black mark in Hindu history, and their trauma continues to haunt Kashmiri Hindus, and Hindus at large, to this day. The Kashmiri ethnic cleanings are often also minimized or entirely negated, and countering this narrative is an important plank of Hindu activism. This book is a personal and powerful recounting, by a Kashmiri Hindu, of his own experiences as someone directly affected by the ethnic cleansings.  

Social Media Accounts and Electronic Media  

• @hinduoncampus (Twitter / Instagram). Advocacy led by young Hindus, with a special focus on Hinduphobic events taking place on high school and college campuses.

• www.understandinghinduphobia.org - Webpage of the Understanding Hinduphobia conference, which occurred in April 2021 at Rutgers University. The goal was to define, examine examples of Hinduphobia and how to effectively combat it.  

• 1971 Bengali Hindu Genocide and 5 things to know about Hindus in Pakistan. Excellent content from the Hindu American Foundation about Hindu persecution in Pakistan and Bangladesh. 

• That’s So Hindu and Stars, Stripes, and Sanatanis Podcasts - Two podcasts run by the Hindu American Foundation and Hindu Student Council’s high school wing, respectively. The latter is geared specifically toward young Hindus.  

• @cohnaofficial / @hinduamerican (CoHNA Twitter / Instagram; HAF Twitter / Instagram). Two influential Hindu advocacy organizations based in the United States. Regular updates on Hindu advocacy. 

• @theamericanhindu (Instagram). Chronicles the American Hindu experience. Informative posts on various Hindu traditions and festivals. 

• @hindustudentscouncil (Instagram) / @HinduStudentsC (Twitter). Hindu student organization on college campuses and in high schools in the United States and Canada.

• @hindusamata (Instagram). Hindu advocacy page for Hindu human rights, social and progressive issues. 

• @indumathi37 (Twitter). Influential Hindu-American expert with a background in education. Deconstructs Hinduphobia in educational and other settings.

3. Join a Hindu Organization

You’ve read up on Hinduism and have an understanding of the faith and the challenges it faces. Now what? One of the best ways to get started in the advocacy process is to join a Hindu organization. Joining a Hindu organization allows you to join a like-minded community who is also interested in engaging in activism for our faith. It’s important to have a support system in your advocacy journey - people with who you can learn, work, and even have fun with. On high school and college campuses in the United States, Hindu Students Council (mentioned above) and Hindu YUVA are the two principal organizations present. Hindu organizations on campuses hold regular meetings, as well as special events that coincide with our festivals. They’re often also engaged in the local community through Seva and other activities. 

Hindu organizations on campus are a confluence of education and advocacy - you’re able to learn more about our faith while at the same time advocating for it with fellow members. More experienced members can also guide you in advocacy, especially if you’re (understandably) a tad bit nervous dipping your feet into the water. 

If your high school or university doesn’t have a Hindu organization, then you can start one! Hindu Students Council has a presence on both high school and college campuses, while Hindu YUVA has a college campus presence. You can reach out to these organizations for guidance on starting a chapter. Your pioneering actions will create a safe space for other Hindu students on your campus and leave a lasting legacy beyond your time there. 

If you’re not on a high school or college campus (or want to supplement your experience as part of an on-campus Hindu organization), you can consider becoming involved in your local mandir (Hindu temple), or with organizations such as Chinmaya Mission or Samskrita Bharati USA, which have chapters across the United States and beyond. Involvement in such organizations will allow you to be part of, and benefit from a strong Hindu network that will be instrumental in lending support to your advocacy efforts.

4. Spread the Word - And Take Action

This fourth and final step builds upon all the previous steps you’ve taken thus far, and allows you to make an impactful change for the Hindu community!

An important facet of being involved in Hindu advocacy is speaking about Hinduism and the atrocities and discrimination that Hindus face. In quite a few cases, Hinduphobia may stem from a lack of knowledge about Hinduism and Hindu customs and traditions, rather than from malicious intent. As such, part of being a Hindu activist involves discussing Hinduism and being an ambassador for our faith on a personal level. For instance, posting on social media to commemorate various Hindu festivals (you can repost content from accounts such as The American Hindu and CoHNA listed in Step #2!) would be an excellent way to educate those outside the Hindu community about our traditions. Posting on social media about atrocities that Hindus have faced and continue to face - such as the Kashmir Ethnic Cleansings - also sheds much-needed light on these important issues, which are not adequately covered in mainstream and on social media.

If you feel comfortable, you can also consider wearing the bindi (tilakam) or other Hindu religious insignia on campus or in the workplace, showing that you’re proud to be Hindu. It could also spark some very interesting questions and conversations about our faith!

Your advocacy journey can also include a public advocacy component. An excellent advocacy action would be to write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about contemporary Hindu news, such as the recent student and community activism against Hinduphobia at Rutgers, for instance. Amplifying Hindu voices in the mainstream media is critical, and this sort of grassroots work is key to making that happen.

Public advocacy can also involve contacting your state and federal representatives about Hindu-related issues of concern. If there’s a specific piece of legislation pending in your state that needs to be countered, make sure your representatives hear from you! It was because of concerted advocacy from Hindu New Yorkers, for instance, that a bill labeling the Swastika (a Hindu symbol of auspiciousness wrongly associated with the Nazi Hakenkreuz) as a “hate symbol” did not become law. You could also advocate for your local (town or county) government to pass resolutions about issues such as Hinduphobia or Hindu persecution in Kashmir, Pakistan, or Bangladesh. On a federal level, bringing your congresspeople’s attention to instances of the persecution and systematic erasure of Hindus in nations such as Pakistan and Bangladesh is critical.

Perhaps what’s been mentioned in this guide may seem like quite a bit, and you may think that you’re simply not cut out to do this. Nothing can be further from the truth.

The fact that you’re reading this article and want to help is amazing, and I hope that some of the tips mentioned resonated with you. Everyone’s advocacy journey is deeply personal and unique, and this guide is meant to serve as a starting point for you as you consider how best you can make a difference.

Remember that no matter where your advocacy journey takes you, you’ll have a network of other young Hindu activists standing by to support you!