Newsletter: IAMC’s new podcast, Bay Area event series, and more
As salamu alaykum,
We may be approaching the end of the year, but IAMC’s work never slowed down. From launching a brand new podcast, to hosting six fundraisers, and co-hosting / participating in nine educational events across the country, November was a month of bold engagement with diverse communities and new audiences.
BULLET POINT SUMMARY:
- IAMC launched the pilot episode of our new podcast, Beyond the Taj: The Story of India’s Minorities
- Partnered with the Religious Nationalisms Project to hold a series of events across the Bay Area to educate diverse communities – and in particular, Christian congregations – about Hindutva
- Joined our coalition partners at Savera in hosting two webinars on the growing issue of anti-Indian racism and Hindu supremacy in the diaspora
- Associate Media Director Safa Ahmed was featured on two panels – one hosted at the American Association of Religion (AAR) annual conference, and another hosted by Rutgers Center for Security, Race, and Rights (CSRR)
- Held multiple events and fundraisers via our chapters nationwide
- And more!
Keep scrolling to learn more about each of these achievements in detail.
BEYOND THE TAJ: IAMC’S NEW PODCAST
We’re thrilled to announce that IAMC’s new bi-monthly podcast, Beyond the Taj: The Story of India’s Minorities, is out now!
Indian Muslims are more than just stories of victimhood – we come from centuries of rich history, cultural innovation, and deep involvement in shaping the nation. Beyond the Taj is a storytelling platform that explores Indian Muslim identity in all its complexities, both in India and across the global diaspora.
Our pilot episode, titled “Who Gets to Be Indian?”, features a discussion with author and historian Dr. Ram Puniyani on the evolution of Indian secularism – from its roots in the freedom struggle to its codification after Independence – and how this pluralistic imagining of national identity is currently under attack by the Hindu far right.
You can watch or stream this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.
BAY AREA EVENT TOUR WITH THE RELIGIOUS NATIONALISMS PROJECT
IAMC partnered with Reverend Neal Christie and Reverend Peter Cook of the Religious Nationalisms Project to hold a series of events across the Bay Area to educate diverse communities – and in particular, Christian congregations – about Hindutva. These events, which included a meal and impactful presentations, were held in Santa Rosa, Roseville, San Jose, Alameda, and Berkeley.
PANELS WITH THE AAR CONFERENCE & RUTGERS
Associate Media Director Safa Ahmed represented IAMC on four panels last month:
- An academic panel titled “The Rise of South Asian Conservatisms in the US” at the American Association of Religion annual conference
- Rutgers Law School’s Center for Security, Race, and Rights (CSRR) panel on Hindutva in America, which saw over 70 attendees
- The Savera coalition’s two-part webinar series on the rise of anti-Indian racism, and the need to address the fractures created by Hindutva in the diaspora
STATEMENTS ON…
Last month, IAMC released statements on several heavy and important topics, including:
- The horrific Delhi car blast, which included our call for an impartial and thorough investigation
- A tragic accident near Medina, Saudi Arabia, that claimed the lives of forty-five Indian pilgrims traveling from Mecca
- The anniversary of the illegal demolition of the Babri Masjid, and the subsequent erosion of India’s constitutional and secular foundations
- A new report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) that names the relationship between the Hindu supremacist paramilitary group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the driving force behind the weaponization of India’s legal framework against minorities
You can read all our statements for the month here.
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES
We’d like to give a heartfelt thank you to all our incredible Chapter Leads for your outstanding work this fall. Your commitment in mobilizing supporters, donors, and the broader community to host our annual fundraising banquets has been nothing short of inspiring.
We are proud to share the chapters that held successful annual fundraising events this season:
- Dallas – October 19th
- Boston – November 1st
- Chicago – November 1st
- Houston – November 15th
- North Jersey – November 16th
- Atlanta – November 22nd
- Maryland – November 23rd
- Bay Area – December 6th
- Charlotte – December 7th
Thank you once again for your exceptional service and unwavering dedication. Each of you has helped strengthen our mission and extend our reach in truly meaningful ways.
SUPPORT IAMC’S WORK
Your support is what makes IAMC’s work possible. From advocating for Indian Muslims in the U.S. and abroad, to holding the Hindu far right accountable, to amplifying our stories and voices through media and education — every action we take is powered by your generosity.
If you’d like to help us continue this fight for justice, pluralism, and a stronger community, please click here to donate.
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