Swastika Education & Awareness Campaign (SEAC)
WHY THIS CAMPAIGN?
SEAC (Swastika Education and Awareness Campaign), is an initiative of CoHNA to spread the awareness of the Swastika, one of the most ancient and sacred symbols for Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains worldwide for thousands of years. We aim to promote mutual understanding and respect between communities to impart much needed education on this symbol and remove misconceptions while condemning bigotry, hate, and antisemitism.
Hitler’s symbol of hate was never called “Swastika,” a Sanskrit word that means “to be well.” He called his symbol a “Hakenkreuz” (German for “hooked cross”).
Words, context, and intentions matter.
Information booklet on Swastika
Share this illustrated booklet with family, friends, colleagues, policymakers and others to increase awareness about the Swastika.
What did the world call the Nazi symbol when it first appeared? How did it morph into the swastika? Read our blog article to learn more
Steven Heller literally wrote a book on why the Swastika is “irredeemable”. See what changed his mind.
See the in-depth article in USA Today discussing the importance of the Swastika to various faith communities across the globe.
Videos to watch and share
Additional Resources
Articles
- Pushpita Prasad: The Coast Guard’s fumble on Nazi emblem shows the symbol needs understanding. Religion News
- Rishabh Sarswat: A Town Called Swastika: Canadian Hindus Continue Defend Their Dharmik Identity Against a Hateful Nazi Symbol. American Kahani
- Montreal Police revise manual to distinguish Swastika. New India Abroad
- Ricardo Kaulessar: A Facebook post on the meaning of a swastika blew up in this North Jersey town. Here’s why. NorthJersey
- Sydney mum stands up to rideshare giant who shut down her account over her name. Channel Nine
- Model language for good anti-hate legislation: The Government of Victoria, Australia distinguishes between the swastika and the Hakenkreuz in its hate symbol legislation
- Nikunj Trivedi: Parliament Of The World’s Religions Features Discussion On Distinguishing The Sacred Swastika From Hitler’s Hakenkreuz. CoHNA
- Deepa Bharath: Asian faiths try to save swastika symbol corrupted by Hitler. Associated Press
- Rakesh Krishnan Simha: Lost in Mistranslation: Why the Hindu Swastika is nothing like the German Hakenkreuz. IndiaFacts
- Sidharth Shekhar: Congress’s Abhishek Manu Singhvi schools Canadian MP Jagmeet Singh on difference between ‘Swastika’ and ‘Hakenkreuz’. Times Now News
- Lynda Edwards: Swastika complicated symbol that co-opted Hindu, Buddhist sign of peace. Times Union
- Taylor Romine: The New York town of Swastika votes to keep its name. CNN
Bills protecting the sacred Swastika while fighting hate
- California Assembly Bill (AB) 2282 – Hate crimes: nooses, crosses, and swastikas
- Washington Senate Bill (SB) 5623: Modifying an element of the offense of hate crime and classifying a hate crime as crimes against persons
- Virginia House Bill (HB) 2783: Placing Nazi symbol or emblem on certain property with intent to intimidate
Organizations that endorse protecting the use of Swastika
- B’nai Brith of Canada Foundation: Buddhist, Hindu and Jain Organizations Endorse B’nai Brith Canada’s Call to Ban Nazi Symbols
- Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), Canada: Restoring the Swastika: A Win for Hindu Advocacy in Canada
- Montreal Police revise manual to distinguish Swastika
- Montville Township Police Department, Canada
- Community Unites Against Hinduphobia and Antisemitism at Interfaith Toronto Event
Books
- Daniel Rancour-Laferriere: The Sign of the Cross: From Golgotha to Genocide. 2017, Routledge
- T.K. Nakagaki: The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler’s Cross: Rescuing a Symbol of Peace from the Forces of Hate. 2018, Stone Bridge Press
- Thomas Wilson: The Swastika: The Earliest Known Symbol, And Its Migrations; With Observations On The Certain Industries In Pre-Historic Times. 1894, The Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum
Videos
Supporting Organizations and Partners
- Bharat Sevashram Sangha
- Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan USA
- Chinmaya Mission, Washington Regional Center
- Community Voice, NY
- Dwarapalakas, Canada
- Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation of New York
- Federation of Gujarati Associations
of US - Federation of Indian Associations, NY-NJ-CT
- Ganesh Temple, NY
- Gokuldham Haveli, GA
- Gujarati Cultural Association of North America
- Hindu Americans of San Diego
- Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference
- Hindu Students Council
- Jain Center of New Jersey
- Kannada Koota New York
- Kashmiri Overseas Association,
GA Chapter - Kerala Hindus of Minnesota
- Konkani Association of Georgia
- Hindu Speakers Bureau
- Hindu Service Foundation
- Hindu Society of Minnesota, MN
- Hindu Temple Society of the Capital District, NY
- Humvatan, VA
- Marg Foundation, MD
- OVBI, Dallas, TX
- Sardar Patel Foundation of North America
- Shiv Mandir of Atlanta, GA
- Shree Sai Pariwar, GA
- Shree Shakti Mandir, GA
- Shree Umiya Mataji Mandir, GA
- Shri Navagraha Devasthanam of North America, NY
- Siddhi Vinayak Mandir Atlanta, GA
- Siva Durga Temple, GA
- Swastika Awareness Coalition
- Tendai Buddhism – North America
- United States Hindu Alliance
- USA Pandits Parishad
- Westchester Indians
- World Hindu Council of America (VHPA)
- World Hindu Organization, GA