Purpose – a word that carries within it the essence of our existence, our motivations, and our deepest desires. It is the compass that guides us through life’s journey, giving direction to our actions and meaning to our experiences. Dr Mihir Meghani, a second generation Indian-American has taken up the cause to promote Hindu advocacy and awareness causes in the United States though the Hindu American Foundation.

Born in Philadelphia, Emergency care physician Dr Meghani along with three of his friends — Aseem Shukla, an associate professor in urologic surgery; Suhag Shukla, an attorney & full time Executive Director of HAF; and Nikhil Joshi, a labor law attorney — co-founded the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) in September 2003, the first of its kind Hindu advocacy group in the US.

Back then, Mihir wanted an institution which addressed the concerns of Hindu Americans in the public square — the groups he had grown up with were focused on India. Aseem wanted the media to cover Hinduism and Hindus accurately — the last straw for him was when a local Florida paper described some Hindus as cannibals. Nikhil wanted to make sure Hindu American kids were accepted for who they were — he had been incessantly proselytized to by his 11th grade teacher. Suhag wanted to ensure Hinduism was taught accurately in public schools — she had faced ridiculously inaccurate depictions in high school, including being asked by her 9th grade teacher if her parents were saving for her dowry.

Weaving together their aspirations, they established the Hindu American Foundation. They then set out to share their collective vision with the community with the hope that it would resonate.

Fast forward to 2023, HAF advances the understanding of Hinduism to secure the rights and dignity of Hindu Americans now and for generations to come. They do this by providing:

4Accurate and engaging educational resources about Hinduism and Hindu Americans.
4Impactful trainings, advocacy and services that protect and promote religious liberty, free expression, equality and justice.
4Critical and creative programs empowering Hindu Americans to sustain their culture and identity.

Dr Meghani feels Hinduism is not as easily understood by most Americans because most Americans are Christian. “They come from an Abrahamic background. When they look at different religions, they can’t understand that Hinduism is not just a religion, it’s a way of life. It’s a way of thinking about life,” he said.

“What we need are Hindus to be strong in the Bharatiya or Indian identity, which is the political identity for our civilization, but also they should be very proud and open about their Hindu identity. And when they have that, their coworkers, their friends, and neighbors will understand us better,” he said.

One of the early successes of HAF in Washington DC, he said, was to get Diwali recognized in the US.

“Now you can see that Diwali is celebrated at the White House, with the Vice President, in the US Congress and all across different state and local governments across the country. But it took time to get there,” he said about the three-year effort by them.

Speaking about the efforts he has been putting in at his personal level, Mihir said, “My wife Tanvi and I have contributed USD 1.5 million to the Hindu American Foundation thus far. We’ve also contributed USD 1 million more over the past 15 years to other Hindu and Indian organizations and causes. Over the next eight years, we’re making a pledge of USD 1.5 million to pro-India and Hindu organizations.”

He added, “I am a duty-driven donor. I don’t have a startup company. I don’t have any side businesses. I’m an emergency doctor on a salary. My wife is a fitness instructor and a jewellery designer. We’re not making millions of dollars a year. We don’t have stock options. We’re doing this because it’s our dharma; it’s our duty.”

Dr Mihir through HAF seeks to serve Hindu Americans across all sampradaya (Hindu religious traditions) regardless of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship, gender, sexual orientation, age and/or disability.

The Hindu American Foundation, which in its initial years was all based on volunteerism, now has an annual budget of $2.5 million and has several full-time staffers. Its goal is to increase its budget to $5 million next year and $20 million by the end of the decade, he said.