Page 24 - The Indian EYE 042624

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline APRIL 26, 2024 | The Indian Eye 24

IAAC Hosts Fireside Chat with Nobel Laureate Kailash

Satyarthi at Columbia Business School

OUR BUREAU Arushi Ray, Director of In-
do-American Arts Council’s Youth
New York, NY
Programs, adds, “Eight years ago, I
his past week, IAAC hosted had the opportunity and privilege to
a conversation with Nobel visit the Bal Ashram, a rehab center
TLaureate Kailash Satyarthi, in established by Nobel Laureate Kailash
partnership with Columbia Business Satyarthi. I witnessed first-hand the
School. Celebrated globally for his sanctuary created for children res-
fight against child labor and advoca- cued from the exploitation of slavery.”
cy for education, Kailash Satyarthi “From soccer games at dawn to
was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize sitting in on classes to evening talent
in 2014 along with Malala Yousafzai. shows, I saw how this oasis provid-
Through his work, he has liberated ed a sanctuary for kids to eat, sleep,
over 90,000 children from exploita- learn and play. In short - they were
tion and developed successful models learning to become kids again. That
for their education and rehabilitation. experience was transformative, and
At the event, he was in conversa- revealed the profound impact of Mr.
tion with IAAC Chairman Dr. Nirmal Satyarthi’s work,“ Ray said.
Mattoo. Through concrete examples
of how a single spark of compassion
can lead to paradigm shifting so-
cial transformation and meaningful
impact at scale, he spoke about his
Movement For Global Compassion
that aims to ignite ‘Compassion in
Action’ in the world.

Satyarthi’s book “Why Didn’t

You Come Sooner?” is more
than just a collection of sto-
ries. It’s a call to action, filled
with narratives of resilience

and hope.

Rep Thanedar introduces resolution on Hinduphobia in US Congress

OUR BUREAU society is unfortunately rising, the It takes relatively few coordinated
resolution said. acts of hate to create fear national-
Washington, DC
About a fortnight ago, Indi- ly within a community that has of-
ongressman Shree Thanedar an-American Congressman Raja ten been marginalised or neglected,
has introduced a resolution in Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Tha- and we must work collaboratively to
Cthe House of Representatives nedar, Ami Bera and Pramila Jay- combat hate against all religious, eth-
condemning Hinduphobia, anti-Hin- apal had written to the Department nic, racial, and cultural minorities in
du bigotry, hate and intolerance. of Justice to request a briefing from America. We therefore request that
The resolution that was introduced them on the status of investigations you provide us with an understanding
by Congressman Shri Thanedar has concerning an alarming increase in of what the Department’s strategy is
been referred to the House Commit- incidents of vandalism at houses of specifically concerning hate crimes
tee on Oversight and Accountability. worship across the country including targeting Hindus in the United
The resolution reads that de- at Hindu temples to better under- States,” said the letter.
spite their positive contributions to stand existing law enforcement coor- Khanderao Kand, Chief of Poli-
the United States, Hindu Americans speech, and bias-motivated crimes. dination between local agencies, the cy and Strategy from the Foundation
face stereotypes and disinformation According to the FBI’s Hate FBI, and the Civil Rights Division. for India and Indian Diaspora Stud-
about their heritage and symbols, Crimes Statistics Report, anti-Hindu “The number of incidents and ies said that in the first quarter of this
and have been the targets of bully- hate crimes targeting mandirs and the closeness of the timing of inci- year, there has been a sudden spike in
ing in schools and on college cam- persons are annually on the rise while dents raise troubling questions about vandalism as well as thefts in temples
puses, as well as discrimination, hate in parallel Hinduphobia in American linkages and the intent behind them. in America intimidating devotees.

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