Dr. Romesh K. Japra Calls for Mutual Respect, Constructive Dialogue, and Balanced Understanding Following NBC News Coverage of Neighborhood Concerns
FREMONT: For more than four decades, Vedic Dharma Samaj Fremont Hindu Temple & Cultural Center has stood as a cherished spiritual, cultural, and community institution in the San Francisco Bay Area, bringing generations together through the timeless teachings of Sanatana Dharma. Founded under the leadership of Dr. Romesh K. Japra, the Temple has grown from serving a small group of Hindu families into a vibrant center of worship, cultural education, and community service, welcoming people of all backgrounds. Through sacred festivals, religious ceremonies, youth engagement, charitable initiatives, toy and blanket drives, and countless acts of seva, the Temple has worked to preserve Hindu heritage while promoting compassion, family values, inclusivity, and harmony. Its longstanding contributions have also received civic recognition, reflecting its place in Fremont’s multicultural community.
Following recent NBC News coverage concerning neighborhood complaints about religious activities during the Navratri period, the Temple reaffirms its commitment to respecting its neighbors, maintaining constructive relationships with city officials, and protecting the ability of future generations to practice and celebrate their faith. In this spirit of mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence, Dr. Romesh K. Japra, Founder and Chairman of Fremont Hindu Temple, Festival of Globe, and Americans4Hindus, has issued the following statement.
Official Statement by Dr. Romesh K. Japra
Dr. Romesh Japra, Founder & Chairman, Fremont Hindu Temple, Festival of Globe and Americans4Hindus Response to the NBC News Reel Regarding Fremont Hindu Temple
“As a passionate follower of Hindu civilization, Sanatana Dharma, and our timeless cultural heritage, I have had the privilege of serving as Founder and Chairman of the Fremont Hindu Temple and Cultural Center for the past 43 years.
From a small community of just a few dozen Hindu families in the 1970s, we have grown into a vibrant institution serving over 70,000 Hindu Americans and welcoming people from all backgrounds.
For more than four decades, our Temple has been a spiritual, religious, cultural, and social home for thousands of families. It has helped preserve our traditions, strengthen family values, nurture our children, and enrich the multicultural fabric of Fremont.
It is therefore deeply disappointing to see the recent NBC coverage portraying our beloved Temple primarily through a neighborhood noise dispute.
A couple who moved into the neighborhood approximately 18 months ago, Aditi and Arijit Date, have repeatedly raised concerns about noise with city officials, police, and now the media.
We respect everyone’s right to express concerns. However, we have attempted to arrange meetings and engage in constructive dialogue, without success so far.
Other neighbors who have met with us have expressed appreciation for the Temple and its positive presence in the neighborhood. In fact, some families chose to move into this area because of the Temple and the welcoming community surrounding it.
Our Temple hosts religious services, spiritual gatherings, and small to medium-sized traditional celebrations that bring families and children together. Major festivals such as Diwali, Holi, and the Festival of Globe have already been moved to larger venues elsewhere in Fremont to accommodate growing attendance and minimize neighborhood inconvenience.
These celebrations are not merely entertainment. They are opportunities to pass on our heritage, instill values of compassion, discipline, family unity, and community service, and provide our younger generations with a positive sense of identity and belonging.
For 43 years, Hindu Americans have contributed immensely to Fremont through medicine, technology, education, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and public service. Our community has helped make Fremont one of America’s most diverse, prosperous, and family-friendly cities.
Should decades of religious freedom, cultural preservation, and community service be jeopardized by a dispute that could potentially be resolved through respectful dialogue and reasonable accommodation?
We firmly believe that religious freedom and the right of residents to peaceful enjoyment of their homes can and should coexist.
Our Temple remains committed to being a responsible neighbor, complying with applicable regulations, and working constructively with the City of Fremont and surrounding residents.
I sincerely appeal to Aditi and Arijit Date to join us in a spirit of mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation. Our doors remain open for meaningful dialogue.
I also urge the media to present a balanced perspective that recognizes both neighborhood concerns and the Temple’s extraordinary history of service to the broader community.
Our Hindu philosophy teaches us: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — The World Is One Family.
Let us resolve differences through dialogue, not confrontation; through understanding, not division; and through cooperation, not conflict.
Fremont Hindu Temple has proudly served this community for 43 years, and we remain committed to serving future generations while respecting all our neighbors.“
Dr. Romesh K. Japra, M.D., FACC
Founder & Chairman
Fremont Hindu Temple & Cultural Center
Festival of Globe (FOG)
Americans4Hindus (A4H)
Federation of Indo-Americans (FIA)
Fremont Hindu Temple — Over Four Decades of Devotion, Heritage, and Community Service.
About Vedic Dharma Samaj Fremont Hindu Temple
Vedic Dharma Samaj Fremont Hindu Temple is a longstanding Hindu religious and cultural institution in Fremont, California, dedicated to preserving Sanatan Dharma through worship, religious education, cultural celebrations, and community service.
For more than four decades, the temple has provided a spiritual gathering place for Hindu families throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Website: www.fremonttemple.org
About Americans4Hindus (A4H):
Americans4Hindus is dedicated to empowering Hindu Americans through political education, leadership development, strategic endorsements, and community mobilization. Americans4Hindus continues to expand its national presence by building alliances, empowering communities, and advancing democratic engagement across the United States
For further information or media inquiries, please contact:
Americans4Hindus (A4H):
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.americans4hindus.org
“We are not just participating – we are shaping the future. From school boards to the U.S. Congress, American Hindus are ready to lead.”
— Americans4Hindus.
