American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) is the first Hindu organization, a watchdog group anywhere in the world dedicated to preserving the sanctity of Hindu symbols, icons, culture, and customs.
AHAD started its life as the American Hindus Anti-Defamation Coalition, an initiative of the World Hindu Council of America (VHPA), on March 27, 1997. Hindus across the US felt that there were increasing incidents of abuse and misrepresentation of Hindu images, icons, and deities in commercial products, the entertainment industry, and mass media. The immediate impetus was SONY Music’s production of Aerosmith’s album Nine Lives, which featured Lord Vishnu’s morphed image on its cover.
Envisioned as a powerful coalition of Hindu organizations, the AHAD internet protests immediately attracted several organizations and tens of thousands of signatories, showcasing the unity and strength of the Hindu community. This collective force empowers us to preserve the sanctity of our symbols, icons, culture, and customs.
AHAD has led dozens of successful campaigns. We prioritize resolution over publicity unlike many who work on Hindu defamation issues. Some of our campaigns have been public, while we have resolved several issues by directly reaching out to the offending party and explaining the sensitivities of Hindus. This track record should reassure you of our commitment and capabilities.
Today, AHAD is part of a larger advocacy initiative of VHPA. Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Initiative (HinduPACT).
You can see some of our campaigns on the AHAD Actions timeline.