Objectives

BUT DID YOU KNOW…..

In India, state governments do not take over places of worship belonging to any other religion except Hindu Dharm. Such discrimination and interference in management of places of worship is inconsistent with secularism. 
 

Out of about 9 lakh temples in India, about 4 lakh temples are controlled by different state governments. Unlike other religions, Hindu temples and local communities act in isolation whenever they face discrimination and do not raise their collective voice for each other.  In the USA and Europe there is rising Hinduphobia in media, academia, public policies, and even threat of violence against Hindus that is ignored by the institutions. The Hindu population in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh has been shrinking rapidly due to terrible atrocities. In India, Hindus are still being discriminated by governments, judiciary, and administration- in terms of laws, policies, and implementation behavior. Academia, entertainment, large segments of media, continue with their colonial and failed Marxist attitudes to denigrate Hindus. 
 

A major reason for inaction by Hindus is the absence of a coordinating organization and a platform for timely sharing of information among temple communities. A few Hindu organizations that exist take up issues of broader interest for Hindus and do not have the willingness, capacity or the resources to take up issues which may appear to be isolated cases, but if one pays attention a pattern of systemic discrimination becomes obvious.
 

In addition, state governments tend to discriminate against Hindu temples and observance of Hindu religious practices. In case of dispute or need for use of authority's discretion, the State and its institutions tend to favour other religions over Hindus because Hindus are neither well organized nor do they raise their voice in support of each other. One of the main reasons is the lack of timely and credible information shared among the community.
 

The purpose of the Global Hindu Temple Network is to create a platform for sharing  information across the communities served by member-temples to create awareness about what is happening across the Hindu communities, raise voice in support of each other, share information on positive developments and efforts made by any of the communities, and create a shared consciousness.

The purpose is not to create an organization but a network for sharing information. Temple communities in Patna should be aware of discrimination faced by temples in Palakkad, those in Murshidabad should know about problems faced by temples in Minnesota. If temple communities in Baroda raise voice against discrimination faced by communities in Birmingham the politicians and state institutions will sit up and take notice.
 

To meet these challenges, Global Hindu Temple Network has been established to:

• create a global platform where Hindus can share issues of concern in their communities.

• create awareness about discrimination against Hindus anywhere in the world.

• facilitate temple communities to get control back from the government and establish a community-led legal entity with a transparent and accountable administration.

• enable the temple communities to raise a collective and coordinated voice against discrimination and hate crimes against Hindus anywhere in the world and persuade policy makers and institutions to act promptly and decisively.

• include all communities and temples that align themselves to the Network’s objectives. 

What this Network is not?

1. The Network is non-political. Its volunteer cannot be office-bearers of any political party at any level. The Network will focus on public policies and not on partisan or electoral politics. Our civilizational struggle transcends partisan politics. 
    

2. The Network has no role and shall not involve itself in propagating or advocating for:

       (a) any religious practices or 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 develop some standard templates for creation, registration, administration, and management of temples for adaptation and use by temple communities.