With Dr. Samantha Agarwal of the School of International Service at American University. Discussing her time living in India and working with Adivasis (tribal or indigenous people) in India, the intersection of caste with Hindu nationalism, a new report by SAVERA about the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), the actions of the VHP in India and how the VHPA has aided and abetted it, the problem of Hindu supremacy infiltrating US sociopolitics and what we can do about it, and much more.

We discussed Dr. Agarwal's recent article: https://truthout.org/articles/heres-how-the-hindu-supremacist-movement-is-infiltrating-us-politics/

We also discussed the SAVERA report, promoted in her TruthOut article: https://www.wearesavera.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/The-Global-VHPs-Trail-of-Violence-v2.pdf

Discussing, with many guests at a webinar hosted on 1 March 2024 for the purpose of uniting Christians in solidarity with the persecuted Church in India, what exactly is happening to Christians in India today and what we can do about it. Featuring 12 speakers (including yours truly) from all three major Christian traditions: Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant. Eight speakers are ordained clergy. The panel includes:

Moderator: Jamey Bennett

Very Rev. Dr. John Jillions

Pieter Friedrich

Dr. John Dayal

Rev. Peter Cook

Rev. Dr. Richard Howell

Fr. Joshua Lickter

Susan Kerin

Pastor Bryan Nerren

Pastor Ben Marsh

Robert Stubblefield

Fr. Steve Macias

With Dr. Obed Manwatkar of North Park Theological Seminary. Discussing his identity as a Christian from a Dalit background, his family’s origins in an Indian village nicknamed “Mini Pandharpur” ("Pandharpur" means “Holy Casteless City”), reclaiming the reputation of Nagpur as a city of interfaith legacy rather than the headquarters of the Hindu nationalist RSS paramilitary, the struggle to secure indigenous control of the Indian Christian Church, why Dalits and so-called “lower castes” convert, the emancipatory power of learning English in India, and much more.

An interview with Pieter Friedrich, originally conducted by Ambedkarites on Twitter/X, about the history and activities of the Hindutva — ie, Hindu nationalist — movement in America, what it's doing and seeks to do, and some ways in which it can be countered.

With Lien Gangte, president of North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA)-Canada, discussing the ongoing ethnic cleansing of the Kuki-Zomi tribe in Manipur, state complicity in the violence, his experience growing up in Imphal, the history of the region, and much more.

The views expressed are Mr. Gangte's and do not necessarily represent the views of NAMTA.

With Pastor Bryan Nerren, who was arrested and jailed in India in 2019 for over seven months. Discussing his 20+ years serving a children's ministry in Nepal and northeastern India, how his arrest in West Bengal was a crash course in the changed climate of Modi-ruled India, what he felt and did during his time in custody, details of his release, his work now engaging with Indian-American Christians to raise awareness about persecution, and much more.

With Dr. John Dayal, born 1948, who studied to become a physicist before becoming a senior journalist turned fulltime human rights advocate. Discussing his career as a journalist, including working as a foreign and war correspondent in war-torn Sri Lanka, Lebanon, and reunifying Germany, his coverage of India's 1970s "Emergency," the rise of the Hindu nationalist movement in the 1990s, his foray into activism in the 2000s as he visited pogrom-touched Gujarat, Odisha, and Manipur, and much more.

With Pastor Ben Marsh, the former DC Director for Dalit Freedom Network. Discussing what pulled him into the South Asian sphere, his work on caste and religious freedom issues at Capitol Hill, his views on why American Christians are apathetic towards persecution of Indian Christians and what can be done to rekindle their passion for social justice, and more.

With Raju Rajagopal, co-founder of Hindus for Human Rights. Discussing his passion for humanitarian causes, his 20+ years in advocacy work (including helping to get Narendra Modi's US visa ban in 2005), his childhood influences in Bangalore, Karnataka, and more.