On Sunday 30th March, INSIGHT UK launched a groundbreaking national initiative: the Anti-Hindu Hate Survey. This first-of-its-kind project is designed to capture and document the lived experiences of Hindus in the UK facing discrimination, hostility, or hate-related incidents due to their religious identity. It’s a landmark step towards recognising and addressing a growing but often overlooked issue — anti-Hindu hate.
Identifying why this survey matters
Despite the UK’s well-established frameworks for tackling antisemitism and Islamophobia, but anti-Hindu hate remains largely unacknowledged in policy discussions, media coverage, and law enforcement priorities. This silence not only leads to the underreporting of such incidents but also leaves many British Hindus feeling isolated, misunderstood, and unsupported.
The survey is a response to a critical gap in national understanding. Its primary goal is to empower the Hindu community to share their experiences and highlight patterns of hate and prejudice that are otherwise hidden from mainstream dialogue.
A closer look at the survey
INSIGHT UK’s initiative aims to:
Document Lived Experiences: By collecting personal stories and accounts, the survey provides tangible evidence of anti-Hindu incidents across schools, workplaces, public spaces, and online platforms.
Assess Awareness: The survey evaluates how well British Hindus understand what constitutes anti-Hindu hate, and whether they know how and where to report it.
Analyse Responses to Reporting: It seeks to explore the outcomes and experiences of those who have reported anti-Hindu hate, shining a light on whether appropriate action and support were provided.
This approach ensures that both qualitative and quantitative data are captured, forming the foundation for a comprehensive report that will be shared with policymakers, law enforcement, and community organisations.
The impact: Beyond data collection
The significance of this survey extends well beyond gathering statistics. Here’s how it stands to make a real difference:
- Empowering the Community: It validates the experiences of those who have suffered in silence, giving them a voice and a sense of belonging in the collective struggle against hate.
- Driving Policy Change: The final report will serve as an evidence-based call for action, encouraging authorities to include anti-Hindu hate within their hate crime frameworks.
- Educational Value: The survey itself acts as a tool for awareness, helping participants better understand what constitutes hate and how to address it.
- Uniting Communities: It fosters unity among British Hindus and allies who wish to work collaboratively to ensure dignity, safety, and respect for all.
- Shaping Future Advocacy: The findings will lay the groundwork for future initiatives, campaigns, and educational programs that tackle anti-Hindu hate through informed advocacy.
A call to action
This initiative is not just about identifying the problem—it’s about shaping the future. INSIGHT UK urges all British Hindus to participate in the survey and contribute to a clearer, data-driven picture of anti-Hindu hate in the UK. Participation is anonymous, and every response brings us one step closer to a fairer, more inclusive society.
