Umeed (hope in both Hindi and Urdu) is an inclusive speech and democracy project committed to promoting compassion, empathy, solidarity, and open dialogue within and across the communities of the global Indian diaspora. We embody a shared vision of a harmonious, inclusive, and pluralistic India and Indian diaspora, where diversity is celebrated, and every individual is empowered to contribute to positive change.
Through strategic campaigns, creative storytelling, and community engagement, we work towards nurturing a society rooted in justice, dignity, equality, and our shared humanity. We are dedicated to creating safe and vibrant spaces that inspire meaningful conversations, bridge divides, and drive collective action to strengthen the values of pluralism and democracy. We are motivated by a vision to build societal resilience against divisiveness, promote mutual understanding, and create lasting social cohesion grounded in individual rights and autonomy.
Explore our initiatives that foster empathy, unity, and resilience against hate through impactful stories and practical resources.
Umeed: Stories That Inspire is a visual storytelling project that highlights stories of solidarity, empathy, and compassion between and across the diverse communities of India and the Indian diaspora and the shared humanity that binds us together. The project amplifies voices that challenge divisiveness, promote mutual understanding and respect, and inspire hope.
The Counterspeech Initiative serves as the foundation for developing training programs and workshops tailored for civil society organizations, community stakeholders, and religious leaders, enabling grassroots interventions that proactively address hate speech.
The Counterspeech Resource Center is a breathing archive of analytical pieces, in-depth interviews with counterspeakers, and a source of practical guidance to empower individuals and communities as first responders against harmful narratives.
My early years were shaped by growing up in a neighborhood where many shared my Indian-American background. This commonality gave me a sense of comfort with my identity and played a key role in shaping who I am today. While my family wasn’t deeply involved in the broader Indian network, we found a strong sense […]
In my early years, I grew up deeply engaged in my heritage and culture. I started classical singing at age 4 and dance at age 5, forming bonds with people who shared similar interests and backgrounds. These cultural activities definitely helped me navigate my Indian-American identity. While pop culture has been something that I am […]
While I did not grow up in India, my hometown of Ashburn served as a “Little India” for my entire life. Ashburn is a bubble of seeing families that looked exactly like mine and even spoke the same language I did. While this brought unequivocal experiences in language, culture, and community, there was always one […]
The Counterspeech
Initiative
The Counterspeech Initiative serves as the foundation for developing training programs and workshops tailored for civil society organizations, community stakeholders, and religious leaders, enabling grassroots interventions that proactively address hate speech.Ultimately, the resource aims to strengthen communities in proactively addressing hate speech and cultivating a culture of respect and empathy.
The Counterspeech
Resource Center
Explore resources featuring expert analysis to understand hate and counter hate speech in the hopes to promote democracy and pluralism in our society.
The Savala Vada (TSV), a satirical Instagram page run anonymously, publishes a mix of bold graphics and sharply written captions…
The Savala Vada dubs itself “India’s Most Honest News Source”—a satirical Instagram page run anonymously. Its name fuses savala (Malayalam…
Swami Raghavendra is a Hindu religious leader based at the Ram Janaki Ashram in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. He leads the Satya…
