The document discusses developing youth leadership in the Hindu community. It notes that the current yield of Hindu youth leaders is very low, at around 0.00025%, compared to 0.005% in previous generations. Some reasons for this include unanswered questions about Hinduism from youth, misconceptions promoted about Hinduism, and a lack of engagement opportunities for youth in temples. The document argues that temples should broaden their role by providing mentorship, leadership opportunities, and ways for youth to get involved through activities from ages 0-22 in order to develop the next generation of Hindu leaders.

1. Developing the Next Generation of Youth
Leadership
Obstacles & the Path Forward
Krishna Maheshwari
Founder, Hindupedia.com
The online Encyclopedia of Hindu Dharma

2. 2
Hindupedia.com, the online Encyclopedia of Hindu Dharma
Quick Survey
• Everyone please raise your hand
• Keep it up if you are below 30
• Keep it up if you have not yet graduate from college

3. 3
Hindupedia.com, the online Encyclopedia of Hindu Dharma
Questions to think about
• What do you think about youth leadership?
• What do we hear, see & not see?
• Who are we?
• What is the path forward?

4. 4
Hindupedia.com, the online Encyclopedia of Hindu Dharma
Youth just don’t
want to take up
leadership
roles!
We are lucky
that youth even
visit temples
after college!
Youth are just
not getting
involved!
How do we get
youth to take
up the mantle?
Why is the yield
of youth Hindu
leaders so low?

5. 5
Hindupedia.com, the online Encyclopedia of Hindu Dharma
Myth of the Yield
• 800,000,000 people
• 2,000 leaders in the US?
• Yield: 0.00025%
Previous Generation
• 2,000,000 in the US
• 100 leaders?
• Yield: 0.005%
Our Generation

6. 6
Hindupedia.com, the online Encyclopedia of Hindu Dharma
India circa 1978
Need to be American
Weekend temple visits
India vacations
Unanswered questions
Sunday school
Unexplained rituals
Unasked questions
Uncoordinated Hindu
Groups
What do we see & hear?
Eat Monkey Brains
Cows, Caste, Curry, Sati
Poverty
Aryan Invasion Theory
Movies: Church, Masjid
Hindu Rate of Growth
Sangh Parivar =
Terrorists/Extremists
Idol Worshippers
Going to Hell
Concepts of Sin/Heaven
American Born Confused Desi

7. 7
Hindupedia.com, the online Encyclopedia of Hindu Dharma
What do we not see?
• 1000+ temples
• 10,000s of
charitable schools,
hospitals
• Inspirational
emergency relief
efforts
• Hundreds of
scriptures
• 1,000,000+
wondering
sannyasins
• 700+ temples
• Many sansthas
• Hindupedia
• Hindu American
Foundation
• Hinduism Today
• Hindu Student
Council
• VHPA
• HSS
• ..

8. 8
Hindupedia.com, the online Encyclopedia of Hindu Dharma
Why do we come to the temple?
parents
friends
children
0-14
15-22
28+

9. 9
Hindupedia.com, the online Encyclopedia of Hindu Dharma
Why do we not get involved?
Sunday School
Skits/Plays/Etc
We are not
asked…
We are not
asked…
0-14
15-22
28+

10. 10
Hindupedia.com, the online Encyclopedia of Hindu Dharma
About Leadership
• Inspiring
• Motivating
• Engaging
Expectations / Actions
• Role models by example
• Credibility leads from standing for their beliefs
• Words consistent with action
• Plan and execute plans
• Act daily to create progress and momentum
Role Models
• Myth: Temple is “Personal” and not to be discussed in the professional
sphere
• Good for career development
Personal / Professional
• Action Oriented
• Feedback
oriented
• Equitable
• Transparent

11. 11
Hindupedia.com, the online Encyclopedia of Hindu Dharma
Two Categories of Leaders
Harness, Support Develop

12. 12
Hindupedia.com, the online Encyclopedia of Hindu Dharma
Network Effects
Mentorship
Opportunities to Lead
How to Engage?

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Hindupedia.com, the online Encyclopedia of Hindu Dharma
0-14: Educate & Identify
Present opportunities
14-17: Engage in temple activity, Sewa
Identify & Expose to leadership
activity
17-22: Keep in touch, engage at College
22+: Open opportunities for leadership
roles
Impact professional lives
How to develop? Broaden the
role of the
temple

14. 14
Hindupedia.com, the online Encyclopedia of Hindu Dharma
Answered questions
or find those that can
India Vacation =
Video Documentary
Priest Engagement
Youth Board Member
Interactive Media
Community Outreach
Engage youth to fix structural
issues
School Engagement
Temple Trips
College Engagement
Media Engagement
Knowledge management
College Admissions
Professional Development
Legal Engagement
American Born Confident Desi

15. 15
Hindupedia.com, the online Encyclopedia of Hindu Dharma
Another quick survey
• Please raise your hand if you are below 30
• Committed to an organization in a leadership
capability
– Been approached for mentorship
• Not committed to an organization in a leadership
role
– Have not been approached by one of the many
organizations present here?