INDIA, September 12, 2018 (Daily O by Makarand Paranjape): I have just returned from the World Hindu Congress (WHC), September 7-9, Chicago, to discover that the event has been poorly, even unfairly, covered. This Congress, second in the series after its inaugural in November 2014, attracted over 2,500 delegates and participants from over 60 countries. It was superbly organised by a team of over 200 volunteers under the able leadership of an organising committee. A star-studded galaxy of speakers addressed the gathering, including vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu, who delivered an inspiring valedictory, and thespian Anupum Kher, who offered a moving inaugural keynote.
To go beyond deliberate distortions and misrepresentations, it is important to understand that the WHC is not a political caucus, but a global congregation of Hindus “to connect, share ideas, inspire one another, and impact the common good.” Held once in four years, WHC’s guiding vision is the quotation from the Bhagavad Gita: “Yato Dharmastato Jaya” (Where there is dharma, there is victory). Each WHC consists of seven parallel conferences, one each on economics, education, media, organisation, politics, women and youth. It was surprising and dismaying, therefore, to see the event being demonized as violent, fascist or minority-hating by motivated critics, supported by a section of the media. After attending several sessions and being both speaker and moderator in one, I can vouch that there was little negativity, aggression, or anger in the Congress. Instead, the mood was positive, optimistic and constructive.
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