Hindus For Human Rights Announces New Leadership
India- West News Desk
NEW YORK, NY – Hindus for Human Rights has named Sravya Tadepalli as its new executive director, while Ria Chakrabarty will head Hindus for Human Rights Action, the organization’s separately incorporated 501(c)(4) political arm.
Tadepalli joined the HfHR board in 2020 and most recently served as its deputy executive director. Chakrabarty previously served as HfHR’s senior policy director, working on advocacy involving democracy, religious freedom, political prisoners and transnational repression.
HfHR co-founders Raju Rajagopal and Sunita Viswanath will continue with the organization as founders and strategic advisers. Viswanath will also serve as executive director emeritus and board chair while focusing more closely on Samadarshini, a progressive Hindu project she co-founded, a press statement said.
Under the new structure, HfHR will continue its work on human rights advocacy, public education, coalition building and international organizing. HfHR Action will focus on political activity and electoral engagement, while Samadarshini will pursue theological, spiritual, intellectual and cultural work centered on an anti-caste, feminist and pluralist understanding of Hinduism.
The changes come after a year of increased activity for HfHR. Over the past year, the organization said it mobilized international support for India’s student-led movement for democracy and accountability and organized opposition to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s tour of the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The campaign included research, demonstrations, policy advocacy, interfaith organizing, open letters and a press conference at New York City Hall.
HfHR Action has also said that nearly 100 elected officials and candidates across eight states pledged to reject political contributions associated with the RSS and its affiliates.
HfHR maintains chapters and member networks across the United States, along with affiliated efforts in the UK and Australia and New Zealand.
