A high-schooler on the Hill: My Experience of CoHNA’s Hindu Advocacy Day

One of my favorite experiences from Hindu Advocacy Day was visiting the different congressional offices. We had some excellent discussions with staff members from over 50 offices.And while we were not able to meet with any of the Representatives, it was inspiring to see men and women from across the nation take the time to listen to our cause, to hear us out, and to give us the respect that is so often lost from politics. My group was able to present on a variety of issues including Hinduphobia on campus, attacks on Hindu temples, and the rise of anti-Hindu around the world. 

This speaks volumes about the values of my country. In no other country would a group of first, second and third generation immigrants from a religious group that is barely considered ‘mainstream’, be able to actively advocate on behalf of themselves and have their voices heard in the halls of power. It was incredibly inspiring to be a part of that experience, and to know that this was occurring in ways that could help bring about real change and success. 

A highlight of Hindu Advocacy Day was the varied set of speakers. Men and women, both Hindu and non-Hindu, from all across the country came together to highlight the impact and importance of the contributions of Hindu-Americans to the success of America. I had never seen such collective praise before. I had always felt that Hindus were a silent minority, simply attempting to survive while being surrounded by the rush and thrill of America. Here I found the opposite. Hindu-Americans were not silent; we were and are strong and vocal and unafraid of our identity. Amidst our ranks were highly-trained doctors, dedicated public servants, bold businessmen, and thousands of other men and women who neither shied away from their Hindu identity nor their dedication to our beloved country. 

But that’s not all! At Hindu Advocacy Day, I realised that not only were we proud contributors to the success of our country, America’s leaders had seen and recognized our importance. Several key figures and their representatives within Congress came to the CoHNA event, heard our concerns, and celebrated our successes. They offered advice, and showed the audience that they cared about Hindu-Americans. That spoke volumes as to how far we have come as a community. At one point in our history, we were afraid of our own identity. We were persecuted for our beliefs and derided for our practices in our own homeland. Now, we hold space in the decision-making body of the greatest nation on Earth, and are able to advocate for ourselves. 

All of this has happened in a mere 50 years from the beginning of significant Hindu immigration to America. Imagine what the next 50 years hold for us. Imagine what other glory and success we can bring to our adoptive country in that time span. Today, we stand at the beginning of a resurgence of Hindu identity in the United States. Hindus from all walks of life are finally able to be proud of their identity, to embrace it instead of shy away from it. That in itself is a victory, but more work still needs to be done. 

Organizations like CoHNA have shown me that the time for change is now. We have the potential to ensure that future Hindus, even the young Hindus of today, will be able to safely practice their faith and embrace their identities in ways that have often been closed off to them. But this can only come with service, and from a conscious understanding of the world through the Hindu perspective. And this is precisely what Hindu Advocacy Day brought for so many on Capitol Hill. I implore you to create your own days of advocacy, your own opportunities to truly discover the facts. No matter your background, you too deserve the truth, and nothing less. Dive into the case of Hindus and be enlightened, so that you too can join this movement for dharma and bring pride to the Hindu community. 

May God Bless These United States of America!