Hindu Forum of Britain

The Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB) is an organization that represents over 275 Hindu groups throughout Great Britain with joint annual income of at least £34 million. [http://www.hinduforum.org/Default.aspx?sID=45&cID=25&ctID=43&lID=0] It provides member organizations an opportunity to mobilize their efforts in informing public policy and assists in the development of community projects.cite web |url= http://www.hfb.org.uk/Default.aspx?sID=18&lID=0 |title= About Us |accessdate=2007-07-30 |work= Hindu Forum]

HFB’s website reports its activities as broadly divided into three areas: public policy and community consultation for the government; capacity building and project development for the Hindu community; and developing good interfaith relations with other faith communities to build a cohesive and inclusive Britain. The HFB says that at the core of the Forum’s activity is a strong belief in the richness and diversity of the Hindu culture, its value system that encompasses for respect for all beings and faiths and a cultural heritage that facilitates community cohesion and coexistence. Prime Minister of Britain Gordon Brown has praised the work of the HFB in facilitating the integration of the British Hindu community. [ [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200711151435.htm Gordon Brown praises India's culture] The Hindu - November 15, 2007]

Some groups have claimed the existence of links between the HFB and the Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and claim furthermore that the HFB is promoting Hindu extremism in Britain. [ [http://moreresults.factiva.com/results/index/index.aspx?ref=HNTM000020060601e2610013v British academics flay Husain exhibition closure] Hindustan Times- June 1, 2006] The HFB both disputes and condemns these allegations. [ [http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=db942155-5814-4b10-bce7-659b75d7e21a&MatchID1=4488&TeamID1=8&TeamID2=10&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1120&PrimaryID=4488&Headline=Hindu+Forum+of+Britain+condemns+report Hindu Forum of Britain condemns report] Hindustan Times - June 14, 2007]

Campaigns

Some of the high-profile campaigns that HFB have launched include safeguarding the use of Hindu images and icons in commerce and arts, the Defend Russian Hindus campaign, persecution of Hindu rights in Bangladesh, changes to immigration laws for Hindu priests entering Britain, Save the Hindu Swastika campaign, Shambo, Justice for Gangotri and many others. They have also protested alliances between the far-right British National Party and anti-Muslim Sikh and Hindu groups. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2001/dec/23/race.politics Hindu and Sikh extremists in link with BNP] , The Guardian]

Cultural activity

In early 2006, it had demanded closure of London's Asia House Gallery claiming that it contained "obscene images of Hindu goddesses". [cite web |url= http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/jul2006/husa-j03.shtml |title= London art gallery closes M.F. Husain exhibition after paintings vandalised |accessdate=2007-07-30 |last= Prakash |first= Ajay |date= 2006-07-03 |work= World Socialist Web Site |publisher= International Committee of the Fourth International] The organization also tried to mobile support to protest against the blockbuster French comedy "Les Bronzés 3: Amis Pour La Vie" for alleged denigration of idols. [cite web |url= http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1715327,00.html |title= UK Hindus call for French comedy protest |accessdate=2007-07-30 |date= 2006-02-22 |work= Guardian Unlimited] A [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1785764,00.html statement] by British-based Indian academics, after a vandal incident in the gallery, denounced the Hindu Forum of Britain. It declared that these organisations were using the same tactics as Hindu fundamentalist organisations in India and were undermining India’s constitutional right to freedom of thought and expression.

Anti-terrorism

The Hindu Forum of Britain has condemned many acts of terrorism including the 7 July 2005 London bombings [ [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200507081817.htm Hindu Forum of Britain terms terror attack as barbaric] The Hindu - July 8, 2005] and attacks on temples belonging to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. [ [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200608170921.htm British Hindu Forum condemns bomb attack on ISKCON temple] The Hindu - August 17, 2006]

Cow protection

The organization clashed with the Welsh government in a campaign to prevent slaughter of a bullock tested positive for bovine tuberculosis. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/animalrights/story/0,,2076256,00.html Temple campaigns to save TB-infected bull | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited ] ]

Connections to fundamentalism

The organisation has been accused of sustaining links to Hindu nationalist formations in India like the Sangh Parivar [http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=18f83799-43c0-45fc-a1ea-119e9958823b&ParentID=db942155-5814-4b10-bce7-659b75d7e21a&MatchID1=4488&TeamID1=8&TeamID2=10&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1120&PrimaryID=4488&Headline=British+Indian+official+linked+to+VHP] .

The "Evening Standard" accused the secretary general, Ramesh Kallidai, of maintaining a close association with Hindu extremists in India [http://www.hfb.org.uk/Default.aspx?sID=45&cID=182&ctID=43&lID=0] and of defending them in the British Parliament [http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=18f83799-43c0-45fc-a1ea-119e9958823b&ParentID=db942155-5814-4b10-bce7-659b75d7e21a&MatchID1=4488&TeamID1=8&TeamID2=10&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1120&PrimaryID=4488&Headline=British+Indian+official+linked+to+VHP] . In a press release, the HFB said that the report was "full of fundamental factual inaccuracies and unsubstantiated accusations" and "implies HFB's and Kallidai's guilt by association" [ [http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=db942155-5814-4b10-bce7-659b75d7e21a&MatchID1=4488&TeamID1=8&TeamID2=10&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1120&PrimaryID=4488&Headline=Hindu+Forum+of+Britain+condemns+report Hindu Forum of Britain condemns report] Hindustan Times - June 14, 2007] .

References

External links

* [http://www.hfb.org.uk HFB.org.uk]