CARTERET, New Jersey — Hindu Students Council (HSC), one of the largest pan-Hindu youth organizations in North America, hosted its annual Hindu Youth Leadership Summit this past weekend in New Jersey. Student leaders from high schools and colleges gathered for a weekend of workshops, interactive sessions, and expert-led discussions on Hindu Dharma.
The summit aimed to empower and develop Hindu student and youth leaders. Several high school students, college students, recent graduates, alumni, and Hindu chaplains from North America attended the three-day event. Workshops covered topics such as effective leadership, HSC chapter management, conflict resolution, and collaboration within chapter boards.
“The skills I’ve learned this weekend will help me immensely while working on key projects, whether it be planning an event with the HSC High School Leadership Board or creating a small write-up with a team,” said Executive Board member Prachet Trivedi from the Academy of Allied Health and Science, a four-year high school in Neptune, NJ that prepares students for the medical profession. “This summit reaffirmed the importance of Hindu leadership and provided practical tools to bring back to our campuses,” he added.
The summit commenced on Friday, February 7, in Carteret, NJ. Following the opening ceremony, attendees participated in roundtable discussions reflecting on their motivations for joining HSC, the qualities of effective Hindu leaders, and their vision for the organization’s future. The evening concluded with a game night featuring Hindu-themed activities such as Charades, Taboo!, and Pictionary, fostering engagement and camaraderie among participants.
On Saturday, the day began with breakfast and icebreakers, followed by an insightful guest lecture titled “Hindu Dharma: The OG Framework for Winning at Life” by Brahmacari Pratyagatma Chaitanya from Arsha Vidya Gurukulum. The sessions throughout the day empowered attendees with knowledge of Hindu contributions to the world, best practices for growing and sustaining HSC chapters, and leadership skills. Breakout sessions included discussions on post-graduation involvement with HSC and how to enhance HSC chapter engagement. The day wrapped up with an interactive Hindu-themed escape room game and an open discussion on Hindu Dharma, reinforcing the summit’s themes of leadership and cultural advocacy.
“I was able to learn a lot about the history of Hinduism around the world during the summit. I also got to meet and connect with other individuals and learn about their experiences,” said Shubhechchha Khadka, Board Member of HSC’s Brooklyn Technical High School Chapter.
Sunday’s activities took place at Shree Umiya Dham Hindu Temple, where attendees participated in darshan, closing reflections, and a community lunch. High schoolers and students from Rutgers HSC presented their work to the community. This event reinforced the importance of providing community support to Hindu students and encouraged participants to carry forward their Hindu traditions with pride.
“I enjoyed the variety of the experience. Not only was our chapter able to gain knowledge and ask for advice with various fields of growth such as consciousness and outreach, but we were also able to give our own presentation which encouraged improvement on our end as well!” said Sharnali Das, Board Member of HSC’s Brooklyn Technical High School Chapter.
The event served as a reminder that when united by shared values and purpose, the Hindu community can achieve great things.
Founded in 1990, Hindu Students Council is one of North America’s largest youth organizations. HSC is a 501(c)3 non-profit providing a welcoming community for Hindus at schools and on campuses. It is also a platform for young Hindu leaders to learn, grow and engage in education, empowerment and seva. Through various initiatives, including community service projects, cultural events, educational programs, interfaith dialogues, etc., HSC remains dedicated to empowering the next generation of Hindu leaders.
For more information, please visit hindustudentscouncil.org or email HSC at [email protected]. You can also find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube or as HinduStudentsC on Twitter.