The first-ever Hindu American Summit was held on June 14, 2023 at Capitol Hill, bringing together leaders of the Hindu community from across the country. It was organised by Americans4Hindus and supported by 20 other organisations.

In his opening remarks that was in Marathi Indian American Congressman Shri Thanedar underscored his commitment to standing with and being a voice for the Indian American communities. Rep. Thanedar announced his plans to form a Congressional Hindu Caucus, which received a standing ovation from the audience. “This will be a caucus to promote peace and pluralism and oppose bigotry and hate,” the Congressman said.

Republican Congressman Rich McCormick, who also attended the summit hailed the community for its contributions and announced a bipartisan Congressional delegation will visit India in August. “The Hindu American community is only now realizing it’s power and influence. This community can determine the outcome of the next presidential election. Don’t let them demonize you because of your success,” McCormick said in his speech.

In an effort to combat Hinduphobia and raise awareness about the community, Hindu American Foundation’s (HAF) associate policy director Anita Joshi and board member Rajiv Pandit displayed the types of resources HAF has used to educate lawmakers and Hindu American communities.

Dr Romesh Japra, the chief organizer of the Hindu-American Summit, expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm for the gathering, emphasizing the need for political engagement and recognition of the Hindu community. The Hindu-American Summit at Capitol Hill highlighted the significant contributions of the community in America, while also shedding light on the need for updated policies that protects its interests, address discrimination, and ensure a brighter future for all.