Hindu group's Statehouse exhibit aims to educate lawmakers
A traveling exhibit on Hinduism is on display in the Capitol rotunda this week, aiming to educate Ohio’s lawmakers about their Hindu constituents’ belief system.
“Darshana: A Glimpse into the Hindu Civilization” is presented by the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, an American nonprofit group that takes inspiration from the Hindu nationalist movement in India. The exhibit, which will be displayed through 4 p.m. Thursday, comes roughly a month after some state representatives floated a proposal to allow Christian-only prayer at the beginning of legislative sessions.
“This is about education about Hinduism. So we want to see the local communities coming,” said Sitaram Koppaka, the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh’s (HSS’s) president for Ohio, who lives in Powell.
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The exhibit's 24 posters explain various aspects of Hindu belief and practice, ranging from a definition of “dharma” (“the natural order underlying existence”) to commentary on Hindu contributions to mathematics, science and architecture. An abridged version is online.
According to its website, the HSS is a social, educational, and cultural organization inspired by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the Hindu nationalist group whose political arm is India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP. The BJP has faced criticism from human rights groups for passing laws and policies that discriminate against Muslims and other religious minorities in India, and for restricting freedom of the press.
“We are a US-based nonprofit organization. We have nothing to do with what happens in India. India is a sovereign country,” Jitender Sandadi, HSS’s joint executive director for the Great Lakes region, told The Dispatch.
In January, a proposal by some Republicans to require a specifically “Christian” prayer before legislative sessions was dismissed by House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) and condemned by Democrats.
Lawmakers’ reaction to the rotunda exhibition this week has generally been positive, according to Sandadi.
“(Lawmakers) have been very excited, thrilled to see this here and to learn different facts about our Hindu (religion),” said Sandadi.
The Hindu community in Central Ohio
In Franklin County, the Indian and Bhutanese Nepali communities — many but not all of whom are Hindu — are among the fastest growing groups. Hindus make up less than 1% of adult Ohioans, according to the Pew Research Center.
There are currently two Hindus in the Ohio Statehouse — Rep. Anita Somani (D-Dublin) and Senator Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg).
Koppaka said that the HSS has around 250 chapters across the U.S, including three in Franklin County. The exhibition will continue touring in community centers, libraries, and schools in the area.
Two Indian-American teenagers from Dublin helped curate the exhibition on Wednesday.
“It's important to be aware of people around you, because the more you know, the more you create connections with people,” said Pradnya Kannan, 15. “We think that educating people through this exhibition can help the community know more about Hinduism and make sure misconceptions don't happen.”
Peter Gill covers immigration and new American communities for The Dispatch in partnership with Report for America. You can support work like his with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America here:bit.ly/3fNsGaZ.
pgill@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh's Statehouse exhibit aims to educate lawmakers
