“One of the great things about Canada is that we are a country of religious freedom.” Canadian MP Michael Cooper made an impassioned case for dedicating a month to Hinduism.
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00:00Hindu-Canadians have contributed to virtually all aspects of Canadian society,
00:06including technology, science, the arts, law, medicine, and politics.
00:30Mr. Speaker, Hinduism is one of the world's oldest religions.
00:48Indeed, it has been said to be the world's oldest religion,
00:52with an ancient history dating back more than 5,000 years.
00:58It's also one of the world's largest religions,
01:03with more than 900 million people from all corners of the world who practice Hinduism.
01:11More than that, Mr. Speaker, Hinduism is beyond that of a set of religious beliefs.
01:19As the member for Nepean, in his eloquent speech when he spoke to the motion,
01:25spoke of the rich, diverse, and ancient inheritance that underpins Hinduism,
01:34including wisdom traditions, literature, festivals, and, as the member noted most importantly,
01:43samskaras, or sacraments in their homes.
01:48Hindus in Canada have a long history dating back more than 100 years ago.
01:57Then, a small number of Hindu families came from Punjab.
02:03It was not until the 1960s that a larger number of Hindus came to Canada,
02:11mostly from northern India.
02:14In the 1970s, many more Hindus from other parts of the world,
02:18including countries in East Africa, Trinidad, Fiji, and Guyana, came to Canada.
02:26Many of those Hindus were fleeing religious discrimination and persecution in their home countries.
02:35And I have to say, Mr. Speaker, that one of the great things about Canada
02:41is that we are a country of religious freedom.
02:46Canadians have a right, indeed it is a fundamental right guaranteed to all Canadians,
02:53to peacefully assemble and practice their religion freely.
03:00And consistent with that, and in that spirit,
03:05this motion reflects the cultural and religious pluralism that is Canada.
03:15Today, the Hindu community is a vibrant one.
03:21It is more than 600,000 people strong and growing.
03:29It is a community that is recognized to be peaceful, community-oriented, productive, and highly educated.
03:45Hindu Canadians have contributed to virtually all aspects of Canadian society,
03:52including technology, science, the arts, law, medicine, and politics.
03:59Mr. Speaker, in closing, let me say that in passing this motion,
04:06in declaring November as Hindu Heritage Month,
04:11rightfully acknowledges the significant contributions of Hindu Canadians.
04:19More than that, it provides a unique platform, an opportunity for Canadians of Hindu heritage
04:27to promote their culture and traditions, and to tell their stories,
04:35and the stories of their ancestors that are interwoven into the fabric of Canada.