Organization for Minorities of India (OFMI)

California Priest ponders connection between murder of Satwinder Singh Bhola in Chicago and Bapu Surat Singh’s peaceful protests in India

Where is the Democracy in India? [Guest Post]

Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa Gets a White House Petition: OFMI

Indian Journalist Warns Underground Church in India “At Par” With China

Protests Anticipated as Indian PM Modi Plans California Visit

U.S. Congresswoman Lofgren Recognizes Sikh Genocide and Political Prisoners issue in Indian subcontiment

Conference Challenges India’s “Dehumanizing” Belief System — Speakers term Brahmanical caste system a “legal apartheid”

Multi-faith Coalition Will Highlight Casteism at California Conference

Irom Sharmila: “Thank you for informing me about Bapu Surat’s hunger-strike”

U.S. Congresswoman Lofgren Recognises Anti-Sikh Progroms and Sikh Political Prisoners in India

India Arrests Hunger-Striking U.S. Resident Days After Congress Objected

U.S. Congress Warns India on Hunger-Striker Surat Singh Khalsa

Plight of Political Prisoners in India Inspires May 22 Rally at California State Capitol

Texan Sikhs Appeal to Congress to Speak for Maverick Activist on Hunger-Strike in India

Family of Hunger-Striker Surat Singh Khalsa to Rally in His Honor at California State Capitol

Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa’s daughter visits California Congressional Offices

USA: Bahujans and Christians Link Arms With Sikhs to Warn Congressman About Persecution in India

Do you have thirty seconds to honor the life of Bapuji Surat Singh Khalsa? OFMI

Plight of India’s Minorities a Focus at Town Hall for California Congressman McClintock

“My Life is in Danger,” Pleads American Citizen in India After Release From Jail Without Charges

US Congressman who raised concerns for Ravinder Singh Gogi to address Town Hall meeting at Roseville Sikh Gurdwara

After two months detention in India, U.S. Citizen released without charges

“Hinduism is nothing but a tool for propagation of caste,” says Mulnivasi Sangh vice-president

South Asian Communities Link Arms for Vancouver “Path to Begampura” Conference

[Video] City of Stockton Proclamation Recognizes “Ongoing Impact” of 1984 Sikh Genocide on Indian Minorities

Proclamation: 1984 Sikh Genocide and Praising the Values of Religious Liberty

City of Stockton Proclamation Recognizes “Ongoing Impact” of 1984 Sikh Genocide on Indian Minorities

U.S. citizen Ravinder Singh jailed in India as Californians call for his freedom

Jaswant Singh Khalra Was Martyred for Exposing State-Sponsored Genocide in India

Indian PM Modi Wears Suit Embroidered With His Own Name to Greet U.S. President Obama

Republic Day, Obama, and the Illusion of Religious Freedom in India — A panel discussion by OFMI

India concludes 66th Republic Day celebrating a constitution Its compiler disowned: OFMI

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Organization for Minorities of India (OFMI)

Seminar on the Surge of Violence Against India’s Minorities in Fremont on April 17

April 12, 2016

On Sunday, April 17th, the Organization for Minorities of India will be hosting a seminar on the current surge of violence against India's minorities.

Hindtuva groups Fail to Omit Caste Oppression: OFMI, USA

March 31, 2016

The California Department of Education’s Instructional Quality Commission’s History-Social Science Subject Matter Committee convened on March 24, 2016 in Sacramento for a public hearing on the state’s K-12 History and Social Science curriculum framework.

Minority Groups Plan Protest at Indian Consulate Over #RohithVemulaSuicide

January 22, 2016

Community leaders from various diaspora groups of Indian minorities will gather at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco for a protest at noon on Friday.

Indian Parliament Will Consider Criminalizing Religious Liberty: OFMI

November 6, 2015

Two members of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced they will introduce bills in their respective houses of parliament to criminalize religious conversion without government approval.

Special Report: Voices for India’s oppressed classes gather to remember Jaswant Singh Khalra

October 4, 2015

Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, and African American leaders commemorated the 20th anniversary of the disappearance of Punjabi human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra in a seminar hosted on Sept. 26, 2015 at San Jose Sikh Gurdwara, one of the largest outside of India.

Modi Followers Assault American Christian Peacefully Protesting in California

September 28, 2015

While peacefully protesting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, September 27 in San Jose, CA based on his orchestration of genocide of minorities, criminalization of religious liberty, and other human rights violations, I was assaulted twice by his followers.

Google CEO’s Plans to Meet Indian Premier Spark Protest

September 20, 2015

As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to tour Silicon Valley tech companies next week, marking his second visit to the United States in less than a year, his visit is meeting staunch opposition focused on his involvement in a 2002 genocide of Muslim minority.

Congressman Garamendi Concerned by India’s Religious Freedom Violations

September 3, 2015

“Modi’s history is well known,” Northern California Congressman John Garamendi told advocates for Indian minorities who met him on Wednesday to voice their concerns about the Indian Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to the state.

California Priest ponders connection between murder of Satwinder Singh Bhola in Chicago and Bapu Surat Singh’s peaceful protests in India

August 18, 2015

Fr. Joshua Lickter, who has repeatedly appealed on behalf of hunger-striker Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa, released a statement on Monday questioning the motive behind Monday’s Chicago-region murder of Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa’s son-in-law, Satwinder Singh Bhola.

Where is the Democracy in India? [Guest Post]

August 15, 2015

Today, in recognition of India’s 68th Independence Day, I want to talk about democracy, about equality, about liberty, about prosperity, and about peace.

Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa Gets a White House Petition: OFMI

August 8, 2015

A White House petition started Saturday asks President Barack Obama to: "Recognize Hunger-Striking U.S. Resident Surat Singh Khalsa & His Peaceful Struggle for Human Rights".

Indian Journalist Warns Underground Church in India “At Par” With China

August 5, 2015

During the interview, Dr. Dayal discusses how his career as a journalist led to him becoming an activist after witnessing human rights violations of tribals, Muslims, Christians, and others.

Protests Anticipated as Indian PM Modi Plans California Visit

July 26, 2015

Mr. Narendra Modi was deemed the Butcher of Gujarat after his state-sponsored genocide… killed thousands of Muslims,” warned activist Jada Bernard at a June conference in Stockton, California, where he compared the Indian Prime Minister to violent white supremacists in the United States.

U.S. Congresswoman Lofgren Recognizes Sikh Genocide and Political Prisoners issue in Indian subcontiment

July 25, 2015

We remember with sorrow the deaths of innocent Muslims killed in 2002 in the Gujarat Genocide and of innocent Christians killed in 2008 in the Odisha Pogrom.

Conference Challenges India’s “Dehumanizing” Belief System — Speakers term Brahmanical caste system a “legal apartheid”

July 16, 2015

When he took the stage at University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA to speak to a diverse audience of Indian diaspora and concerned Americans about caste, B. D. Borkar defined the cultural phenomenon on which the June 2015 conference focused by invoking renowned Dalit civil rights advocate Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

Multi-faith Coalition Will Highlight Casteism at California Conference

June 15, 2015

The conversion of Indian minorities to Hinduism drew worldwide attention late last year when reports surfaced that converts only participated in the mass ceremonies known as “Ghar Wapsi” after they were threatened with loss of government benefits if they refused.

Irom Sharmila: “Thank you for informing me about Bapu Surat’s hunger-strike”

June 13, 2015

Irom Sharmila, the world's longest hunger-striker and a political prisoner in India, expresses gratitude for learning about the hunger-strike for release of Indian political prisoners by Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa. Khalsa began his hunger-strike on January 16, 2015 and continues it as of June 2015.

U.S. Congresswoman Lofgren Recognises Anti-Sikh Progroms and Sikh Political Prisoners in India

June 6, 2015

In remarks delivered in the U.S. House of Representatives on June 3, the 31st anniversary of a disastrous Indian government assault on the Sikh Golden Temple, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) called on her colleagues to “honor those killed during the November 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms and massacre” and “honor the struggle of political prisoners in India today, including Mr. Surat Singh Khalsa.”

India Arrests Hunger-Striking U.S. Resident Days After Congress Objected

June 2, 2015

Children of a California man on hunger-strike in India report their father, who has refused to eat for the past four months in demand for release of political prisoners, was arrested on June 1 and forcibly hospitalized in Ludhiana, Punjab despite a May 29 appeal on his behalf by six CA congressional representatives.

U.S. Congress Warns India on Hunger-Striker Surat Singh Khalsa

May 30, 2015

Six California congressional representatives issued a letter to United States Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday asking him to take up the cause of Surat Singh Khalsa, a U.S permanent resident on a hunger-strike in Punjab, India since January 16.

Plight of Political Prisoners in India Inspires May 22 Rally at California State Capitol

May 22, 2015

South Asian diaspora will unite with community organizers and state legislators in California to rally at 3:30pm on May 22 outside the State Capitol Building in honor of Surat Singh Khalsa, a permanent resident of the United States who lives near Stockton, CA but has been on hunger-strike in Punjab, India since January 16 to demand release of political prisoners.

Texan Sikhs Appeal to Congress to Speak for Maverick Activist on Hunger-Strike in India

May 21, 2015

The cause of a determined Californian on the 123rd day — as of Monday — of a hunger-strike in India for release of political prisoners is galvanizing South Asian diaspora throughout the United States to approach their congressional representatives to ask they speak in honor of Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa.

Family of Hunger-Striker Surat Singh Khalsa to Rally in His Honor at California State Capitol

May 19, 2015

Mandeep Kaur Dhillon, one of Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa’s five daughters, will speak at the rally. Dhillon says, “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. I support my father every step of the way. He is a trooper. I have great, great, great respect for him.”

Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa’s daughter visits California Congressional Offices

May 15, 2015

A delegation joined Devinderdeep Kaur Sran on Wednesday to appeal to four U.S. congressional representatives to speak in honor of her father, Surat Singh Khalsa, a permanent resident of the United States who lives in California but has been on hunger-strike in Punjab, India since January 16 in demand for release of political prisoners.

USA: Bahujans and Christians Link Arms With Sikhs to Warn Congressman About Persecution in India

May 13, 2015

Community leaders from Sikh, Christian, and Bahujan communities in Northern California met privately with Congressman Tom McClintock (R-Roseville) last week to discuss ongoing issues of state-sponsored persecution of their comrades in India.

Do you have thirty seconds to honor the life of Bapuji Surat Singh Khalsa? OFMI

May 12, 2015

A permanent resident of the United States, Surat Singh Khalsa has been on hunger-strike in Punjab, India since January 16, 2015 to demand the release of Indian political prisoners who have completed their sentences but remain imprisoned.

Plight of India’s Minorities a Focus at Town Hall for California Congressman McClintock

May 9, 2015

Congressman Tom McClintock (R-CA) earned appreciation from perhaps a broader audience than he expected when he held a community town hall at the Roseville Sikh Gurdwara on Tuesday, May 5 to discuss federal issues with local constituents.

“My Life is in Danger,” Pleads American Citizen in India After Release From Jail Without Charges

May 6, 2015

A week after his April 27 release from a two-month imprisonment in Ludhiana Jail, U.S. citizen Ravinderjit Singh Gogi is speaking out in a formal statement delivered on Monday to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Badal, pleading that his life is in danger and warning: “I want to let you know that in case something like this happens or I face the above situation again, you all will be fully responsible for such actions.”

US Congressman who raised concerns for Ravinder Singh Gogi to address Town Hall meeting at Roseville Sikh Gurdwara

May 3, 2015

Congressman Tom McClintock will hold a town hall meeting at Gurdwara Sahib Roseville, 1090 Main Street, at 6pm on Tuesday, May 5th. The meeting is open to the public. Congressman McClintock will report on his legislative efforts on behalf of his district in the U.S. House of Representatives. McClintock will also field questions and concerns from those in attendance.

After two months detention in India, U.S. Citizen released without charges

April 28, 2015

Ludhiana, Punjab: After two months in an Indian jail, charged under a preventive law for visiting his father in the hospital, U.S. citizen Ravinderjit Singh Gogi was released from indefinite detention in India on Monday (April 27), just two weeks after formal appeals from seven United States congressional representatives. Ravinderjit Singh Gogi was arrested on February […]

“Hinduism is nothing but a tool for propagation of caste,” says Mulnivasi Sangh vice-president

April 5, 2015

Over 75 people gathered in Lathrop, a small town in Central California, on Sunday to hear Dr. Manisha Bangar discuss what she termed the “contradiction between what is the ideal and what is the existing reality” in India today.

South Asian Communities Link Arms for Vancouver “Path to Begampura” Conference

March 21, 2015

In 15th-century India, spiritual teacher Guru Ravidas spoke about his vision of a place called Begampura, a land without sorrow. Begampura represented the ideal society, where suffering was a thing of the past. In this place, Ravidas said, “There is no second or third status; all are equal there.”

[Video] City of Stockton Proclamation Recognizes “Ongoing Impact” of 1984 Sikh Genocide on Indian Minorities

March 12, 2015

A 30-year-old massacre of Sikhs by the government of India gained fresh attention in California on Tuesday when the City of Stockton, home to the oldest community of Sikhs in the United States, passed a proclamation recognizing the 1984 Sikh Genocide and praising religious liberty.

Proclamation: 1984 Sikh Genocide and Praising the Values of Religious Liberty

March 12, 2015

Whereas, The United States is home to over 500,000 Sikhs and San Joaquin County is the location of the oldest Sikh-American community, Stockton Gurdwara, which was founded in 1912 and, one year later, the Ghadar Party formed, the first organized and sustained campaign of resistance to the British Empire’s occupation of the Indian subcontinent [...]

City of Stockton Proclamation Recognizes “Ongoing Impact” of 1984 Sikh Genocide on Indian Minorities

March 12, 2015

U.S. citizen Ravinder Singh jailed in India as Californians call for his freedom

March 9, 2015

An American citizen has been taken as a political prisoner in Punjab, India. His family in America is now speaking out, asking the American government to intervene: “The freedom and the liberties that we have here aren’t exactly the same in other countries. That’s kind of what we’re worried about. Going to sleep every day. You know, I have to stay up at night time for extra, till a long period of time, trying to talk to the embassy, trying to get them to free my dad.”

Jaswant Singh Khalra Was Martyred for Exposing State-Sponsored Genocide in India

February 7, 2015

The Indian State admits it killed Jaswant Singh Khalra in the exact same manner as the sufferers of the genocide. Khalra was killed in 1995. It only took the State sixteen years before its Supreme Court finally upheld the convictions and sentences of six low-level police officers involved in Khalra’s abduction, torture, and murder.

Indian PM Modi Wears Suit Embroidered With His Own Name to Greet U.S. President Obama

February 6, 2015

In his first public appearance alongside Barack Obama after the U.S. president’s arrival in New Delhi, Indian PM Narendra Modi wore a suit embroidered with his own name, prompting some to identify the fashion choice as evidence of self-promotion.

Republic Day, Obama, and the Illusion of Religious Freedom in India — A panel discussion by OFMI

February 5, 2015

This 36-minute panel discussion features OFMI moderator Steve Macías, who leads panelists Dr. Amrik Singh (OFMI Advisory Board) and Jada Bernard (human rights activist) in a conversation about India's Republic Day.

India concludes 66th Republic Day celebrating a constitution Its compiler disowned: OFMI

January 29, 2015

When U.S. President Barack Obama joined Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday to celebrate India’s 66th Republic Day, commemorating the January 26, 1950 adoption of the country’s constitution, neither politician mentioned that, just three years after he chaired the drafting committee that wrote the document, Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar publicly rejected it.