Every Political Transition in Bangladesh Leaves Hindus More Vulnerable By Arun Anand Source/Attribution: Originally published by the Middle East Forum (https://www.meforum.org/dhimmitude-project/the-systematic-marginalization-of-hindus-and-other-religious-minorities-in-muslim-majority-bangladesh) In Islamic law, the dhimma is a covenant of protection extended to the People of the Book (originally Jews and Christians), and later to other non-Muslim communities living under Mu

By Vinay Nalwa On October 30, 2026, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court ordered the removal of a statue of E.V. Ramasamy, known as Periyar, from the land of the Brahmasirakandeeswarar temple in Kandiyur, Thanjavur district. Justices P. Velmurugan and K.K. Ramakrishnan gave the District Collector four weeks to place it at another suitable site, a period that ends around November 27. The Collector's own status report found the statue on temple land, not on government por

Diwali is not one day but a festival of days, and each day carries its own legend. For children growing up far from India, where the neighbours may not know the festival and school carries on as usual, these stories give each day a meaning they can tell their friends. Read one aloud each evening, light a diya together, and let the children ask questions. The stories follow the order of the festival: Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Diwali, and Bhai Dooj. 1. Dhanteras: The Night

Editor’s Note Dharma lives through the faith we nurture, the traditions we preserve, and the values we uphold in a changing world. October Newsletter – 2 (October 15 – October 31, 2026) "In a connected world, Hindu struggles and resilience amid violence often remain unseen. This fortnightly report sheds light on these overlooked realities, offering a global overview of incidents affecting Hindus, celebrating our heritage, and advocating for Hindu rights and religious freedom

By Vinay Nalwa The word 'holocaust' comes from the Greek holokauston, a sacrifice wholly consumed by fire. In modern history, it refers to the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million European Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators between 1933 and 1945. The Jews call it the Shoah, the catastrophe. On November 1, 2005, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 60/7, designating January 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in m

Editor’s Note As the perimeter contracts, from targeted plots on American soil to a 15% rise in British hate crimes, we are reminded that Dharma is sustained not by stale safety or repeating old words, but by the fierce, unyielding refusal to let our spaces shrink out of existence. October Newsletter – 1 (October 1 – October 15, 2026) "In a connected world, Hindu struggles and resilience amid violence often remain unseen. This fortnightly report sheds light on these overloo

By Vinay Nalwa September may be drawing to a close, but for the Hindus of Bangladesh, the month carries memories that do not fade with the turning of the calendar. Among them is the memory of Krishnapur, where 127 people were killed on September 18, 1971. Every September 18, the people of Krishnapur return to the same place where their village changed forever. This year, on September 18, 2026, the Lakhai upazila administration and local organisations again observed Krishnapur

Editor’s Note Dharma is the sacred light we inherit from those before us, and the sacred trust we carry for generations yet to come… September Newsletter – 2 (September 15 – September 30, 2026) "In a connected world, Hindu struggles and resilience amid violence often remain unseen. This fortnightly report sheds light on these overlooked realities, offering a global overview of incidents affecting Hindus and celebrating our heritage, advocating for Hindu rights and religious f

Editor’s Note From targeted violence and structural desecration to sacred service and legal reclamation, faith asserts itself not in passive endurance, but in the unwavering duty to protect heritage, seek justice, and serve humanity. September Newsletter – 1 (September 01 –September 30) "In a connected world, Hindu struggles and resilience amid violence often remain unseen. This fortnightly report sheds light on these overlooked realities, offering a global overview of incide

Editor’s Note Every society is shaped not only by the events it witnesses, but also by the truths it chooses to see. These reports remind us that faith, dignity and freedom remain meaningful only when they are protected for all. BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Paris August Newsletter – 2 (August 15 – August 31) "In a connected world, Hindu struggles and resilience amid violence often remain unseen. This fortnightly report sheds light on these overlooked realities, offering

Editor’s Note When faith is pressured, sacred beliefs are insulted and lives are lost, we are reminded that Dharma must be lived with awareness and courage. To preserve what is sacred is also to have the strength to protect it… kurigrams-ancient-shiva-temple-losing-priceless-terracotta-artwork August Newsletter – 1 (August 01 – August 15) "In a connected world, Hindu struggles and resilience amid violence often remain unseen. This fortnightly report sheds light on these overl

By Vinay Nalwa Earlier this year, a report by Insight UK concerning an eight-year-old Hindu pupil at Vicar’s Green Primary School in London deeply unsettled many within the global Hindu diaspora. The child was repeatedly questioned by school staff simply for wearing a Tilak-Chandlo, a traditional sacred mark on the forehead. This persistent friction eventually led to social withdrawal, removal from positions of responsibility, and ultimately his departure from the school. Whi

Editor’s Note Dharma endures not because it is free from challenges, but because every generation chooses to preserve it with faith, courage, and collective responsibility… July Newsletter – 2 (July 15 – July 31) "In a connected world, Hindu struggles and resilience amid violence often remain unseen. This fortnightly report sheds light on these overlooked realities, offering a global overview of incidents affecting Hindus and celebrating our heritage, advocating for Hindu rig

By Sandhya Jha Every civilisation honours those who preserve and pass on knowledge, but few traditions celebrate the role of the teacher as profoundly as Guru Purnima. Observed this year on Wednesday, July 29, the festival falls on the Purnima (full moon) of Ashadha (the fourth month of the Hindu lunar calendar). It is a day dedicated to honouring teachers, mentors, and spiritual guides while expressing gratitude for the wisdom they pass on. More than a religious observance,

By Vinay Nalwa Today July 24, 2026 is the final day of the core chariot procession phase, known as Bahuda Yatra. The divine return journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra from the Gundicha Temple back to the main Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri. As this grand return brings the annual procession to its culmination, it invites us to contemplate how this unique festival fundamentally reimagines the very essence of sacred space and spiritual encounter. Mos

Editor’s Note What keeps a community alive is not numbers, but memory. Each generation must choose to preserve what it has inherited: its faith, its temples, its traditions, and its collective memory. Across continents, the stories in this issue remind us that safeguarding this inheritance is not merely a cultural responsibility. But a commitment to those who came before us and to those who will follow… 9th-century Shiva temple complex in Indonesia July Newsletter – 1 (July 0

By Vinay Nalwa The Temple Built by Refugees There is a quiet irony unfolding in the English city of Peterborough. It does not begin with a courtroom or a council meeting. It begins more than five decades ago, in East Africa. In 1972, Ugandan dictator Idi Amin ordered the expulsion of tens of thousands of Asians, majority were Hindus of Indian origin. Families who had lived in Uganda for generations were given only days to abandon their homes, businesses and places of worship

Editor’s Note Sanatana Dharma lives through faith, courage, and righteous action. As the timeless maxim reminds us, "Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah" —Dharma protects those who protect and uphold it. Chinmaya Mission Brahmachari Hai Chaitanya with students. June Newsletter – 2 (June 15 – June 30) "In a connected world, Hindu struggles and resilience amid violence often remain unseen. This fortnightly report sheds light on these overlooked realities, offering a global overview of i

By Vinay Nalwa Can a digital edit erase a real-world genocide? In 2016, Wikipedia moderators quietly deleted the standalone article for the Daldalia massacre of June 2, 1971. The justification was standard internet bureaucracy: a apparent lack of English-language media coverage. This digital scrubbing points to a troubling reality. Global platforms frequently sideline the history of regional minorities. Yet, internet algorithms cannot erase what is written in blood. The fact

Empowering women and girls with practical self-defense skills is a vital step toward building safer and more confident communities. Through awareness, preparedness, and training, we aim to equip participants with the confidence to protect themselves and respond effectively in challenging situations. Watch the highlights of our self-defense initiative and join us in promoting safety, confidence, and empowerment for every woman and girl.

Sri Ganesh temple in Berlin Editor’s Note The events chronicled here span different countries and contexts, yet they are connected by a common thread, the ongoing journey of a civilisation that continues to preserve its identity while adapting to a changing world. June Newsletter – 1 (June 01 – June 15) "In a connected world, Hindu struggles and resilience amid violence often remain unseen. This fortnightly report sheds light on these overlooked realities, offering a global o

By Vinay Nalwa The most significant development in Bangladesh’s ongoing minority crisis is not the occurrence of violence itself. Tragically, attacks on religious minorities have been cyclically reported for decades. What makes the current situation extremely alarming is that the violence has persisted despite a historic political transition, regime change, and repeated high-level assurances of protection from the interim leadership. For the international community, Banglades

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Editor’s Note When a civilisation must constantly defend its right to exist, every temple, every prayer, and every act of remembrance becomes an act of resistance… Sri Rathnagiriswarar Temple at Ayyarmalai May Newsletter – 2 (May 15 – May 31) "In a connected world, Hindu struggles and resilience amid violence often remain unseen. This fortnightly report sheds light on these overlooked realities, offering a global overview of incidents affecting Hindus and celebrating our heri