The Critical Need for Hindu Chaplains on US Campuses

Since the launch of the Hindu Students Council in 1990, the Hindu American community has increasingly understood the importance of building Hindu identity on college campuses. As the population of second-generation Hindu Americans grows, more students are taking the initiative to join (or start) a Hindu student group on their campus, where they aspire towards a community that can provide them with opportunities to learn about and stay connected with their Hindu heritage.

Despite the growing awareness and efforts on campus, we have observed that Hindu students struggle to proudly wear their identity for several reasons.

The first challenge in building a Hindu identity on campus is that students are only on campus for four years. This makes it difficult for students to learn how to navigate and administer a new student group. It also makes it challenging to connect with younger Hindu students who could help to sustain the organization over time.

In addition, many misconceptions exist around Hindus and our culture that require a comprehensive understanding of our long, nuanced history - particularly as it pertains to colonization. Many of our peers still misunderstand Hindu dharma as "caste, curry, and cows" and have little understanding of the beautiful contributions that Hindu civilization has offered to the world in areas such as math, science, medicine, and spirituality. These misguided stereotypes make it difficult for students to foster a sense of pride around their Hindu identity, forcing many Hindu students towards the sidelines.

Lastly, the connection between Hindu students on campus and the broader Hindu community is often missing. The student experience is generally transient, where a student finds themselves in a new city away from home and in a campus bubble. For most Hindu students, the thought doesn't cross their mind to invite Hindu faculty and local Hindu community members to join their events -- though this is exactly the level of unity towards which any religious community should strive.

Hindu chaplaincy can shine a light on all of these fronts. As the leading Hindu representative on campus, Hindu chaplains serve as an anchor that provides a level of continuity for Hindu student groups. Hindu chaplains also have a deep grasp of our long civilizational history and the challenges that we as a community have faced. This empowers chaplains to support students and the broader community in these often misunderstood conversations. Lastly, chaplains can serve as a bridge that unite Hindu students, faculty, and the broader Hindu community.

There is a critical need for the Hindu community to grow our Hindu chaplaincy. It's time to invest in and support new Hindu chaplains on campus.