Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP)
Website: http://vhp.org/
Category: Religion
Year of Foundation: 1964
Location of Foundation: Mumbai, India
Location of Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Brief Description: Vishva Hindu Parishad describes its goal as 'to organise - consolidate the Hindu society and to serve – protect the Hindu Dharma.' (source: vhp.org; accessed 29 April 2010)
Founding Rationales:
According to the letter sent by Shri Shiv Shankar Apte calling for the August 1964 Mumbai conference at which VHP was founded: 'Hindu peoples in Hindusthan and abroad need an awakening into their essential unity in Philosophy, Religion and Culture. Establishing a Central Organisation to maintain contacts, to supply the pure spirit of the Hindu way of life and make it possible for all from all countries to draw inspiration from the fountain source of their spiritual heritage is the standing need of our times. Building up of Hindu solidarity and encouraging the Hindus in other parts of the world to make their impression on the environments in which they live, and to enrich the culture of the countries of their adoption should be the object and function of this Convention and the Centre which is proposed to be evolved out of it.'
Source: 'Text of the letter sent by Shri Shiv Shankar Apte for inviting prominent Hindu leaders, Dharmacharyas, thinkers for the first Convention at Bombay for founding the VHP in August, 1964' at vhp.org (accessed 29 April 2010).
Evolution of Participation in World Hindu Conferences:
Source: vhp.org (accessed 29 April 2010).