(Image source from: India Life and Times)

The Hindu American Foundation has honored three activists at HAF's 16th Annual Capitol Reception held on Monday for espousing the rights of Kashmiri Pandits with the 2019 Award for Advancement of Hindu Human Rights.

Vijay Sazawal, Sunil Fotedar, and Deepak Ganju have bestowed awards for giving "a voice to the Kashmiri Pandit community, whose suffering would have otherwise gone unnoticed in the United States" and for "notable contributions to preserving Kashmiri culture", according to HAF.

"After 30 years of largely remaining unheard, we were honored to recognize the efforts of American policymakers who have used their platforms to highlight the need for religious freedom and human rights for this and other minority communities," HAF Executive Director Suhag Shukla said.

Regarding the Kashmiri honored, she said: "We're humbled by the selflessness and achievements of these individuals in protecting, preserving, and promoting the indigenous cultural heritage of Kashmir, and in making incredible advances in a variety of fields."

Sherman said that the strategic relationship between India and the United States is based on shared democratic values and looks forward to India being categorized as a leading non-NATO ally. He said that he had introduced a resolution in the House to denounce Pulwama attack that took place in February by Pakistan-based terrorists killing about 40 Indian security personnel.

Brownback said: "The role of the government is to protect the right to everyone's religious freedom. You want to be Hindu, great. You want to be a Christian, a Muslim, great. As long as you're peaceful about it, we will protect your right. This should be the standard around the world."

About the recipients of the Hindu Human Rights Award, the HAF said: "For more than 25 years Vijay Sazawal (of the Indo-American Kashmir Forum) has given a voice to the Kashmiri Pandit community, whose suffering would have otherwise gone unnoticed in the United States.

"Likewise, Deepak Ganju (of the 'Shehjar Magazine'), has unflaggingly promoted awareness of the genocide perpetrated against the Kashmiri Pandits. Sunil Fotedar has been a pioneer in creating online archives of Kashmiri culture, religion, and history, as well as the human rights violations against the Kashmiri Pandit community."

"For too long the religious-ethnic cleansing of the Kashmiri Pandit community from the Valley of Kashmir has been overlooked by the international community," said HAF Board Member Rajiv Pandit.

"Some three decades ago thousands of Hindus were killed by their neighbors and Pakistan-sponsored militants, with several hundred thousand, forced to flee under threat of horrific violence.

"All of us would like to see a time when we are able to return home safely," he added.

Author Bansi Pandit received the Dharma Seva Award for promoting Sanatana Dharma and the Dharmic community by providing "the community with many resources for the preservation of our religious and cultural traditions, with a particular focus on the needs of the second generation of Hindu Americans", HAF said.

The Award in the category Advancement of Dharmic Arts and Science was bestowed to professors Subhash Kak, for his contributions to the fields of archaeoastronomy, quantum cryptography, history, poetry, and philosophy; Ashok Koul, for contributions to the field of linguistics, and Tiku Kaul for promoting Kashmiri culture through music and poetry.

By Sowmya Sangam