Newsletter (May 2025): IAMC Youth Council launch, nationwide events, and more
As salamu alaykum,
May was a month of momentum. From powerful public talks to grassroots training, nationwide events to new initiatives, IAMC was everywhere—educating, organizing, and amplifying Indian Muslim voices.
BULLET POINT SUMMARY:
- Held a week-long series of educational events in the Bay Area
- IAMC’s Associate Media Director Safa Ahmed delivered a talk on Hindutva in Tech
- Launched regional applications for IAMC Youth Council (IAMYC)
- Held additional nationwide events featuring illustrious guests like Yogendra Yadav, Ali Javed, Anand Vardhan, and Sheetal Singh
- Trained new volunteers at the 2025 ICNA Convention in Baltimore
- Kicked off the beginning of the Omar Khalidi Scholars Program, onboarding 16 interns
- Released four new articles for the Indian Muslim Story
- And more!
Keep scrolling to learn more about each of these achievements in detail.
WATCH: HINDUTVA IN TECH EVENT
As part of our Bay Area event tour (see more below), our Associate Media Director Safa Ahmed spoke at Muslim Community Center (MCC) East Bay, one of the area’s largest masajid, on the topic of Hindutva in Tech. The talk has hit 11k views and counting on YouTube.
You can watch the full video here.
BAY AREA EVENT TOUR
IAMC toured all over the Bay Area last month, hosting educational events on Hindutva at top universities and masajid alike. We co-hosted events at Stanford, San Francisco State University, UC Santa Cruz, West Valley Muslim Association (watch the full talk here), and Muslim Community Center (MCC) East Bay.
Associate Media Director Safa Ahmed spoke on a number of different topics, including Hindutva and the Global Far Right, Hindutva in Tech, and the Cost of Being Muslim in India.
We’re proud to say this series was a smashing success, reaching students, young professionals, and community members alike.
If you’re interested in organizing a similar educational event series in your area, reach out to media.info@iamc.com.
IAMC’S NEW YOUTH COUNCIL
Big news – IAMC has officially opened applications for the Indian American Youth Council (IAMYC)! This is a new platform for young leaders who are passionate about minority rights, the reclaiming of Indian Muslim pride, and the fight against Hindu supremacist ideology in India and globally.
We’re starting off with open applications for Chair and Vice Chair positions in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Texas, and New Jersey.
IAMYC is open to college students and young professionals – apply now here, and email youthcouncil@iamc.com with any questions.
NATIONWIDE EVENTS
It’s not just the Bay – we’ve been hosting events nationwide, featuring incredible speakers who have devoted their lives to speaking out against human rights abuses in India. This month, our wonderful chapters organized events that featured human rights advocate Anand Vardhan Singh, founder of The Public India; Sheetal Singh, co-founder of Satya Hindi;
Scroll down to our Chapter Updates section for more details on these events!
IAMC AT ICNA
We made a powerful impact at the 50th ICNA Convention in Baltimore over Memorial Day weekend. With a prime spot at the main entrance, our booth drew hundreds of attendees eager to learn about IAMC’s work and the rising threat of Hindutva in both India and the U.S.
From youth volunteers to seasoned organizers, our team ran a high-energy, well-coordinated operation—sparking meaningful conversations, recruiting new supporters, and showcasing the strength of our grassroots movement.
THE OMAR KHALIDI SCHOLARS PROGRAM
We’re proud to announce that we’ve officially onboarded 15 talented young leaders to the IAMC team as part of our summer-long Omar Khalidi Scholars Program. Our interns will be taking on work in advocacy, media, and youth outreach, as well as be trained as spokespeople for our movement.
We look forward to working with these passionate young leaders through the summer!
UPCOMING EVENTS: DECLINE OF INDIAN DEMOCRACY, HINDUTVA IN AMERICA, AND MORE
These next few weeks are stacked with events – make sure you don’t miss any of them.
Prashant Bhushan on India’s democratic decline:
IAMC Chicago and Sacred Democracy are honored to be hosting Prashant Bhushan, Senior Advocate for the Supreme Court of India, at an event titled “The State of Democracy in India” on June 12 at 6pm CST. Mr. Bhushan will discuss the Waqf Bill, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), bulldozer justice, and the need for judicial accountability. RSVP required.
On American Hindutva:
IAMC welcomes the release of a new report by Rutgers Law Center for Security, Race, and Rights (CSRR) – titled Hindutva in America: An Ethnonationalist Threat to Equality and Religious Pluralism – that sheds even more light on Hindu supremacist activity in the United States.
IAMC will be joining CSRR for an online panel event discussing the report on June 16th at 12pm EST – mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details!
On increased attacks on Muslims after Pahalgam:
Anti-Muslim violence has soared across India in wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. This online event will feature expert academics and notable advocates in a discussion of how Indian Muslims and Kashmiris have been affected post-Pahalgam. Catch this webinar on June 11 at 12pm EST.
LATEST FROM THE INDIAN MUSLIM STORY
IAMC is continuing to add new content to The Indian Muslim Story – a series of articles, graphics, and videos dedicated to celebrating the history, cultural contributions, and experiences of Indian Muslims.
Don’t miss our latest articles:
- 158 Delhi Monuments Stand at the Crossroads of History and Politics – Our piece for World Heritage Day on the threats facing Indo-Islamic monuments
- Surgeon of the Nation and Architect of Unity – A portrait of the great medical professional and freedom fighter Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari
- The Fearless Advocate of Freedom and Justice – On the life of Bhagat Singh’s lawyer, Asaf Ali
- The 15-Year-Old Who Defied the British Empire – Unpacking the legacy of the teenage freedom fighter and lifelong servant of India, Manzoor Ahsan Aijazi
You can also check out the accompanying graphics by following IAMC on Instagram and X.
Catch new articles every week! Check out our official page here.
CHAPTER UPDATES AND EVENTS
Between Eid, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s birthday, and multiple local events, our chapters have been hard at work. Check out their achievements, events, and outreach efforts below!
Atlanta
- IAMC Atlanta showed solidarity with the vulnerable by attending the launch of a transitional home for women hosted by ICNA Relief.
- The team also continues to build relationships with the CAIR and other regional partners.
Bay Area
- In a powerful evening of dialogue and reflection, the Bay Area chapter hosted renowned political thinker Yogendra Yadav. His call for Hindu-Muslim unity and defense of India’s pluralistic democracy left attendees inspired and ready to act against rising extremism.
Boston
- Boston welcomed veteran journalists Anand Vardhan Singh and Sheetal Singh for a dynamic event on India’s authoritarian turn. With strong local turnout, the program underscored the urgent need to protect press freedom and democratic values.
Chicago
- IAMC Chicago held two impactful events: an eye-opening panel at UIC on Islamophobia and Hindutva, and a community conversation on India’s media crisis featuring prominent journalists.
Dallas
- Dallas pulled more than 60 attendees for a powerful event with Nous Network founder Ali Javed. The chapter also joined forces with Ambedkarite leaders and UT Austin students for a Lobby Day in support of anti-caste discrimination legislation at the Texas Capitol.
Maryland
- The Maryland chapter was instrumental in making sure IAMC’s presence at ICNA went off without a hitch. A core team of volunteers — including the current chapter president, past team members, dedicated volunteers, and several enthusiastic youth — worked tirelessly to manage logistics, set up and dismantle the booth, handle transportation, and provide food and refreshments.
MORE
IAMC हिंदी (Hindi Edition)
