[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_font=”Raleway|300|||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_3_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_4_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_5_font=”Raleway||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}” admin_label=”Text”]<\/p>\n
At the invitation of <\/span>The Lord Gadhia of Northwood<\/b>, the National Hindu Students\u2019 Forum (UK) hosted its <\/span>30th anniversary celebrations<\/b> on Wednesday the 18th May 2022 at the Cholmondeley Room of the <\/span>House of Lords<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After almost a decade, NHSF (UK), the largest Hindu student movement outside of Bharat, made its presence known in the halls of Parliament, marking our history in the distinguished company of Honourable Lords, Baronesses, Members of Parliament, Councillors, and the wider community.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_font=”Raleway|300|||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_3_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_4_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_5_font=”Raleway||||||||” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”20px|10px|20px|10px|true|true” border_radii=”on|2px|2px|2px|2px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”rgba(0,0,0,0.13)” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ box_shadow_blur=”6px” box_shadow_spread=”-12px” global_colors_info=”{}” admin_label=”Text”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_font=”Raleway|300|||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_3_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_4_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_5_font=”Raleway||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The 30th anniversary celebrations saw the presentation of the <\/span>NHSF (UK) Exhibition<\/b>, namely <\/span>\u2018The Hindu Journey in Britain: The Untold Story.\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n Comprised of three sections, \u2018The Hindu Journey in Britain\u2019 is NHSF (UK)\u2019s bold attempt to tell our tale. Aligning with our 30th anniversary slogan, \u2018<\/span>Stand Up, Speak Up, Show Up<\/b>,\u2019 the NHSF (UK) Exhibition is the first work of its kind to showcase the story of Hindus in the UK – researched, written, and designed by students.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The NHSF (UK) Exhibition has provided insights into the <\/span>contributions of Hindus to British society<\/b>, through the fields of politics and the public sector, economy and enterprise, sports and the sciences, the armed forces, and academia. There exists no space through which British Hindus have not aided the progress of our country.<\/span><\/p>\n The Exhibition further features a<\/span> timeline of the landmark moments of our collective history<\/b>, noting our key achievements and campaigns, and depicting our successive waves of migration since the end of the Second World War. Chronicling the stories of the refugee communities of East Africa and Sri Lanka, to the skilled workers of the late 90s\/early 2000s, the poignant anecdotes presented have tugged the heartstrings of many.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n An additional section of the Exhibition illustrated the<\/span> history of our students\u2019 movement<\/b>, portraying the feats achieved by our Hindu youth over 30 years, and how NHSF (UK)\u2019s contributions weave into the journey of British Hindus.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Comp\u00e8red by our National Sampark (Public Relations) Co-ordinator, Samyak Pandey, our afternoon opened with a welcome addressed by <\/span>The Lord Gadhia<\/b>, whose continued support for our students has provided the impetus for our successes over the years. He praised the Hindu community\u2019s approach of \u2018Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,\u2019 of seeing the \u2018world as one family\u2019. He discussed how this informs the Hindu community to encompass global outlooks and seek solutions that uplift all, a mindset of service that invigorates the work of NHSF (UK) too.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_font=”Raleway|300|||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_3_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_4_font=”Raleway|300|||||||” header_4_font_size=”15px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.1em” header_5_font=”Raleway||||||||” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”20px|10px|20px|10px|true|true” border_radii=”on|2px|2px|2px|2px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”rgba(0,0,0,0.13)” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ box_shadow_blur=”6px” box_shadow_spread=”-12px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”13023,13025,13026,13024″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.14.4″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ box_shadow_blur=”6px” box_shadow_spread=”-12px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_font=”Raleway|300|||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_3_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_4_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_5_font=”Raleway||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Janhavi Dadarkar<\/b> Ji<\/b>, our NHSF (UK)\u2019s second National President (1996-1998), affirmed in her speech the distinction between our students\u2019 movement and any other: that ours is one that acts without ego. The voluntary nature of our work, nationally and locally, ensures the sole incentive of our student activities is for the upliftment of our community, and that our efforts are thereby transformed into acts of Sewa (selfless service).<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_font=”Raleway|300|||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_3_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_4_font=”Raleway|300|||||||” header_4_font_size=”15px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.1em” header_5_font=”Raleway||||||||” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”20px|10px|20px|10px|true|true” border_radii=”on|2px|2px|2px|2px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”rgba(0,0,0,0.13)” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ box_shadow_blur=”6px” box_shadow_spread=”-12px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_font=”Raleway|300|||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_3_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_4_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_5_font=”Raleway||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n A highlight of the event was a speech by our Cambridge University Hindu Cultural Society President (2021\/2022), <\/span>Thomas Awad<\/b>. He touched upon how his Hindu identity has forever been an integral \u201csource of support\u201d, and how in instances of animosity or isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the Hindu Society on campus that was an invaluable pillar of solace.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_font=”Raleway|300|||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_3_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_4_font=”Raleway|300|||||||” header_4_font_size=”15px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.1em” header_5_font=”Raleway||||||||” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”20px|10px|20px|10px|true|true” border_radii=”on|2px|2px|2px|2px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”rgba(0,0,0,0.13)” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ box_shadow_blur=”6px” box_shadow_spread=”-12px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_font=”Raleway|300|||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_3_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_4_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_5_font=”Raleway||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Concluding our afternoon, were words from our National President, <\/span>Bhavya Shah <\/b>(2021-), who thanked our attendees, supporters, wellwishers, and the community at large, who work tirelessly in the background to ensure the Hindu voice is empowered. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_font=”Raleway|300|||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_3_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_4_font=”Raleway|300|||||||” header_4_font_size=”15px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.1em” header_5_font=”Raleway||||||||” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”20px|10px|20px|10px|true|true” border_radii=”on|2px|2px|2px|2px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”rgba(0,0,0,0.13)” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ box_shadow_blur=”6px” box_shadow_spread=”-12px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_font=”Raleway|300|||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_3_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_4_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_5_font=”Raleway||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Narrating the trials and triumphs of the Hindu community in these British Isles, \u2018The Hindu Journey in Britain\u2019 has immersed thousands in the stories that have defined the journey of British Hindus, and highlighted how the Hindu community has helped to shape Britain. The NHSF (UK) Exhibition has brought together Britons of all backgrounds onto one platform, demonstrating how our past, present, and future have been integrally shaped by a confluence of Hindu Dharma and inspiring individuals who live its values everyday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n As the event came to a close, NHSF (UK) National Committee members distributed out Prasad (offering), and tied Rakhis on each of our guests. These Rakhis served as expressions of gratitude, as a token of appreciation for the blessings the wider Hindu community and British society have bestowed on our students. As a gesture of promise to celebrate and strengthen our relations. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_font=”Raleway|300|||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_3_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_4_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_5_font=”Raleway||||||||” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”20px|10px|20px|10px|true|true” border_radii=”on|2px|2px|2px|2px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”rgba(0,0,0,0.13)” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ box_shadow_blur=”6px” box_shadow_spread=”-12px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n We thank each and every student who has been a part of the NHSF (UK) movement over the past three decades, whose passion and commitment enables us to carry on.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n May the achievements of our Hindu students continue to bring pride to British society, as the future leaders of tomorrow.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NHSF (UK) was honoured to host our 30th Anniversary celebrations within the House of Lords, at the invitation of the Lord Jiteshji Gadhia. Amongst the company of many esteemed guests, NHSF (UK) showcased its various accomplishments over many years, through the presentation of The Hindu Journey in Britain, as well as our assurance to a bright and promising vision of celebrating and sustaining Hindu Dharma within the student community. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":13195,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[738,736,734,731],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archive","category-national-news","category-nhsf-uk-news","category-press-release"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13018","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13018"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13018\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\u201cOurs is a history steeped in success.\u201d<\/b> <\/span><\/h4>\n
Echoed by the former NHSF (UK) National President, Pranav Bhanot (2011-2014) at the Palace of Westminster, these words commemorating our accomplishments resounded once again in 2022, in the very esteemed establishment they once found voice.<\/span><\/h4>\n
\u201cAs NHSF (UK) looks back at its legacy over the past thirty years, it can look forward to making an ever greater impact in the years to come, supporting generations ahead to understanding and celebrate their Hindu culture and identity, and building on its reputation of being a factor of future leaders.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/h4>\n
\u201cOur vision then and now has been to instil holistic mindsets in our future leaders, nurturing thousands of proactive Hindu youth, that are shining lights in all walks of British life. We enable Dharmic solutions to modern-day problems, creating a more harmonious and sustainable world.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/h4>\n
\u201cThe sense of community and solidarity provided to us by the wider NHSF (UK) community made me realise that I was never alone, and that I am indeed part of one big family. That there was a safe space for me on campus, where I could be my true, authentic self.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/h4>\n
\u201cThe last 30 years have seen our youth take lead in defining what it means to be a British Hindu. When a student graduates from NHSF (UK), they know they have a responsibility. To become a leader of tomorrow. To become the inspirations for the next generation, and to embody the values that our Dharma teaches us: respect, cohesion, and diversity. We assert our commitment to protect, preserve, practice, and promote Hindu Dharma, for a sustainable and secure Britain.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/h4>\n