The Vishva Hindu Parishad of Australia Inc. (VHP) convened 250 delegates, representing Hindu community organizations, media representatives, businesses, professionals, and politicians from across all seven states of Australia, at the 7th Australian National Hindu Conference. The conference, themed “Growing Community Thriving Australia,” was held at Novotel Parramatta in Sydney, New South Wales, on April 20, 2024.
Conference delegates, speakers, and dignitaries were welcomed by Shri Subramaniyan Ramamoorthy, the National President of VHP Australia. Smt. Akila Ramarathinam, the National General Secretary, VHP Australia delivered her speech, highlighting VHP Australia’s service to the community through various programs and activities.
In his keynote address, Sushyanth Subramanian from Hindu Youth Australia highlighted that according to the 2021 census, the Hindu community comprises a significant number of young, highly qualified, and high-income earners compared to the Australian average. He emphasized the Hindu community’s substantial contributions to the economy, education, research, innovation, IT, and health services. Subramanian concluded that Hindus in Australia are not merely surviving but thriving.
At the inaugural session, Honorable Chris Bowen, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, congratulated the Vishva Hindu Parishad of Australia for their stewardship of the Hindu community and the significant contribution of Hindus to Australia’s growth and prosperity. He remarked that the message of universal acceptance, “World is one family,” promoted by VHP, resonates profoundly.
Warren Kirby, MP for Riverstone NSW, reflected on his trip to India, where he witnessed street celebrations for the construction of Ram Mandir. He emphasized the importance of Australian society embracing Hindu principles like ‘World is one family’ and respect for all.
Hugh McDermott MP praised VHP for their grassroots-level work, teaching language to children, and supporting the community during COVID.
Hon Scott Farlow MLC, a staunch supporter of Vishva Hindu Parishad in the NSW Parliament, also commended the Vishva Hindu Parishad of Australia for its leadership within the Hindu community and assured them of his support. He referenced the bipartisan support from all parliamentarians in March 2021, when the parliament passed a resolution endorsing VHP’s credentials.
The first session delved into the collaboration between government bodies and the Hindu community. Representatives from the NSW Police Force, legal entities, and multi-faith organizations discussed government expectations and effective engagement strategies.
In the second session, chaired by Shri Karthik Arasu, Multicultural Affairs Advisor to the Leader of Opposition Hon Peter Dutton MP, local councillor Reena Jethi urged organizations to encourage Hindu community members to participate in politics. She outlined pathways to political engagement.
Yashvi Shah, a criminal lawyer in Australia, emphasized the importance of positioning Hindus in Administration, Police, Law, and the Judiciary. She advocated for encouraging children to pursue legal studies and various legal professions to fill the gap in representing and influencing legal policies for our community.
Jitarth Jai Bharadwaj, founder and chief editor of The Australia Today, encouraged Hindu organizations to actively engage with the media to address negative portrayals. He emphasized that it’s essential for Hindus to share their own stories, stating, “Non-Hindus are the ones telling our stories because we aren’t doing it ourselves.
A highlight of the sessions was a panel discussion featuring Hindus from six countries: Bangladesh, Bharat, Bhutan, Indonesia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, sharing their experiences as Hindus in Australia. They expressed keen interest in participating in festivals and events organized by larger groups. All present organizations pledged to invite Hindus from all countries for enhanced participation and to support causes such as the plight of Bhutanese Hindu refugees or the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh.
All elected representatives from Federal, State, and Local governments, along with leaders of interfaith groups, unanimously acknowledged the positive contribution of the Hindu community. They extended thanks and congratulations to the VHP for spearheading the dialogue on not just coexistence but also thriving together.
