Nitish Pahwa, in his June 8, 2021, article in Slate Magazine [1], maliciously portrays the Covid relief work by Sewa International as supporting an alleged project to “Hinduize” India. In the process, he also goes on to malign the current ruling party and the Prime Minister of India, as well as Hinduism itself. Mr. Pahwa appears to have a penchant for distorting facts and presenting them in a way that is detrimental to the interests of Hindus and India. Brief summary of his article follows:
- The article cites past reports and investigations that suggest Sewa International, as well as its India-based counterpart Seva Bharati, has been involved in activities aimed at promoting Hindu nationalism, including efforts to convert religious minorities to Hinduism, prioritizing aid for higher-caste Hindus and allegedly trafficking young girls to “Hinduize” them.
- The RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), a Hindu nationalist paramilitary organization with connections to Sewa, is mentioned as a significant force in promoting a Hindu supremacist agenda and has close ties to India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
- The article also notes the involvement of Sewa International’s U.S. branch and the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) in mobilizing the Hindu diaspora in support of the RSS’s goals, including the spread of Hindutva philosophy.
- The article concludes by urging donors and supporters to be aware of the potential use of their funds and associations with organizations that have ties to Hindu nationalist ideology.
Sewa International is a pre-eminent Hindu faith-based humanitarian organization with a long history of serving society selflessly and with compassion. Its vision, mission, and ten guiding principles are testimonials of the commendable work it does.
Here are a few articles from Pahwa’s past to show bias and unwarranted attacks on Hindu interests:
- Slate, May 31, 2019: Can Anything Stop the Destruction of Indian Democracy?
- Slate, August 7, 2019: Crossing the Line in Kashmir, Why the Indian Government’s Latest Dramatic Move Could Make a Dangerous Situation Even Worse
- Slate, December 19, 2019: There’s Finally a Backlash to Narendra Modi’s Islamophobia
While bias against Hindu interests appears to be a hallmark of Mr. Pahwa’s brand of journalism, he might serve his profession a bit better if he would take the time to conduct in-depth research on his subject matter before venturing to write such provocative articles on reputable organizations like the Sewa International.