On this auspicious day of Makar Sanskrit 2022, we are very pleased to share with you an exciting news of launch of Global Hindu Temple Network. We invite you all to join this humble initiative of creating a platform for Hindu Temples all around the world to share information, create awareness, build shared consciousness, and inspire coordinated action to stand in support of each other and the community at large.
You would ask, why do we need such a Network?
Hinduism, a polytheist religion that accepts the divinity of all life, respects all forms of prayer, is the most liberal, accepting and assimilating, which should be admired by the world for its universal humanism is often under concerted onslaught from monotheistic religions. Hindu temples, like places of worship of all religions, are anchors for religious, social, cultural, and educational activities of the communities they serve. Each temple is a separate entity and follows local community-relevant religious practices. Unlike other religions, Hindu temples and local communities act in isolation whenever they face discrimination and fail to raise their collective voice in support of each other. A major reason is the absence of a coordinating organization and a platform for timely sharing of information among temple communities.
Though, the states in India have not interfered with the management and control of places of worship of other religions, that has not been the case of Hindus temples. A most recent
estimate 1 shows that out of 9 lakh Hindu temples network in India about 4 lakh temples are controlled by different state governments. The governments not only administer the temples, but they even charge a service charge of 13% to 18% of temple collections.
Regrettably, even after more than seven decades after Independence a large number of Hindu temples continue to remain under government control, their revenue and assets swindled by vested interests instead of being used for the welfare of the communities they serve and the preservation and propagation of their religion. In an environment of weak, corrupt, and often inefficient institutions Hindu Temple communities have received a raw deal and continue to face discrimination.
The objectives of the Network are:
To create a global platform where Hindu temple communities anywhere in the world can share with each other developments and issues of concern in their communities.
To facilitate temple communities to get the control and administration of their temples back from the vested interests wherever they have taken over temples, help them establish a Management Trust (or Society) and transparent and accountable system of temple administration.
To enable the temple communities to raise their collective and coordinated voice against discrimination of Hindu temple communities anywhere in the world to create an impact on the policy makers to: (a) amend the discriminatory policies and actions, (b) adopt policies that allow Hindu temple communities to follow and propagate their religion peacefully, and (c) take action against perpetrators of hate crimes and discrimination against the temple communities.
Why do we need this network?
If any temple community faces discrimination by the state or the coercion by the other communities, all temples around the world should get to know about it. From Mallapuram to Meerut, from Bakhtiarpur to Bharatpur, from Hoboken, New Jersey to Howrah, all temples will get information about the difficulties faced by any temple community anywhere and they will not have to face it alone. Shared information creates collective conscious and collective action.
How will this network operate?
A small nucleus organization has been created as a Trust. This organization will contact temples all over India and abroad to become members of the Network and seek volunteers. In case of discrimination faced by the temple community, or need for collecting the community for an activity, the volunteers would mobilize the community. Local professionals such as lawyers and accountants would be requested to volunteer to help the temple if needed. The Network would provide accurate and credible information to the temple communities, make their concern visible, and coordinate raising of their voice for bigger impact and outcomes.
What this Network is not?
The Network has no role and shall not involve itself in propagating or advocating for: (a) any particular religious practices and rituals, (b) social practices and traditions, (c) political views or inclinations, and (d) locally organizing any events with political overtones. It shall not involve itself in management and administration of any temple though it may collaborate with other fraternal organizations to develop some standard templates for creation, registration, administration, and management of temples for adaptation and use by temple communities.
Become a part of this journey
We invite you to become aware of the discriminatory practices of the State and its institutions, volunteer to help the local Hindu temples and the communities, make your temple a member of the Network, and support this Network as a vibrant platform for mutual support.
Mohinder Gulati (Managing Trustee) | V. S. Sampath (Chairman) | Amulya Charan (Treasurer) |
Thanks. How about individual membership