Advocacy in America leads to visibility

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I am a Hindu mother of two who raised her daughters to take pride in our rich cultural heritage, ancient wisdom, and unique contributions to modern American society. I always encourage them to be outspoken, confident, and to embrace their multifaceted identities as Indo Caribbean Hindu American young women. Most of us know how complicated it can be to grow up as part of a minority community in America, where the religious majority has a louder voice and receives more attention.

One place where I have clearly seen this disparity is in the recognition of important Hindu holidays public schools. Every year, I see Hindu children feeling left out as their peers celebrate widely recognized religious holidays while their own festivals pass without acknowledgment.  Granted, there are so many Hindu holidays that it would be impractical to incorporate them all into a school calendar.

But our major celebrations such as Diwali and Holi are just as deserving of the recognition that Christmas, Passover and Eid receive. These communities have ensured that their populations are represented in the diverse institutional fabric of the American tapestry. 

However, in most public schools, there is scarcely any classroom education about Hindu festivals, let alone a day off for families to celebrate together.

Why is this? 

I believe our Hindu American community has been observing political mechanisms from the sidelines for too long. But I know the time for passive hope is over and active participation is what will have an impact.

For the last 25 years, I have been an advocate for the Hindu community and have supported organizations like HAF and CoHNA. 

I have supported Hindu temples, served on cultural organization boards, mentored our youth, help host festivals and represent the greater Hindu diaspora whenever possible. 

Two years ago, I join other passionate Hindu community leaders like Shekar Reddy, 

Dr. Ram Tewari and Rajesh Verma to create the first Hindu Political Action Committee (HAPAC) in Florida. We began researching, vetting and financial supporting local political  candidates who align with our cause.  Once elected, School Board members, encouraged us to sit on volunteer committees so we come be a part of the processes that affect us. 

I was appointed to the Broward County School Board DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) committee by Brenda Fam. On this committee, I learned about how other minority communities have navigated the process of gaining school board recognition of their holidays. For two years, I volunteered, learned, and built valuable connections.

 When the time was right, I began the first steps toward advocating for Diwali’s acknowledgment.  I knew it would be a long road but I stayed the course and I was grateful for the support of the school board. I was especially grateful that other passionate members of the South Florida Hindu community saw the merit in my cause and were not afraid to get involved as well. 

 We collaborated with the school board and The Gummakonda Reddy Foundation on toy drives, back pack giveaways, invited board members to our temples and Diwali celebrations to give them a first-hand experience of our community’s beauty, value, and strong presence. We partnered with CoHNA to launch online petition for parents to reach out to the Broward County School District Board adding multiple voices to the ask for Diwali as a school holiday.

We also counselled and trained parents on how to call and how to approach the school board on this topic, visiting every temple on weekends. Having a National Organization like CoHNA to lean on for guidance was a key factor in this process. They sent representative, Shobha Swamy to meet with school board members at a temple event. 

 It was exciting to see students in the school district, such as Reva Kumar and Amogh Baranwal add their youth voices to the campaign. 

When the school board recognized October 2023 as Hindu Heritage Month with a proclamation, I was elated to be there to accept the honor at our largest Diwali Festival.  Receiving the proclamation was an important milestone and further motivated me the push for Diwali as a permanent public school holiday. 

 I decided to be proactive in filling the educational void and made a video with school board member, Brenda Fam to be used in classrooms to teach students about our holiday. 

Finally, after two years of hard work, persistence and engagement from other community members, the board voted unanimously on December 17 to make October 20 a permanent public school day off from 2025 in Broward County. It was one of the proudest moments for me and our community.

 I am sharing my advocacy journey because I refuse to be robbed of the visibility and rights that we deserve as law-abiding and tax-paying citizens. 

But the truth is, these won’t be handed to us - we have to advocate for them. I hope my efforts at the local level will inspire others to take the first step if you feel the same way I do. It may sound like a daunting process but our coalition is proof that it is possible if we come together and use our collective power.

 Hindu Americans represent a prominent population with resources, education, and large established communities. 

We already possess much of the strength and tools necessary to affect positive change for future generations, but it will require us to think bigger than ever and not shy away from political spaces. We have every right to be there.

 Many of us are successful professionals, entrepreneurs, and business owners. It’s time we start using our financial power to support local politicians and leaders whose values align with our causes. When our elected officials reflect our values and experiences, they can champion issues that affect us—like religious freedoms, cultural preservation, and inclusivity in schools. 

If we truly care about the future of Hindu representation, we need to fund campaigns, build coalitions, and strengthen our community’s political influence beginning at the local level.

 Political influence in the modern age requires monetary resources, and as a community, we need to be willing to invest in our future beyond our personal lives and business goals if we are able. 

This is an opportunity to be a part of a greater legacy that will change history and grant us eternal life via the memories of our children and grandchildren who may have the freedom to fully celebrate Diwali every year.

 We should also be encouraging Hindu youth to run for office, vote, volunteer, and stay updated on political affairs. It’s our responsibility to mentor and support young Hindus like who have the passion and talent to run for office, whether at the local, state, or national level. This means including our families in the journey as we engage with school boards, attend city council or town hall meetings, and boldly communicate directly with elected officials.

This kind of advocacy will help ensure that Hindu children grow up knowing their culture is valued and understood by their peers. More importantly, they will grow up with the confidence to speak up against injustice whenever our way of life is sidelined by the majority.

 If we hold the ideal of dharma close to our hearts, this principle should compel us to stand for justice and fairness in the political arena that dictates so much about our daily lives. By standing up for our rights, we aren’t just strengthening our own community—we’re contributing to a better America.

Let’s rise, advocate, and lead!

 

The author is a Florida-based Hindu advocate, community leader and Entrepreneur.

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of New India Abroad)