CoHNA Conducts Community Dialogue in Calgary on Combating Hinduphobia and Hate Crimes
- authored by Rishabh Sarswat
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, CoHNA Canada was at the Central Public Library in Calgary to raise awareness about Hinduphobia and the rising threat of hate crimes. A landmark event in Alberta on May 24, 2025, was hosted in collaboration with the Hate Crime Unit of Calgary Police Services, drawing close to 60 attendees. In a strong show of cross-community and legislative support, several Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) attended the event: Court Ellingson, Samir Kayande, and Kathleen Ganley.
Featured speakers included CoHNA Canada President Rishabh Sarswat, Calgary Police Officer Kelly Mergen, and certified counsellor, psychotherapist, educator, and community development practitioner Yubraj Paudyal.
The event was also supported by the International Hindu Foundation, Hindu Students Council, Calgary Marathi Association, Vadtal Dham, Rajasthan Association of North America, and many other local community members and organizations.
Rishabh Sarswat opened the session with powerful data and real-world examples of growing Hinduphobia in Canada—from academic marginalization to repeated temple desecrations. The audience was visibly moved and disturbed by the scope of the issue, recognizing that these incidents are not isolated but part of a wider pattern.
Officer Kelly Mergen, Community Outreach Coordinator at Calgary Police Service, stressed the importance of identifying hate crimes and reporting them through proper channels. Many participants were surprised to learn how frequently such crimes go unreported—often due to fear, normalization of bias, or lingering postcolonial trauma.
Yubraj Paudyal, a counsellor, psychotherapist, educator and community development practitioner, offered an insightful psychological perspective on how trauma is inherited across generations. He described Hindus as one of the few communities globally that continues to carry the deep wounds of civilizational erasure, cautioning that silence and avoidance can be symptoms of unresolved collective grief.
The gathering observed a moment of silence in memory of the 26 innocent tourists killed in the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, for simply being Hindu.
“Our event showcases growing community recognition of the need to address anti-Hindu hate and ensure inclusive community safety policies,” said Rishabh Saraswat. “Together, the community took an important step toward reclaiming its voice—with truth, unity, and a commitment to justice. Join us as we grow and strengthen this movement.”