My Exclusive Interview with Honorable Niraj Antani on Ohio’s Historic Hindu Heritage Month Recognition

• Niraj Antani noted that the idea to declare October as Hindu Heritage Month was primarily driven by VHPA and praised their leadership in the movement.
• He emphasized that the resolution, initiated by VHPA, is a permanent law, not just a temporary proclamation, and will remain unless repealed by the legislature, marking a significant achievement.
• Antani expressed frustration with Congress for not addressing issues like the persecution of Hindus in Pakistan and Bangladesh but reaffirmed the community’s commitment to making progress at the state level.
• He celebrated the accomplishments of Indian-American leaders from Ohio, including J.D. Vance, Tulsi Gabbard, and Kash Patel, reflecting the growing influence and contributions of the community.
• Antani stressed the need for the Hindu community to make informed choices when electing representatives, holding them accountable, and increasing voter turnout as they become more involved in civic life.

Jai Bansal:

Namaste, Sat Shri Akal, and good day to you all. My name is Jai Bansal. I am a volunteer with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America; and currently serve as the Vice President of Education with VHPA.

In 2021, a group of us at VHPA came up with the idea of recognizing the month of October as Hindu Heritage Month. I had the privilege of helping to formulate the framework for how this movement would be conducted and carried forward year after year. While VHPA is the founding organization and kicks off the month-long celebration at the beginning of October each year with an inaugural program, we understood from the very beginning that Hindu Heritage Month cannot and does not belong to VHPA alone. It is, in fact, a community-wide celebration of our shared heritage. With this understanding, we designed the celebration so that each organization—and indeed every individual in the Hindu community—feels complete ownership of the movement and celebrates it in their own unique way. That pivotal decision has stood the test of time.

Hindu Heritage Month is now celebrated by hundreds of organizations and individuals, not only in the United States but also in many countries around the world. As the Global Coordinator for this movement, I cannot be happier with the path it has taken over the past four years. Since its inception in 2021, many states and cities in the U.S. have issued formal proclamations to declare October as Hindu Heritage Month. These proclamations were specific to the year in which they were issued and expired at the end of that particular year.

However, a handful of states have also passed formal resolutions in their state legislatures to declare October as Hindu Heritage Month in perpetuity. Virginia was the first state to do this, followed by New Jersey in 2023. Today, we are immensely proud to note that the great state of Ohio has just passed a resolution to do the same. The resolution is now awaiting the signature of the Honorable Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio, before it becomes official.

I am also very pleased to note that I am joined today by one person without whose efforts this achievement would not have been possible. I am, of course, talking about none other than the Honorable Niraj Antani, the youngest state senator from Ohio, who has been the driving force behind this resolution. Senator Niraj Antani, a very, very warm welcome to you.

Senator Niraj Antani:
Thank you, Dr. Bansal, for having me here and for all the work you and VHPA do. I’m incredibly proud to be the first Indian American and Hindu American state senator in Ohio history, as well as the youngest Hindu and Indian American state or federal elected official in the country.

On this initiative, though, it wasn’t my idea—it was VHPA’s idea. Without VHPA, this wouldn’t have happened. All the credit goes to VHPA nationally and to the activists in Ohio who developed the idea and approached me to introduce this bill.

One important point to highlight is that different states approach these things differently. As you rightly said, many resolutions and proclamations expire after a year. However, this is not a proclamation or resolution—it’s an actual bill. If the governor signs it, it will become part of Ohio law, the same law that governs criminal statutes, tax codes, and business regulations. It will remain on the books indefinitely unless repealed by the General Assembly. That permanence makes this initiative very significant, and we are thrilled about it. We first introduced this bill over a year and a half ago. This was the last session of this General Assembly before a new one begins. At the end of every two-year legislative period, bills must start over if they haven’t passed. Fortunately, we were able to attach the amendment to another bill that was already moving forward. Both chambers of the legislature voted unanimously in favor of it. Now, the bill goes to the governor for his signature or veto. I feel very confident that Governor Mike DeWine will sign it, and we’re excited to see this important legislation become law.

Jai Bansal:
Thank you so much, Niraj ji, and thank you for explaining that this initiative is a formal bill, just like any other bill in the state of Ohio. That’s truly wonderful to know.

I want to take you back five years, to 2019, when we were organizing the Threads 2019 conference in Boston. You participated as one of the panelists, and I vividly remember the discussions we had. We were celebrating the fact that our community has been in this country for about 50 years. As you know, we are one of the youngest immigrant communities in the United States, with significant immigration starting after the Immigration Act of 1965. That makes our presence here about 60 years old.

When you look at the progress our community has made in such a short span of time, it’s absolutely astounding. Not just the progress, but also the contributions we’ve made to society at large. For example, although we represent only about 1% of the U.S. population, we contribute approximately 5% of the GDP. Our community has an impressive 7-8% representation in the medical profession, and we play a huge role in the IT industry. That’s evident to everyone. Our initiatives are driving the information-based economy of the 21st century and so much more. There are countless accomplishments to celebrate. Now, we’re also starting to make significant inroads into public service. You, Niraj, are one shining example of this. Of course, there are many other prominent personalities from your state as well, which I’ll touch upon shortly.

With such an outsized contribution from a relatively young community, don’t you think it’s time for other states to follow Ohio’s example and pass similar resolutions recognizing our contributions? And, looking ahead, wouldn’t it be ideal if the U.S. Congress eventually followed suit and enacted a nationwide resolution? What are your thoughts on this?

Senator Niraj Antani:
Absolutely. We’re very excited about recognizing Hindu Heritage Month here in Ohio, as it will give us an opportunity to celebrate and honor our heritage in a meaningful way. That being said, we wish Congress would do more. There’s so much that Congress could and should address. For example, we wish Congress would hold the Government of Pakistan accountable for the killing of Hindus and ensure justice. Similarly, we wish they would hold Muhammad Yunus accountable in Bangladesh for the ongoing persecution of Hindus. Unfortunately, Congress is not stepping up to address these critical issues. So, if Congress won’t act, we’ll continue to do what we can at the state level. In fact, we have another exciting announcement coming next week here in Ohio, so stay tuned for that.

Jai Bansal:
Thank you for bringing up those points. It’s truly disheartening how not only Congress but also the media have largely ignored the genocides and atrocities happening in those regions.

Let me shift to another topic. I think it’s important to acknowledge some other trailblazers from your great state who have recently taken center stage in our nation. Of course, I’m talking about Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and Vivek Ramaswamy Ji. You must feel very proud to be from a state that has given us such remarkable leaders. What are your thoughts on this?

Senator Niraj Antani:
We’re absolutely thrilled about the accomplishments of leaders from Ohio. For example, J.D. Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, will soon become the Second Lady of Ohio. Having a Hindu Indian American in such a prominent role is truly tremendous. Additionally, there are so many appointees making waves. Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu member of Congress, is set to become the Director of National Intelligence. Kash Patel, a fellow Gujarati Hindu like myself, will become the Director of the FBI. I’m very excited for Kash, for Tulsi, and for my friends J.D. and Usha Vance. These achievements are a testament to the growing influence and contributions of the Hindu and Indian American community. And I believe there’s much more to come in the future.

Jai Bansal:
I would like to turn our conversation to the Hindu community as voters. First, let me acknowledge that good things happen when they elect good leaders like you—individuals who are proud of their heritage and willing to embrace it openly in public service. This brings me to two questions.

First, what are your thoughts on the wisdom of the Hindu community in electing representatives who, unfortunately, work against Hindu interests? I won’t name names, but I think you—and everyone else—know the kinds of individuals and groups I’m referring to.

Second, our community, strangely, has a very low voter turnout. I’d like to hear your thoughts on these two points.

Senator Niraj Antani:
Look, unfortunately, if you are an Indian American or Hindu American but are acting against the interests of Hindu Americans, Hindus worldwide, or the U.S.-India relationship, you don’t count. It’s not enough to just have brown skin and an Indian name. You actually have to contribute meaningfully to our community. This is incredibly important, and I think our community has started to become more discerning in who we support. We need to continue this trend—not just supporting candidates when they’re running, but also holding them accountable once they win, ensuring they actually stand for the community.

As for voter turnout, it’s important to recognize that immigrant communities often go through stages: first, they focus on survival, then they thrive, and finally, they get involved in civic life. I believe our community is currently transitioning into this stage of engaging more actively in the civic life of America.

Jai Bansal:
I hope you’re right, Niraj ji. I hope the Hindu American community takes your words to heart and becomes increasingly involved in civic life over time. Voting is absolutely crucial for any community to secure representation at various levels of government.

I also want to commend you for championing the bill to declare October as Hindu Heritage Month, rather than opting for some other variation of the name, which some organizations have been promoting. It truly pains me to see certain groups diluting the brand of Hindu Heritage Month—whether intentionally or otherwise. Any advice for these organizations?

Senator Niraj Antani:
I’m not sure I’m fully aware of what you’re referring to. Can you elaborate on what you mean by dilution?

Jai Bansal:
Yes, some organizations add words like “Appreciation” or similar phrases to the name Hindu Heritage Month. What’s powerful about this initiative is having a single, unified brand that everyone can rally behind. When variations are introduced, it creates confusion, and over time, the value of the name is diminished.

Senator Niraj Antani:
I think you’re absolutely right. Too often, our community allows itself to be diluted. For example, there’s no such thing as “South Asia”—there’s the Indian subcontinent. These kinds of things happen all the time, and we need to stop letting ourselves be diluted in this way.

Jai Bansal:
Thank you so much, Niraj ji. It’s always a pleasure to talk to you. Thank you for the great work you do, and please keep it up. The Hindu American community is eager to see you representing us on the national stage. Our best wishes are with you and your family. Namaste, and Jai Shri Ram.