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Inclusive Hinduism initiative Samadarshini launches in New York
Samadarshini's steering committee features scholars, religious leaders, organizers, and community builders from India and the global diaspora.
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Staff Reporter - Fri, 26, Jun 2026
- 03:20 EDT
- 39
Representative Image / Samadarshini
Samadarshini, a new initiative aimed at promoting an inclusive vision of Hinduism, was officially launched on June 24 as a platform for theological reflection, community dialogue and social justice.
The initiative is rooted in the principle of "seeing equally" and aims to promote interpretations of Hindu traditions that support equality, democracy, human dignity and environmental responsibility while rejecting caste discrimination, patriarchy, Islamophobia and religious exclusivism.
Samadarshini's steering committee features scholars, religious leaders, organizers and community builders from India and the global diaspora. The initiative seeks to encourage dialogue on caste, nationalism, inclusion, spiritual practice and justice within Hindu communities worldwide.
The Samadarshini Steering Committee includes Dr. Anantanand Rambachan, Sunita Viswanath, Sravya Tadepalli, Pandit Dr. Raja Gopal Bhattar, Nikhil Mandalaparthy, Sapna Pandya and Punya Upadhyaya, supported by Afsheen Shamsi of Union Seminary and Abby Mohaupt of Garrett.
Co-founder Sunita Viswanath, who also co-founded Hindus for Human Rights, remarked, "Samadarshini asks us to take seriously the spiritual and ethical demand of equal vision."
Viswanath continued, "A radically inclusive Hinduism must be anti-caste, feminist, democratic and accountable to the communities most harmed by exclusion, not to mention our planet. This project is an invitation to build that Hinduism together, across borders and generations."
Steering committee member Dr. Anantanand Rambachan, professor of religion, philosophy and Asian studies at Saint Olaf College, said, "Samadarshini is not merely an intellectual project; it is a moral and theological undertaking."
Rambachan further said, "The Hindu traditions contain profound resources for affirming dignity, interdependence, compassion and liberation. But those resources must be articulated honestly, with a willingness to confront caste, patriarchy and other forms of domination that have also shaped our religious histories."
The project will also feature an anthology, titled Samadarshini: Seeing Equally, featuring personal essays by religious leaders from diverse Hindu and South Asian traditions.
Published by Westland Books, the anthology will highlight the personal experiences of the contributors, reflecting on how their faith challenges casteism, racism, gender discrimination and other forms of inequality.
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Samadarshini will also host virtual "Baithaks for Liberation," bringing together scholars, activists, religious leaders and community members to explore what liberation- and justice-oriented Hinduism can look like.
Additionally, the project also features a "Samadarshini Bookshelf." Through this, the leaders will curate books and resources that help readers explore progressive, liberatory, anti-caste, feminist and justice-centered approaches to Hinduism and South Asian religious traditions.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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