UN Report Recognizes Hindus as Indigenous People, Highlights Colonial Legacy and Ongoing Persecution

The United Nations has published KAILASA's 28th report as part of contributions to the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council, focusing on the recognition of Hindus as indigenous peoples and their historical struggles against colonial legacies. The comprehensive submission establishes that followers of Sanatana Dharma represent the indigenous civilization of Bharat and across Asia, distinguishing Hindu traditions from Christianity and Islam which entered the region through conquest and external imposition.

The report emphasizes that Hindu traditions have flourished for millennia across 56 indigenous Hindu nations spanning over 6 million square kilometers. It identifies Hindus as the native inheritors of the Vedic civilizational tradition, arguing that colonial powers deliberately disrupted this indigenous identity by creating artificial divisions such as caste and tribal classifications to implement divide-and-rule policies. This colonial framework extended beyond physical occupation to include Eurocentric systems that delegitimized indigenous legal, governance, and knowledge structures.

A significant portion of the report examines what it terms neo-Hindutva as a colonial construct, specifically criticizing British-supported ideologies including those of V.D. Savarkar for fragmenting Hindu society. The document positions KAILASA's revival under The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism Bhagavan Nithyananda Paramashivam as a restoration of indigenous Hindu statehood, with the organization operating as a government-in-exile representing 21 ancient Hindu kingdoms. This revival represents what the report describes as an assertion of decoloniality and the restoration of Hindu Swaraj or self-governance.

The report documents extensive human rights violations against KAILASA and its members, including deep state-sponsored violence, unlawful persecution, suppression of religious freedom, and illegal detention and torture. These documented cases highlight the ongoing challenges facing Hindu indigenous communities worldwide. Through the United Ancient Nations alliance, KAILASA has united over 160 indigenous nations and communities globally, advancing shared struggles for sovereignty, cultural survival, and international recognition.

The report concludes with a call to action urging the United Nations and international community to formally recognize Hindus as indigenous peoples under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It requests investigation into systemic persecution of Hindu indigenous communities and accountability for deep state and non-state actors violating religious and cultural sovereignty. The document also advocates for support of decolonial movements worldwide seeking to restore indigenous self-determination. For additional context, readers can visit https://kailaasa.org/briefings-statements/united-nations-reports/un-publishes-kailasas-28th-report-recognizing-hindu-indigeneity-and-uan/ for the full report details.

This recognition carries significant implications for international human rights frameworks and indigenous rights movements globally. By establishing Hindus as indigenous peoples, the report challenges conventional understandings of indigeneity that often exclude major civilizational traditions. The documentation of persecution against KAILASA members highlights ongoing religious freedom concerns that merit international attention. The alliance building through the United Ancient Nations demonstrates how indigenous movements are increasingly forming global networks to advocate collectively for sovereignty and cultural preservation.

The report's emphasis on decoloniality reflects broader academic and activist movements seeking to address the lasting impacts of colonialism beyond formal independence. By framing Hindu struggles within this global context, the submission connects specific religious persecution to universal patterns of colonial legacy and indigenous rights violations. This approach could influence how international bodies address similar cases involving other major religious and cultural traditions seeking recognition as indigenous civilizations.