Chicago: The Hindus globally should become more visible as positive change-makers, the World Hindu Congress has said as it proposed the setting up of a permanent secretariat to push for the rights of the community in the countries across the world.

The second World Hindu Congress was held in Chicago to mark the commemoration of the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's historic speech at the Parliament of the World's Religions in 1893 in Chicago. More than 2,500 delegates and 250 speakers from over 60 countries participated in the three-day World Hindu Congress.

To accomplish this task, a group of eminent persons will be recruited and it has been suggested to establish the permanent secretariat either in the United States or United Kingdom, Abhaya Asthana, convener of the World Hindu Congress which concluded said on Sunday.

Hindus worldwide should become more visible as positive change-makers in their respective countries they call home, wherever they may be today, is the main consensus emerging from three-day Congress, Asthana said at the conclusion of the mega Hindu event in Chicago.

The political conference, a subset of the Congress, highlighted the importance of asserting a strong political voice especially in countries like the Caribbean, Fiji and the African countries, and developing young political leaders. A dynamic digital database of all political leaders by country is to be developed, he said.

In addition to political conference, the congress hosted five other parallel sessions, on youth, media, economy, women, education, and Hindu organisations.

To create awareness about atrocities committed against Hindus around the world, Hindu youth should leverage their social media skills, speak out against biased portrayals of Hindus, educate emerging politicians on the effective use of media and identifying the key roadblock to Hindu youth in embracing their Hindu identity proudly were key points, a media release from the Congress said.

The conference has decided to establish at least 20 internships for youth who aspire to enter politics, it said.

Freeing temples from the control of the government and an operational mechanism to reach out to unreached areas as well as how Hindu activism in the US can be replicated elsewhere were the outcomes of the Hindu organisational conference.

The media conference called for activist media entrepreneurs who are not profit driven and making writing contemporary and relevant to the present generation and make it "cool".

Finding new ways to open trade, further regulatory reforms in India, skill development, building ecosystems providing capital to startups and mentoring programmes for young entrepreneurs were the recommendations of the economic conference.

Entrepreneur and Grammy nominated artist Chandrika Tandon shared her insights at the women's conference. A short-term goal was to conduct value-based workshops, seminars and symposiums for young girls. Long term goals included an angel investor group for women entrepreneurs and a global Hindu women business directory.

A strategy for developing scholarship in religious studies and a strong international network of Hindu scholars were the outcomes of the Education conference. Mohandas Pai, Sonal Mansingh, and Nagaswamy shared the dais for the third plenary session on Hindu Society: Glory of the Past, Pain of Present and Dream for Future. Prof. Subhash Kak moderated the session.

"We have a lot to be proud of," said Professor Subhash Kak, sharing the dais with Pai, Mansingh and Nagaswamy during plenary session on Hindu Society: Glory of the Past, Pain of Present and Dream for Future. He noted that many inventions and scientific theories of today have already been written about in ancient literary works such as the significance of the number 108.

The true father of computer science should be Panini for his 4000 rules of Sanskrit language, he said, and the inventor of quantum mechanics is said to have said that the concept came to him from the Upanishads.

Renowned classical dancer Mansingh spoke about "Kala, Sanskriti and Vidya" and how one is always seeking eternal life in this ephemeral life. This can be achieved by Nritya, which not just dance. Every breath you take is a dance, the blood flowing in your veins is a dance, the heart beat is taal. Even the word Bharath has music in it – as Bha means love, Ra means raga and ta means taal.

India's economy is $2.6 trillion said Pai chairperson of Board of Manipal Global, and is third largest economy in the world, following China and the US.

India will become a $10 trillion economy by 2030. Everyone should have the basic necessities of life like food, shelter, electricity, water and healthcare. These problems will be solved by 2030.

We need to invest in education, fund political parties through checks and demand honesty from our politicians, he said.

Nagaswamy, historian and archeologist from Tamil Nadu, spoke about Manu Dharma which is derived from the Vedas. This was the first constitution and law code established 3500 years ago, he said.

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WASHINGTON: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will be a keynote speaker at the World Hindu Congress, a gathering of Hindu leaders from across the globe in Chicago later this week, the organisers said.

More than 2,500 delegates from 80 countries are scheduled to participate in the three-day World Hindu Congress (WHC) in Chicago from September 7 to 9. Bhagwat in his keynote address is likely to focus on the theme of the conference Sumantrite Suvikrante or Think Collectively, Achieve Valiantly.

The RSS chief is expected to underscore the need of the Hindu community spread across the globe to unite and think alike for the good of the mankind, former IITIan Swami Vigyananand, and the brain behind the mega event, said.

"The idea of the WHC is to unite and gain strengthen for the Hindu society and with that look after the interest of the society as well as help other deprived, marginalised communities of the world," Swami Vigyananand told PTI in response to a question. He insisted that this is not a religious conference.

"The conference is neither religious, nor philosophical. The conference is focused on community issues. It is focused on issues that is relevant to the progress of any community in the modern time," Vigyananand said.

Over three days, more than 250 speakers along with over 2,5000 delegates from over 80 countries would hold brain storming sessions over seven parallel conferences: economic, education, media, organisational, political, and women and youth. These parallel conferences would also showcase the values, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of the global Hindu community, he said.

The WHC is a global platform for Hindus to connect, share ideas, inspire one another, and impact the common good, said Abhaya Asthana, convener for the Congress. He is also the president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America

The congress offers Hindus an opportunity to introspect towards improvement and tap into our collective resources to seek tangible solutions to the most pressing issues of the 21st century, he said.

In addition to Bhagwat, other prominent speakers at the conference are likely to be the Dalai Lama, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Ashwin Adhin (Vice President of Suriname), RSS joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, MIT professor S P Kothari, Mohandas Pai, Anupam Kher, Raju Reddy, Swami Paramatmananda Saraswati, Chandrika Tandon, Prof Subhash Kak, and angel investor Raju Reddy.

Among top speakers as the economic conference are Mukesh Aghi, president of US India Strategic partnership Forum, former vice chair of NITI Aayog Arvind Panagariya, Mahindra group president Dilip Sundram, Daniel Bryant from Walmart, Rajesh Sundaram from Federal Express, and Ed Monser from Emerson Electric.

Other prominent speakers at the conference are Anupam Kher, Vivek Agnihotri,Madhur Bhandarkar, Amish Tripathi, and Francois Gautier. On the eve of the Congress, renowned classical musician wife-husband duo of Kavita Krishnamurti and Dr L Subramaniam would perform live for the delegates.

Meanwhile, the newly formed Coalition for the Defence of the Constitution and Democracy has announced that it will hold a press conference in New York on September 6 to lodge its protest against the WHC.

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