Vishva Hindu Parishad

The Vishva Hindu Parishad (pronunciation: /vv() Apte declared:

hnd u prd /, English: World Hindu Council), abbreThe world has been divided to Christian,
viated VHP, is an Indian right-wing Hindu nationalist
Islam and communist. All of them view Hindu
non-governmental organization based on the ideology of
society as very ne rich food on which to feast
Hindutva. It was founded in 1964 by M. S. Golwalkar and
and fatten themselves. It is necessary in this
S. S. Apte in collaboration with Swami Chinmayananda.
age of conict to think of and organise the
Its main objective is to organise, consolidate the Hindu
[1]
Hindu world to save it from the evils of all the
society and to serve, protect the Hindu Dharma.
three.[12]
The VHP belongs to the Sangh Parivar,[4][5] an umbrella
of Hindu nationalist organisations led by the Rashtriya Its main objective is to organise, consolidate the Hindu
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). It has been involved in social society and to serve, protect the Hindu Dharma.[1] It has
service projects in India[6][7] such as construction and been involved in social service projects and in encourrenovation of Hindu temples, issues of cow slaughter, aging the construction and renovation of Hindu temples.
religious conversion, the Ayodhya dispute and its role in It is against the caste system, opposes cow slaughter and
the Babri Masjid demolition.
conversions to other religions. Defending Hindus around

the world and Hindu rights has been one of its stated
objectives.[13] The other main objective which it has been
involved with is the Ayodhya dispute.[1]

History

The organisation acts under the guidance from Dharma

Sansad a religious parliament of Gurus.[10] The VHP is
associated with the Sangh Parivar, an umbrella of Hindu
nationalist. Its slogan is Dharmo rakati rakita, which
means "Dharma protects its protector and its symbol is
the banyan tree. The current international president of
VHP is Raghava Reddy,[3] while its executive president
is Praveen Togadia.[3]

The VHP was founded in 1964 by RSS leaders M. S. Golwalkar and S. S. Apte in collaboration with the Hindu
spiritual leader Chinmayananda.[8][9] The delegation of
the founders included Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan founder K.
M. Munshi, Gujarati scholar Keshavram Kashiram Shastri, Sikh leader Master Tara Singh, Namdhari Sikh leader
Satguru Jagjit Singh and eminent politicians such as C.
P. Ramaswamy Iyer.[10][11] Chinmayananda was nominated as its founding President, while Apte was nominated as its founding General Secretary. It was decided
at the meeting that the name of the proposed organization
would be Vishva Hindu Parishad and that a world convention of Hindus was to be held at Prayag (Allahabad)
during Kumbha Mela of 1966 for its launch. It was further decided that it would be a non-political organization
and that no oce bearer of any political party shall be
simultaneously an oce bearer in the Parishad.[11]

2 Social activities
Vishva Hindu Parishad is active in social welfare
work[14][15]
Medical - People are trained in villages to provide primary health care and referral services.
The organisation also conducts Medical check-up
camps.[15]

The VHP, which considers Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs as

well as native tribal religions as part of the greater Hindu
fraternity, ocially mentions that it was founded by the
Saint Shakti of Bharat. The VHP was rst mooted at
a conference in Pawai, Sandipani Sadhanalaya, Bombay
on 29 August 1964. The conference was hosted by RSS
chief M. S. Golwalkar. The date was chosen to coincide
with the festival of Janmashtami. Several representatives from the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain faiths were
present in the meeting, as well as the Dalai Lama. Golwalkar explained that all faiths of Indian origins need to
unite, saying that the word Hindu (people of Hindustan) applied to adherents of all the above religions.[12]

Vocational training - Organisation is running selfemployment training camps in Bihar, Punjab,

Rajasthan, Maha Kaushal, Assam, Brij Pradesh,
Orissa and Maharashtra. The training areas involve farming techniques, bee-keeping, agriculture, horticultural techniques, animal husbandry and
sewing.[16] There are 959 training centres currently
operating.[15]
Education - It tried to provide educational facilities in remote area. It supports 3266 educational
facilities.[15]
1

4 RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY
Social welfare - Organisation runs 45 Orphanages,
Marriage Bureau, Help Centres, Rescue Centres,
Working Women Hostels. VHP is also active in environmental causes such as Tree Plantations. Social Services are provided in religious pilgrimages,
emergency help during natural calamities and rural
development.[15][17]

Vahini, founded in 1991 under the tutelage of Sadhvi

Rithambara as its founding chairperson and the support
of the VHP, is described as the female arm of the Dal.
Members of the Vahini contend that the portrayal of their
group as a branch of the Bajrang Dal is an oversimplication, and that their goals are to dedicate ourselves to spiritual, physical, mental and knowledge development.[22]
The VHP also have divisions made up of women. VHP
Relief services - Vishwa Hindu Parishad has pro- secretary Giri Raj Kishore charted out highly visible roles
vided emergency Relief services. In 2014 Jammu for women in the group. He charted out two satyagraand Kashmir oods, Vishwa Hindu Parishad or- has for women during their demonstrations.[23]
ganised medical and relief camps. These services provided relief via medical camps to 1400 The VHP has been a prime backer of the World Hindu
Conference in which issues such as casteism, sectarianpatients.[18][19]
ism, and the future of Hindus were discussed. Prior Conferences have included Hindu Groups such as Parisada
Hindu Dharma.[24]
2.1 Ayodhya dispute
Main articles: Ayodhya debate, Ram Janmabhoomi and
Babri Mosque
The VHP had been involved in the dispute over the Ram
Janmabhoomi, or Babri Mosque, for twenty years before
its demolition. This activity involved demonstrations, petitions and litigation. According to the VHP and its aliated organisations, the Babri Mosque was built by demolishing the temple at the birthplace of Rama (Ram Janmabhoomi) by the Mughal Emperor Babur in the 16th
century. It further stated in Allahabad court documentation that the building was in a dilapidated condition. It
was in ruins and could not be used for worship or any
activities .[20][21]

Child organisations

4 Religious activity
VHP organises programmes to reconvert Hindus who
had previously converted to Christianity or Islam through
their trained missionaries called Dharma Prasaar Vibhag
(Dharma Propagation Unit), some of them were sent to
remote villages and tribal areas which have substantial
Christians and Muslims population. On 4 March 2004,
more than 200 Christians were reconverted in a ceremony
organised by the VHP in the state of Orissa, part of its
plan to reconvert 400,000 tribal Christians. According to
them, the tribal folk were lured for monetary benets and
Christian missionaries were there to convert them under
the pretext of community service. They claim that Vanvasis (Tribals) are part of Hindu culture.[25] The Christian
community denied this and six women were beaten for refusing to reconvert to Hinduism. Religious conversions is
a debated topic in Orissa.[26]
In Punjab, the VHP has played an active role to prevent
conversions of Sikhs. Majority of them are low caste
Sikhs converting to Christianity. This may be a result
of oppression by high caste Sikhs but there are considerable free will conversions among the higher class Sikhs
too; however, the VHP have forcibly stopped Christian
missionaries from converting Sikhs.[27]
The VHP collaborated with Christian Association for Social Action and played an active part in providing relief to
both Hindu and Christian families aected by the Love
Jihad activity in Kerala during 2003 2013 period.[28]

The then vice-president[29] of VHP Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati was killed in 2008 in his Ashram.
The VHP accused Christians for the murder of Swami
Local oce of Vishva Hindu Parishad, at Haridwar
Lakshmanananda,[30] Maoist militants had claimed reThe Bajrang Dal is the youth wing of the VHP, and sponsibility for the killing. All the seven accused in
were found guilty and awarded life
it is organised in many states in major training camps the murder case
[31][32][33]
imprisonment.
called shakhas, where thousands of young men simultaneously train in various activities, receive sports, edu- VHP engaged in reconversion program, involving both
cation in Hindutva and cultural education. The Durga voluntary and forced reconversion.[2][26] In the result-

3
ing disorder, Christian settlements were set on re,[34]
and 250 Christians were forced to ee their villages.[35]
A Catholic nun was raped during the violence and Roman Catholic Church priest said that at least 7 Christians
were killed.[30][36][37][38] A judicial commission probing
the violence said that conversion and re-conversion were
among the major factors that led to the disorder, without
blaming any religious groups or the CPI (Maoist).[39]

conducts activities such conducting weekend schools, language classes, cultural workshops, festivals. The festivals
are also organised for open to all communities promoting
Unity in Diversity.[46] The press release from city council of Holroyd state that Vishva Hindu Parishad is active
in supporting multiculturalism in the same region.[47] In
March 2014, the VHP had its rst National Hindu Council in Fiji and New Zealand. The VHP has established
a Vedic school in Sydney, has temples and organised 3
VHP continues to aggressively defend anti-Christian
[48]
[40]
violence.
VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain National Hindu conferences in 2014.
alleged that the church was built for the purpose of aggressive conversion and likened its destruction to the violence of the 1857 war which he claimed was fought for 6 See also
the cause of religion.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

International presence

Vishwa Hindu Parishad is active in many countries outside of India.

Hindutva
Bajrang Dal

7 References
5.1

United States

Known as VHPA, the VHP in the United States advocates

for human rights for Hindus around the world. They also
oer Hindu Pandits to serve the Hindu community, and
usually hold rituals around the nation where members are
invited. The VHPA has also organised many charitable
causes, such as raising money for the victims of Typhoon
Haiyan in 2013, and the Fiji ood victims of 2012.[41]

5.2

United Kingdom

The VHPUK, is the British branch of the Vishwa Hindu

Parishad, which has held demonstrations in London for
the rights of Hindus in Bangladesh and Pakistan. It offers many Hindu services such as priests and matrimonial
services. VHPUK has been vocal advocates of the prolife movement, and stands against abortion.[42]

5.3

Germany

Vishwa Hindu Parishad has a temple in Frankfurt, oers

Bhagavad Gita classes and recites the Ramayana.[43][44]

5.4

Canada

The VHP is active in Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton,

Winnipeg, Ottawa and other major Canadian cities.[45]

5.5

Australia, New Zealand & Fiji

[1] VHP main objective. Vhp.org. 1964-08-29. Retrieved

2014-08-24.
[2] Gethin Chamberlain (19 Oct 2008). Convert or we will
kill you, Hindu lynch mobs tell Christians. Guardian.
Retrieved 2014-08-24.
[3] Raghava Reddy takes over as VHP international chief.
Andhra Wishesh. 20 Dec 2011. Retrieved 24 Aug 2014.
[4] Jelen, Ted Gerard; Wilcox, Clyde (2002). Religion and
Politics in Comparative Perspective: The One, The Few,
and The Many. Cambridge University Press. p. 253.
ISBN 0-521-65031-3.
[5] DP Bhattacharya, ET Bureau Aug 4, 2014, 06.38AM IST
(2014-08-04). Communal skirmishes rising after Narendra Modis departure from Gujarat - Economic Times.
Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 201408-14.
[6] Thomas Blom Hansen (1999). The Saron Wave:
Democracy and Hindu Nationalism in Modern India.
Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0195645743.
[7] VHPs social service activities. The Hindu. 2011-1218. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
[8] Katju 2013, p. 5.
[9] Kurien, Prema (2001). Religion, ethnicity and politics: Hindu and Muslim Indian immigrants in the
United States. Ethnic and Racial Studies 24 (2): 268.
doi:10.1080/01419870020023445.
[10] Katju 2013.
[11] Inception of VHP. vhp.org. Retrieved 24 Aug 2014.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad is gaining popularity in these

countries. The Australia wing of Vishva Hindu Parishad [12] Smith 2003, p. 189.

[13] Welcome to Organiser. Organiser.org. Retrieved 201408-14.

[14] The Saron Wave: Democracy and Hindu Nationalism
in Modern India - Thomas Blom Hansen - Google Books.
Books.google.com.au. 1999-03-23. Retrieved 2014-0814.
[15] " |
Evivek.com. Magazine.evivek.com. Archived from the
original on 2014-08-14.
[16] The author has posted comments on this article (200312-19). VHP to highlight its social work - The Times
of India. Timesondia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 201408-14.
[17] Everyday Nationalism: Women of the Hindu Right
in India - Kalyani Devaki Menon - Google Books.
Books.google.com.au. Retrieved 2014-08-14.

8 BIBLIOGRAPHY

[33] Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati murder case: 7 accused found guilty. Zee News. September 30, 2013.
Retrieved 27 October 2014.
[34] BJP MLA convicted in Kandhamal riots case. Chennai,
India: The Hindu. 9 September 2010.
[35] BJP lawmaker gets jail for murder in Kandhamal riots |
Accident / Crime / Disaster. Indiatalkies.com. Retrieved
2011-09-19.
[36] Nun was raped and priest brutally assaulted in Kandhamal. Chennai, India: The Hindu. 30 September 2008.
Retrieved 2008-10-04.
[37] Four arrested over India nun rape. BBC News. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
[38] Medical reports conrm Kandhmal nun raped. NDTV.
Retrieved 2008-10-04.

[18] Jammu and Kashmir oods: Vishwa Hindu Parishad organises medical camps, 1,400 patients treated. dna.

[39] Conversion, reconversion led to Kandhamal riots: Commission. Bhubaneshwar: The Times of India. 3 July
2009.

[19] VHP organises medical camps in Jammu, 1,400 patients

treated. The Economic Times.

[40] VHP defends attack on Haryana church, calls 1857 'communal war'". Times of India. Retrieved 2015-03-17.

[20] Ayodhya les, Vol. 7 (PDF). Allahabad High Court.

Retrieved 2014-08-24.

[41] Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America | World Hindu Council of America. Vhp-america.org. Retrieved 2014-0814.

[21] Vinod Mishra (Dec 1992). On Communalism. Marxists.org. Retrieved 2014-08-24.

[22] Women 'Ram Bhakt' hog limelight,The Tribune
[23] Kohli, Atul (2000). The Success of Indias Democracy.
Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-80144-3.
[24] Historic world Hindu conference at Prayag. News Today. March 2007. Archived from the original on 200903-18.
[25] The Tribal Culture of India - Lalita Prasad Vidyarthi, Binay Kumar Rai - Google Books. Books.google.com.au.
Retrieved 2014-08-14.

[42] VHP UK. Vhp.org.uk. 2012-04-30. Retrieved 201408-14.

[43] VHP ev Germany. VHP ev Germany. Retrieved 201408-14.
[44] Multinational clinical trials in Europe (PDF).
[45] Ilford Branch | VHP UK. Vhp.org.uk. 2012-04-30. Retrieved 2014-08-14.
[46] Community Directory. Multicultural.vic.gov.au. 201403-23. Retrieved 2014-08-24.

[26] Christians convert back to Hinduism,BBC

[47] Hindu heritage inspires multiculturalism in Holroyd |

Holroyd City Council. Holroyd.nsw.gov.au. 2014-0213. Retrieved 2014-08-24.

[27] Rana, Yudhvir (31 March 2005). VHP against conversions in Punjab. The Times Of India.

[48] Vishva Hindu Parishad of Australia | Bringing Hindus

Together. Vhp.org.au. Retrieved 2014-08-14.

[28] "'Love Jihad' racket: VHP, Christian groups nd common

cause. The Times Of India. 13 October 2008.
[29] Centre ready for CBI probe. Tribune News Service.
August 31, 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
[30] Blakely, Rhys (November 20, 2008). Hindu extremists
reward to kill Christians as Britain refuses to bar members. The Times (London). Retrieved May 22, 2010.
[31] Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati murder case: Seven
accused found guilty. http://pragativadi.com''. Retrieved
19 August 2014.
[32] Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati murder case: All convicts get rigorous life imprisonment. http://ibnlive.in.
com''. Retrieved 19 August 2014.

8 Bibliography
Clarke, Peter (2004). Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements. Routledge. ISBN 0-203-484339.
Jarelot, Christophe (2011). Religion, Caste, and
Politics in India. C Hurst & Co. ISBN 9781849041386.
Juergensmeyer, Mark (1993). The New Cold War?
Religious Nationalism Confronts the Secular State.
University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-086511.

5
Katju, Manjari (2013). Vishva Hindu Parishad and
Indian Politics. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 81-2502476-X.
Kumar, Praveen (2011). Communal Crimes and National Integration: A Socio-Legal Study. Readworthy
Publications. ISBN 93-5018-040-5.
Smith, David James (2003). Hinduism and Modernity. Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 0-631-20862-3.

External links
Ocial website

10

10
10.1

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Vishva Hindu Parishad Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishva%20Hindu%20Parishad?oldid=653618944 Contributors: The Cunctator, Timo Honkasalo, SJK, Graft, Edward, Lir, Boud, JASpencer, Technopilgrim, Wik, DJ Clayworth, Jecar, Onebyone, Chuunen
Baka, Fredrik, Ashley Y, Academic Challenger, Moink, GreatWhiteNortherner, Nat Krause, Rudolf 1922, Nichalp, Utcursch, Vina,
Bumm13, Anirvan, Murtasa, Dbachmann, El C, Giraedata, Kjkolb, Darwinek, Photonique, Improv, Sfacets, Varungarde, Firsfron,
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10.3

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