By Geeta Sikand
Geeta Sikand is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of California, Irvine. She is a community activist, an author specializing in combating anti-Hindu hate narratives in the media, and an influencer to retract anti-Hindu hate narratives.
This is a 3-part series: Part I, Part II (this article), Part III.
Below are fifteen responses from American Hindus. This includes my own story and fourteen stories shared with me by other American Hindu leaders in my multiple Hindu chat groups.
Failure of the Biden Administration and the Legacy media to recognize and address Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry triggered even more dismay among us Hindus. Yet, it strengthened our resolve not to be silenced.
My shift to becoming a Trump supporter was an excruciatingly disruptive journey. It came with a monumental emotional toll. I would be remiss if I did not share the extreme emotional stress I suffered from my friends and family who were leftists. I lost many friendships (feels like a zillion)! I also gained some new ones from like-minded pro-Trumpers. Even my extended family and close friends (anti-Trumpers) accused me of being a hate-monger, and of bombarding the Chat groups with pro-Trump text messages. I was shunned by a couple of my chat groups because I was a Pro-Trumper. I felt deeply anguished to the very last bone in my body and down to my soul.
We Hindus had to muster up all of our intestinal fortitude to cope with the trauma of feeling ‘less valued’ by the Biden-Harris Administration and by the Democratic Party. Four years is a long time to feel undervalued! A vulnerable space to be in that’s hard to fully articulate! We were frustrated and hurting!
For Hindus, a catastrophic watershed moment came very recently on August 5th, 2024 under Biden’s watch. A deafeningly loud silence by the Biden administration to the ongoing persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, accelerated since August 5th, 2024 while Trump made a strongly supportive statement to oppose the Genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh. No, President Biden, your silence on the recent accelerated genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh is a stark injustice under your watch.
Of note, on December 8th, 2024, the United Nations Speaker Dipen Mitra’s heart-wrenching words resonated with all at the “United Nations Forum on Minority Issues” in Geneva.
“If we fail to protect the Hindus of Bangladesh today, we fail humanity itself. This is not just about one country; it is about the future of human rights everywhere. Let us rise to the challenge and stop this blatant crime staring at us every day,” said Mitra.
1. My Story
I was a loyal moderate Democrat for forty years! In 2021, I switched to the Republican Party, attributed to becoming deeply disappointed with the rampant Hinduphobia inflamed by the Democratic Party to please the leftist-Islamist-Marxist cabal. The legacy media was maliciously supporting anti-Hindu hate. It was time to walk away from my membership in the CA Democratic Party, which passed a statewide resolution to support the hoax anti-Hindu caste bill CA SB 403.
1.1 Authored fifty rebuttals against the biased Democratic Party-controlled Legacy Media such as @LosAngelesTimes, @NewYorkTimes, @WashingtonPost, and @Timemagazine. I wrestled with many Times reporters who injected opinion and false narratives into their news. This year the Pew Research Center found that 59% of adults in the US had ‘some trust’ in the media reports, down from 76% eight years ago.
1.2 Made earnest but non-fruitful efforts to educate the LA Times Editorial team about our Hindu concerns. We Hindus felt betrayed by the pushback from the mainstream media. I authored Why has the LA Times Silenced American Hindu Voices Against Hinduphobia? Hindus in my chat groups wrote to me seeking suggestions on how to encourage their leftist friends and family to vote for Trump. I responded with examples of how Trump would help Hindus.
1.3 Helped organize three national WhatsApp Groups in support of Trump: 1) Hindus for Trump, 2) Million Texts for Trump, and 3) Hindus for America First.
1.4 Sent 9000 text messages in support of Trump in my WhatsApp groups. Tweeted pro-Trump messages to my 1.5 K followers.
1.5 Educated 5000 members in my multiple online Hindu communities to support Trump. Provided education to them about Trump. He is a loyal friend of the Hindus, unlike Biden-Harris, who instigated the ongoing horrifying hounding and lynching of Hindus in Bangladesh.
1.6 Convinced 5000 acquaintances to vote for Trump through my WA Groups.
Chat group members who converted to pro-Trump reached out to me for talking points (script) on convincing their family and friends to vote for Trump.
1.7 Made ongoing financial contributions annually to Trump’s re-election campaign.
1.8 Organized three fundraisers for Republican candidates in Orange County, CA.
1.9 Authored thirteen articles www.voiceofhindus.org and other publications
over the past two years to challenge the Legacy Media-controlled echo chamber of the political left. For example, the Democratic party’s socialist progressive wing and mainstream media have targeted Hindus and supported the hoax anti-Hindu hate bills like SB 403.
Some friends did stand by me while I educated my Hindu community to reject the anti-Hindu hate perpetuated by the Leftist Democratic Party. Their first names are Anju, Kanta, Kiran, Lata, Madhu, Manju, Ranju, Rani, Renu, Sneh, Sushma, Veena, and Vinita.
2. Satya D and Sunanda (Hindus for Trump Group)
2.1 Geeta ji, for me, supporting Trump’s campaign was beyond politics—it was a campaign to protect our families, our country, and the world we live in. I have contributed to this effort by engaging with like-minded activists. My efforts below reflect my deep belief in the significance of my pro-Trump campaign and the urgent need to stand against forces that threaten freedom, justice, and humanity.
2.2 I supported Trump on social media, writing posts on platforms such as chat groups and Twitter to explain the stakes in this election, and actively participated in voter outreach efforts.
2.3 My wife Sunanda and I used to drive two to four hours daily for weeks (New Jersey to Pennsylvania, a swing state for knocking on doors to educate prospective voters to vote for Trump.
2.4 Sent thousands of emails sharing Trump’s inspiring Diwali message, which highlighted the suffering of Bangladeshi Hindus and the attacks on Hindu Americans by the radical left. My goal was to inspire American Hindus to vote for Trump.
2.5 When the Democratic vice-presidential candidate visited a Hindu temple, I collaborated with the local community leaders to invite J.D. Vance’s family to the Hindu temple. This interaction encouraged Hindu Americans to vote for Trump.
3.Mata (Hindus for Trump Group)
3.1 Geeta ji, I made six thousand calls from Trump force forty-seven. Five thousand of them for PA
3.2 Sent 176,000 text messages.
3.3 Poll watcher for four sessions.
3.4 Offered to do door knocking.
3.5 Participated in multiple WA chat groups to lead constructive discussions to support Trump.
4. SB ( Naari Shakti’s Group)
4.1 Geeta ji, I donated $100/month for the whole 4 years=$4800.00 to Trump’s Save America Campaign.
5. Richa (Naari Shakti Group)
5.1 Geeta ji, I posted 5-6 posts on Facebook in support of Trump’s election. I lost thirty-five friends last year on Facebook. Four were close friends.
5.2 Importantly, other than one friend, all others voted for Trump!!
6. Priya (Naari Shakti Group)
6.1 Geeta ji, I approached each friend and family across my town and neighborhood, educating them about the Republican policies that will bring beneficial effects in our communities and our country.
6.2 Shared Republican speeches and debates and discussed the same over public media. My friendships are still intact even knowing I favor Trump.
6.3 I have been educating my friends about the Republican Party. Encouraging people to talk about politics.
6.4 I recruited an influential Republican friend to talk to people about Republican policies.
6.5 I kicked out some of my social media friends because they were harassing me for being a Republican.9
7. GP (Hindus for California group)
7.1 Geetaji you had asked what role we played in the election to help Trump win. To reach out to our Hindu Community, we formed a local Chat-group called “Vande Mataram” in Sacramento.
7.2 I authored articles on why we should vote for Trump and to change their negative views about Trump.
7.3 Educated Hindu voters through Zoom meetings and videos, about the US voting process at federal, state, and local elections and how to complete ballots and education on different measures that affect our Hindu community.
7.4 Identified list of candidates who sympathize with Hindu issues like CA SB403 and Hindu Genocide in Bangladesh issues and stand behind our causes and concerns.
7.5 Organized a meeting with state assembly District 7 Republican candidate Josh Hoover in an Indian restaurant to raise donations for his win.
8. Anita (Naari Shakti Group)
Geeta ji, I posted arguments in favor of Trump on an anonymous platform for young professionals.
8.1 I was trying to shape their thinking in favor of Trump since he is anti-illegal immigration and anti-troublemakers (read jihadists).
8.2 I used to post 4-5 news articles or pictures daily for the last month to counter the pro-Kamala responses.
9. Anajalee (HinduACTion Group)
9.1 I organized a protest, authored an article, and spread awareness on the condition of Hindus in Bangladesh after the military coup on August 5th, 2024.
9.2 Trump’s Diwali tweet on this matter made me feel vindicated. It had a huge positive impact on us Hindus voting for Trump.
10. Shobha (Hindus for Trump Conservatives Group)
10.1 Geeta ji, we tried to convince Indian Americans that we must have an India-friendly government in the USA, or we will have problems.
10.2 Trump, rightfully working with America First, he will try to work with India.
11. Shree (Hindus for Trump Conservatives Group)
11.1 Geeta ji, we educated Hindus that Conservatives are not anti-Hindu nor are they anti-immigrants.
11.2 This initiative was a huge undertaking because the Hindus were brainwashed by the Democrats.
12. Shyam (Hindus for Trump Conservatives Group)
12.1 Geeta ji, we performed multiple Homan/Havan (Hindu group prayers) for Trump’s safety and victory beginning with 2020 till present.
12.2 Educated Hindus on reasons we should vote for Trump.
13. PS (Hindus for Trump Conservatives Group)
13.1 Geeta ji, we performed multiple Homan/Havan (Hindu group prayers) for Trump’s safety and victory.
13.2 Katta Virya Arjuna Homan to vanquish his enemies.
13.3 Educated Hindus on reasons to vote for Trump.
14. AH (One Million Texts for Trump Group)
14.1 Geeta ji, we performed multiple Mahamrityunjaya Homa/Havan (Hindu group prayers) for Trump’s protection and safe ascension to power.
15. Mohan (Hindus for Trump Group)
15.1 I have participated in four educational videos on the ‘Jaipur Dialogues USA’ platform with Host Vibhuti Jha on US Elections supporting Trump. They had about 15,000 viewers.
15.2 Posted messages on Groups and talked to friends and acquaintances, educating them about Trump’s policies as well as making them aware of the Problems with the Democratic Party and the Biden-Harris administration.
15.3 Links and description to my Videos:
Session – 1:
Jaipur Dialogues USA
Trump versus Harris – What it Means to Indians – Mohan Sonti & Vibhuti Jha
Session – 2:
Jaipur Dialogues – USA
Democrat’s Policies are Against Democratic Principles! Mohan Sonti, Vibhuti Jha
Topics:
Conservative vs ‘Liberal’
Support for Israel vs ‘Palestine’
Racism against Africans – Democrats vs Republicans
War or Peace – Democrats vs Republicans
Economic Policies – Republican Capitalism vs Democratic Socialist Welfare Society
Session – 3:
Jaipur Dialogues – USA
The Final Countdown – Trump vs Kamala – Truth vs Emotion | _Rahul Sur and Mohan Sonti
Topics:
Billionaires Support for Parties
USA Mainstream Media
Abortion – History, Changes, and Laws
Trust in Democracy and Institutions, among others
Session – 4:
Jaipur Dialogues USA
Why Democrat Kamala’s Defeat is especially important for the Rest of the World | Mohan Sonti
Topics:
Kamala-jis Strategies – But did not Work
Threats to Trump
Patriotism – Good and Bad
Election Reform – Long Past Due
Indo-US Partnership
Conclusion
As demonstrated by our fifteen lived stories, Hindu Americans used a multi-pronged approach to contribute to Trump’s triumph: 1) We leveraged online communities and social media. 2) We educated our Hindu voters on pro-Trump and anti-Democrat content and disseminated it online. 3) Direct voter outreach and engagement as in fundraisers for candidates who let us know they understood Hindu concerns. 4) Personal testimony and network influence. 5) Emphasis on shared GOP and Hindu values and concerns.
President Biden, can you respond to a former American Hindu loyalist Democrat for forty years, now turned into a reckoning? The question remains…why do American Hindus not have the same protection from the Biden-Harris administration as the Islamists do? Are American Hindus less equal than American Muslims? Don’t we both deserve the same protection? You published the document for countering Islamophobia. FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Takes Action to Counter Islamophobia | The White House. Could you show me the document for countering Hinduphobia? Or is it a dubious ask? Or a dubious task?
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Voice of Hindus. Any content provided by our contributors or authors is their opinion.
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