Summary of Speeches
Dr. Vinod Kumar (Conference Convener) welcomed the attendees to the Sprott School of Business, emphasizing the significance of Hindu Heritage Month. He outlined the conference's purpose: empowerment through awareness, confidence, and participation. He detailed the four main goals: promoting awareness of contributions, identifying challenges like vandalism, fostering dialogue, and developing action plans. He stressed that the event was about "participation," not politics.
Subhas Bhargava (CHA Chair) delivered a rousing call to action, declaring the "time for polite silence is over." He positioned the CHA as a new "think tank" designed to connect, not compete with, existing organizations. Drawing on his experience at McGill University in the 1950s, he cited the Jewish community's resilience in building their own hospitals when faced with discrimination, urging Hindus to learn from that model of self-reliance and collective organization.
Shivang Vaishnav presented a "River Model" of leadership, comparing Hindu and First Nations traditions. He described three "currents": the Rock Current (Elders/Gurus preserving tradition), the Whitewater Current (Innovators adapting to challenges), and the Mainstream Current (Bridge-builders in corporate/civic life). He recommended policy changes to fund cross-cultural exchanges between Hindu and Indigenous youth.
Kulshushan Kapoor spoke candidly about his perception of the threats facing Hindus globally. He warned of anti-Hindu sentiment in Canadian academia and media, advocating for a stronger, self-protective stance for the community.
Rishabh Saraswat addressed the critical issue of Bill C-9, which criminalizes hate symbols. He argued that the bill conflates the Nazi Hakenkreuz (Hooked Cross) with the sacred Swastika, a symbol of well-being used globally by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Indigenous peoples. He traced the mistranslation back to colonial texts and urged the community to fight for the correct terminology ("Nazi Swastika" or "Hakenkreuz") in the legislation to protect their religious rights.
Jodi Green spoke (via video) on the shared challenges faced by the Jewish and Hindu communities in Canada. She highlighted the historical friendship between the two faiths, noting that Jews have lived in India for over 2,000 years without antisemitism. She expressed "cautious support" for Bill C-9 as a tool to prosecute hate but emphasized the need for community feedback. She urged Hindus to report all hate incidents and offered partnership in security training and advocacy.
Ruchi Wali presented alarming statistics on the rise of anti-Hindu hate. She noted that hate crimes against "other religions" (including Hindus) doubled between 2020 and 2024. She detailed specific incidents of temple vandalism (e.g., BAPS, Gaurishankar Mandir) and the violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir. She identified a critical gap: the lack of a specific "Anti-Hindu hate" category in police reporting, which causes these crimes to be underreported or misclassified. She called for specific policy changes to recognize Hinduphobia and protect Hindu youth.
Krishna Sahai presented a demographic overview of the 800,000+ Hindus in Canada. He highlighted the community's high urbanization (GTA, Vancouver), youthfulness, and high socioeconomic status (highest income after the Jewish community, 40%+ with university degrees). Despite these strengths, he pointed out a significant "political deficit" compared to other groups like Sikhs. He emphasized that the community must report hate crimes to generate data and must translate its professional success into political influence.
Guru Bhat spoke on the power of grassroots civic engagement. He described HAVA's journey from a small group in Nepean in 2021 to a network covering 15 ridings. He emphasized that civic participation is not just about voting but about "giving people the confidence" that their voice matters. He highlighted the transformation of shy volunteers into community leaders through activities like door-knocking and campaigning.
Kumar Gyanchandani provided a concrete example of civic advocacy. He recounted an incident in Oakville where a "Life Certificate" camp for seniors at a temple was cancelled due to aggressive protests, with police citing an inability to guarantee safety. In response, HAVA studied bylaws from other cities and lobbied the Town of Oakville. Their efforts led to the successful passing of a "Bubble Zone" bylaw on May 12, creating a safety perimeter around places of worship. He also mentioned increasing Hindu voter turnout from <10% to 70% in a recent internal election.
Jay Jayaraman spoke with candor about the internal dynamics of the Hindu community. He criticized the exclusion of non-Hindi speakers (referencing his own experience) and urged for greater inclusivity. He highlighted the significant contributions of Hindus to Canadian society, such as medical patents and construction technology, but noted these are often unrecognized. He called on the community to be "visible" in peaceful rallies and to nominate deserving Hindus for awards to increase the community's profile.
