VHP's 60 years: Achievements and challenges

After the political independence of the country, the increasing injustices on Hindu society in the name of secularism and appeasement of Christians and Muslims led to the presentation of the Niyogi Commission Report in 1957.

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Despite the revelation of the truth about religious conversions of Hindus through deceit, greed, and fraud by Christian missionaries, the then central government clearly refused to enact a central law against conversions. Meanwhile, the Hindu society living abroad was looking towards India for solutions to its various problems, but the central government's indifferent attitude only led to further disappointment. In this context, to organize Hindu society, protect dharma, and preserve Hindu religious, social, and cultural values, the World Hindu Council (VHP) was established sixty years ago on Janmashtami (August 29, 1964, as per the Gregorian calendar).

On this auspicious occasion of Krishna Janmashtami, a meeting was held at the Sandeepani Sadhanalaya Ashram in Powai, Mumbai, with esteemed figures including Swami Chinmayananda, revered Sant Tukadoji Maharaj, Master Tara Singh from the Sikh community, revered Sushil Muni from the Jain community, Hanuman Prasad Poddar from Gita Press Gorakhpur, K. M. Munshi, and other dignitaries.

In this meeting, three main objectives of the VHP were determined: 1. To organize and awaken Hindu society, 2. To protect and promote its rights, values, and life principles, and 3. To establish contact with Hindus abroad and assist them in strengthening and supporting them.

The definition of a Hindu was stated as, "A person who has faith in the life values developed in India or who identifies as Hindu is a Hindu." The first World Hindu Conference was held in Prayag from January 22 to 24, 1966, with the participation of 25,000 delegates from 12 countries. For the first time, major Shankaracharyas, along with 300 prominent saints, came together to resolve to prevent conversions and promote reconversions (ghar wapsi).

Maharaja Chamraj Wadiyar of Mysore was declared the first president, and Dadasaheb Apte was appointed as the first General Secretary, and the VHP's executive committee was formed.