Mr Ashish Dhar : Actively working to promote Hindu culture

Mr Ashish Dhar is a social entrepreneur, working primarily to bring about transformation in society. He has established several platforms dedicated to removing symbols of intellectual slavery from Indian traditions and protecting Hindu culture.

After completing his education, he co-founded the ‘Upword Foundation’ and is a core member of the ‘Indic Collective Trust.’ As a compelling speaker and writer, he uses his research-based knowledge and experience as a Kashmiri Hindu to challenge dominant colonial and modern narratives and to present the true essence of Hindutva to the world.

Special Column

The sacrifice of the soldiers and generals for the Hindavi Swarajya as envisaged by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is supreme. Similarly, in the present times, many devout Hindus and patriotic citizens of this country have been striving to protect the Nation & Dharma.The ‘Hindutva Warriors’ is a series of Articles that sheds light on their life and struggle to protect Hindu Dharma. We hope that it serves as a catalyst for the mission of establishing the ‘Hindu Rashtra’ and inspires many others. – Editor

1. Education

Before turning to social work, Mr Ashish Dhar earned a Bachelor of Technology degree in Mechanical Engineering from the ‘Vellore Institute of Technology.’ His technical background, analytical skills, and project management experience enabled him to create platforms that disseminate knowledge and spark cultural dialogue.

2. Upword Foundation

In August 2018, Mr Ashish co-founded the ‘Upword Foundation,’ a non-profit media organisation based in New Delhi. The Foundation produces short, deeply researched videos that address global and cultural challenges. As a co-founder and director, he plays a central role in shaping strategic direction, gathering research, and collaborating with experts, journalists, and scholars to distil meaningful content from a deluge of information. Under his leadership, Upword has launched key series such as ‘Pinpoint,’, ‘Ideas,’ and ‘Deep Dive,’ which explore enduring cultural values using modern language and formats.

3. Pragyata : Liberation from mental slavery

Mr Ashish Dhar also co-founded ‘Pragyata,’ an Online journal that publishes essays on Indian civilization, history, culture, and Dharma, challenging colonial, and Marxist frameworks.

With the goal of reclaiming India’s intellectual heritage, he curates writings on topics like caste, the environment, and gaps in modern historiography. Pragyata’s mission is to offer an alternative perspective to the overwhelming mainstream narrative.

4. Indic Collective Trust : Leadership Role

From June 2017, Mr Ashish Dhar served as Operations Head for three years at the ‘Indic Collective Trust.’ In this role, he focused on amplifying and coordinating legal campaigns and initiatives aimed at reviving Indian knowledge systems. He ensured robust IT infrastructure and behind-the-scenes operations. His organisational skills have helped bridge grassroots movements with scholarly efforts, enabling more effective and cohesive action.

5. Intellectual leadership and social engagement

Mr Ashish Dhar is a popular speaker and a frequent participant in panel discussions and conferences. He regularly addresses audiences through seminars, webinars, and multimedia platforms on topics such as the true identity of Hindus, cultural survival, and the persecution of Brahmans and Kashmiri Hindus. His YouTube lecture, ‘Kashmir: Past, Present, and Future’, is a perfect blend of personal experience with historical analysis, highlighting the trauma of displacement.

He also actively engages with audiences on social media about the balance between tradition and modernity.

In this video, @infinitchy talks about the discourse around #PahalgamTerroristAttack and urges like-minded Hindus to go beyond Social Media noise to build something in the real world.

6. Personal background and impact

Born into a Kashmiri Hindu family, Mr Ashish Dhar has personally experienced the pain of being displaced from his ancestral home and region. This personal history strengthens his critique of the legacy of colonialism and intensifies his efforts to unite communities in the protection of Hindu culture. Through Upword and Pragyata, he equips readers and viewers to confront institutionalised prejudice and take an informed stand for the bright future of Hindu culture.