Representative Image. / Pexels

In the face of persistent stereotyping and misrepresentation by politicized academic narratives—most notably the Rutgers report dissected in Parts 1, 2, and 3 of this series—Part 4 honors the resolute, dignified, and strategic work of Hindu organizations and individuals across North America. Many have remained steadfast and boldly visible, emerging as true custodians of Sanatan Dharma.

Rather than engage with the ideologically slanted and anonymously authored claims of the Rutgers report, we turn our focus to what it omitted: the intellectual labor, civic advocacy, and cultural confidence that define a thriving Hindu presence in the diaspora. This is a celebration of those building a civilizational foundation rooted in integrity, pluralism, and dharmic principles.

Also read: Rutgers University Part 3: Hinduism and Hindutva: Two Currents, One Civilization

Institutional Leadership and Policy Engagement:

Organizations like the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) have played a transformative role in shaping public discourse through legal advocacy, policy briefings, and educational outreach. By confronting hate crimes, correcting textbook distortions, and engaging lawmakers, HAF provides Hindu Americans with a credible and rights-based platform for civic participation. Their contributions to the Hindu cause in the United States are exemplary. HAF resources are available on its website for further details.

Similarly, the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) has become another dynamic force countering academic and media disinformation. With chapters nationwide (the author himself serves on the Steering Committee of the Minnesota chapter), CoHNA leads rapid response campaigns, mobilizes grassroots engagement, and challenges biased legislation and anti-Hindu activism in universities and beyond. Their advocacy across North America, as the name implies, is gaining prominence by the day. CoHNA’s resources for Hindu youth and community engagement are available on their website.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), established long before HAF and CoHNA, continues its decades-long commitment to community-building, youth development, and cultural continuity. Programs such as Bal Vihar, Hindu youth camps, and interfaith outreach have helped foster a lived Hindu identity across generations—an identity that is practiced, not merely debated. VHPA’s research-based articles and publications offer a wealth of insight, especially for those who lacked meaningful exposure to Dharma while growing up in Bharat.

Intellectual Work: Rajiv Malhotra, Infinity Foundation, and Hindu University of America:

Among the most influential figures in the Hindu intellectual renaissance is Rajiv Malhotra, founder of the Infinity Foundation. His pioneering works—Being Different, Breaking India, The Battle for Sanskrit, and Snakes in the Ganga—offer a profound civilizational critique of Western paradigms and call for a grounded assertion of dharmic knowledge systems.

Through the Infinity Foundation, Malhotra has cultivated a vibrant intellectual ecosystem, funded research, and supported scholars who challenge reductive portrayals of Hinduism. His emphasis on concepts such as “Sanskrit non-translatable” and critiques of Western universalism have made him a target of scorn among the ideologues behind the Rutgers nexus. Yet, it is precisely his uncompromising scholarship that makes him an indispensable voice in Hindu civilizational thought. Malhotra’s lifelong practice of Hinduism, combined with his scholarship, stands far taller than the Rutgers nexus and others in the anti-Hindu narrative world.

Aligned with this intellectual vision, the Hindu University of America (HUA) is building rigorous academic programs rooted in dharmic knowledge systems, marking a slow but steady reclamation of Hindu philosophical discourse in Western academia. For reasons unknown, the Rutgers nexus has yet to acknowledge this academic institution that is quietly contributing to a growing Hindu renaissance.

Cultural Confidence: The Sanatan Kings and Diasporic Pride:

 A symbolic milestone in this dharmic resurgence took place at the Peace Foundation in Oslo in June 2025, where four individuals were honored as Sanatan Kings for their global contributions to Hindu causes. Though ceremonial, the gesture marks a shift in consciousness: Hindu identity is no longer on the defensive—it is confidently civilizational.

Significantly, three of the honorees hail from North America, reflecting the diaspora’s growing leadership in global Hindu revivalism. The broader vision aims to identify and honor the 500 Sanatan Kings and Queens worldwide—an initiative that inspires pride among Hindus across the globe. Undoubtedly, the emergence of these Dharmic leaders will unsettle those invested in anti-Hindu narratives, such as the Rutgers nexus.

Across domains—from music and yoga to food, festivals, and public policy—Hindu Americans are embracing their identity with clarity and conviction. What we are witnessing is not merely cultural preservation, but the active shaping of a dharmic presence in public life.

Conclusion:

In light of this civilizational momentum, the Rutgers report—anchored in ideological rigidity and historical erasure—stands exposed and irrelevant. Its attempt to malign Hindutva and Hindu identity crumbles before the living reality of Sanatan Dharma’s resurgence across North America.

From legal advocacy to cultural expression, from intellectual inquiry to grassroots organizing, a new Hindu awakening is unmistakably underway. What the Rutgers report tried to fragment, the Hindu community is now uniting through dharma, through courage, and clarity.

The custodians of Sanatan are not waiting to be defined by others. They are defining themselves—firmly, proudly, and irrevocably.

NOTE: The author acknowledges the use of ChatGPT in researching topics and the meaningful improvement of content.

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of New India Abroad)