The Central Pacific regional chapters of HSS initiated a “Vidyadaan” school supplies donation drive to ease the financial burden of needy students and enable their academic success. Other HSS chapters around the country also chimed in by replicating this Seva (charitable) drive in their regions.

• Children volunteers in Mountain House CA set up a Pani Puri stand with the help of their parents to sell these tasty treats and raise funds for backpack donations. They eventually donated 35 backpacks with supplies to SJQ Child Support. Similarly, the nearby Pleasanton Shakha organized a fundraising drive by selling savory chaat items, lassi, and tea

• HSS San Joaquin chapters in partnership with San Joaquin Kannada Sangha, Poorba – Mountain House Bengali Association, Central Valley Marathi Mandali, and Central Valley Gujarati Association donated around 167 Backpacks filled with school supplies to 4 beneficiary organizations in San Joaquin County. Gauri Shakha also set up a buttermilk stand during cricket matches in parks and playgrounds to raise funds for the Vidyadaan campaign. They donated all of the backpacks to the Jefferson School District

• As part of Vidyadaan, the Tri-Valley area shakhas came up with unique ideas for raising funds to help the local school districts in Dublin, Livermore, and Pleasanton. The Kishor Shakha organized a Bake Sale, the Bala Gana conducted a Jewelry workshop and set up a Lemonade Stall, and the Family Shakha arranged a Chaat Corner/Lunch Corner and a Walkathon, in which each family pledged an amount of choice for the supplies donation

• In Contra Costa, the volunteers of the Rudra Shakha donated 70 school backpacks filled with essential supplies to the Brentwood Union School District. Similarly, the Ayodhya and Chanakya Shakhas donated 50+ backpacks to Los Cerros middle school in SRVUSD along with additional supplies

• The HSS Columbus team in partnership with Sewa International USA organized its annual school supply drive, in which they donated school supplies to Royal Manor Elementary School in Gahanna OH

• The Subramanya Bharathi Shakha in the Seattle WA area concluded their Vidyadaan drive, donating 22 backpacks, along with supplies like crayons, glue sticks, pocket calculators, and scientific calculators to Lake Washington School District

• As part of their Seva initiative, Madhav Shakha raised funds through pledges and donated 180 backpacks to Alcott Elementary School in Houston TX. The school’s principal appreciated the HSS volunteers, stating “The backpacks with all the supplies get our students ready to learn!”

• The Chicago area chapters of HSS organized a notebook donation drive for School District #33. It was their third successive back-to-school drive for the same school district. The HSS volunteers donated around 1,200 notebooks and some cash donations, beating the school district’s request for 1,000 notebooks. Volunteers of Abhimanyu  Shakha, Vivekananda Shakha, and Panchjanya Shakha participated in the drive. The Balas/ Kishores of Buffalo Grove Shakha raised funds through a lemonade stand and also donated from their piggy banks

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) USA pays its deepest reverence to Hind Ki Chaadar, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the ninth Guru of the Sikh faith, on the 350th anniversary of his supreme sacrifice. In November 1675, at Chandni Chowk in Delhi, India, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji gave his life to uphold the universal right to freedom of faith and conscience, standing firmly against tyranny and persecution.

His unparalleled courage remains an eternal symbol of righteousness, devotion, and resistance to oppression. The martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji is a glorious chapter in history and a timeless, universal inspiration for humanity to uphold justice, truth, and Dharma.

On this historic occasion, HSS USA calls upon Hindu organizations and communities to commemorate the anniversary with educational, cultural, and interfaith initiatives that reflect Guru Ji’s immortal teachings of mutual respect and universal brotherhood. The truest tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji lies in spreading his eternal message of Dharma and freedom of conscience, so that the bonds of mutual cooperation and harmony remain ever strong.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) USA welcomes the U.S. Department of Justice’s decision to close its investigation without charges against Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) or the Akshardham Temple in Robbinsville, NJ.

What began in 2021 as baseless allegations of caste discrimination grew into a troubling attempt to target Hindu beliefs and tarnish a peaceful, law-abiding community. This effort sought to shame a micro-minority that has long stood for inclusion, service, and the timeless value of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family.

We commend BAPS for its integrity and unwavering faith throughout this ordeal. We thank Hindu individuals and organizations nationwide who responded with unity, dignity, and resolve. Their example reflects the best of our tradition and our commitment to America’s pluralistic values.

We call on public leaders to reflect on the damage such unfounded narratives can cause. We urge sincere engagement with practicing Hindu voices to ensure that decisions impacting our community are informed, respectful, and just.

Let this be a turning point—for deeper understanding, greater inclusion, and continued contributions of Hindus to the American story.

Dr. Shankar Rao Tatwawadi ji

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) USA joins the global Hindu community in mourning the passing of Dr. Shankar rao Tatwawadi at the age of 92 in Nagpur, India. Shankarrao ji, as he was fondly known, was the former international coordinator of HSS and an academic scholar. As a Sangh pracharak, he chose to dedicate his later years to the ideals of Dharma, Sangh, and society.

After completing his MSc in Chemistry from Nagpur University and his doctoral studies from Benaras Hindu University in India, Shankarrao ji undertook post-doctoral research in the United States at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Kansas in the mid-1960s. He then joined BHU as a professor in the Department of Pharmacy, where he later became the Head of the Department. Having seen the situation of Hindus around the globe, he took early retirement and devoted himself to organizing Hindu society outside India under the banner of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS). With this passion, Shankarrao ji led the expansion of HSS in the US, often weaving through cities in Greyhound buses to meet Hindus and bringing them together. In 1993, he became the Vishwa Vibhag Samyojak International coordinator for HSS, working tirelessly towards the organization and unity of Hindus globally. In 2011, Dr. Tatwawadi joined Vijnana Bharati in India as a Margadarshak or guide, mentoring scientists and engaging with prominent personalities in the scientific field.

We, at Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, were blessed to have received his guidance and vision. His affable personality, warm interactions, and scholarly insights encouraged many of us to commit deeper to our mission of Hindu unity, values, and service. As we mourn his passing, we also celebrate his inspiring journey, cherishing the wisdom and ideals he imparted to us.

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते ।
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA strongly condemns the recent attack on the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha Hindu Temple in Chino Hills, California.

Over the past five years, there have been 15 to 20 incidents of vandalism targeting various Hindu temples across cities and towns in the United States. Alarmingly, six of these—including the most recent case—have specifically targeted BAPS Hindu temples.

Despite these repeated attacks, no perpetrators have been apprehended or brought to justice. This wave of vandalism is compounded by ongoing social media bullying and misinformation campaigns against American Hindu communities and organizations. Such unchecked hostility emboldens those who seek to use violence as a means of making political statements against the Hindu community. It also fuels a divisive agenda that fosters unwarranted fear and misunderstanding about Hindus, a peace-loving community that actively contributes to American society through social service, arts, culture, entrepreneurship, education, and economic growth.

We firmly believe that this rising climate of hostility does not affect Hindus alone—it threatens the fabric of American society as a whole. Hatred, when left unchecked, transcends boundaries and endangers the principles of pluralism and coexistence that define this nation.

We urge elected officials, community leaders, media, educators, and law enforcement authorities to recognize the gravity of this attack. Addressing such crimes requires not only thorough investigation and accountability but also a broader effort to raise awareness and combat hate through education and responsible media coverage.

Now more than ever, it is crucial for all sections of society to stand together in solidarity, uphold the values of peaceful coexistence, and serve as a model of unity for the rest of the world.