Many states in the USA are celebrating October as “Hindu Heritage Month” or “Hindu Awareness and
Appreciation Month.”
From Florida to Massachusetts, several states of the USA are recognizing their Hindu population by celebrating October as Hindu Appreciation Month. Neighboring Canada will celebrate November as “Hindu Heritage Month”. Other countries such as Australia and New Zealand celebrate along similar lines. This is important for many reasons, firstly because Hindus are among the top communities contributing to the national exchequer through taxes, technical skills to industries, medical services at hospitals, clinics and pharmacies, higher educational services at top universities and schools and legal expertise in the judiciary, they deserve recognition. And knowing Hindu community better can lead to a mutually beneficial relationship resulting in deeper integration.
Somehow, instances of physical attacks on Hindus, hateful speeches against them, and temple desecration-acts of intimidating Hindus-have increased. Recently arrested Alexandros Paporakis in Aurora, IL, declared that he wanted to kill as many visitors to the Hindu temple as possible with his AR rifle and 300 rounds of ammunition. Rutgers surveys have documented a 1,000% spike in anti-Hindu slurs and hate speech across digital platforms in recent months and the Carnegie Endowment surveyed a similar spike in religion-based discrimination against Indians in recent months. The reason could perhaps be jealousy or insecurity born out of ignorance.
Hindu hate actually defies rational logic and makes no sense as Hindus are one of the most educated, accomplished and contributing communities in the world who pride themselves on being helpful like a true friend. They are the “Friends of the world”, in Indian languages the expression is “Vishwa-Bandhu.” This was aptly demonstrated recently by the Hindu pilot, Capt. Smit Machchhar of Fly Dubai flight. He saved 182 lives from certain death, thwarting the copilot's desperate mission to crash the flight. During COVID pandemic, when no other country was helping, India provided free COVID vaccines to more than a hundred countries. Even during natural disasters in Turkey, Myanmar, Nepal, Maldives, etc., India was the first responder with tons of relief material, makeshift hospitals, drinking water, food and medicines. During the Second World War, when there were no takers for orphaned Polish children, Hindu Maharajas stepped forward and despite opposition from colonial British rulers provided a welcome home to them. Whether a pandemic, a war, or a disaster, they are the first to step forward, pouring in funds, food, and rushing to blood banks to donate blood. They ask for no recognition, expect no applause, and reject the idea that they are doing anyone a favor. For them, selflessness is not a gesture or a sacrifice; it is a habit.
If one looks at statistics, one finds that among the criminals incarcerated for violent crimes, one hardly finds Hindus in any country of the world. Hindus are generally known for having a peaceful and non-violent temperament. They are more often giving others rather than demanding from others. They are net givers not takers.
Try visiting a neighbouring Hindu temple, apart from beautiful images of God, you would see many of them running free community kitchens and feeding full balanced meals to anyone who presents themselves for food. The months of October and November are special. Many major festivals like Navaratri (9 days of full-night dancing for all ages and genders), Dashera (an auspicious day to start new ventures or buy big-ticket items like a car or house), and Sharad Purnima (full-moon dancing all night) and Diwali (the festival of light) fall during these months. And when in a temple, have no apprehensions, they would never try to convert you to Hinduism as it is a non-proselytizing religion. They do not even have any propaganda material to entice you.
Why do Hindus stand out for being helpful? It is because it is part of their upbringing. Their scriptures mandate it. Their every religious ceremony begins with a prayer for wellness and peace everywhere, the well-being of everyone and even ends with similar wishes. For them, the world is one family (“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”) and divinity exists in everything that exists in the world - living or non-living - Humans, animals, plants or even stones-everything is pervaded by divinity (“Isa Vasyam Jagat Sarvam”) and therefore everything needs to be respected and taken care of as such.
The more we befriend and know them, the more we see their contribution to our society.
