The Lost Decade— Match-Fixing or ‘Compromised’ or purely Inept?
Per online public records IRS Form 990 (here) required from every organization that takes tax-deductible donations, around 2 Million US Dollars were collected by my organization from 2010–2019, an average of 200k per year; plus another cool Million in 2020 alone. Every email you receive from us has an appeal for more money. US$ 3 Million and counting so far in past 10 years…. want $2M more! $3M more!! (also read Forecast at end of this article)
Funds are critical to any org. But many National Leaders near the end of our terms including myself keep awake at night in worry — the money received from unprecedented donations has become fattening lard, drifting the organization far away from the core mission of countering Hindutva while millions of lives are at stake. Writing this has not been an easy step to take for myself; I have to answer to the most High on the Day of Judgement for not speaking out.
Containing, limiting and exposing Hindutva in USA is important now more than ever. Letting them grow here jeopardizes pluralistic ethos here & in India. The sheer gutso of these fast-rising fascists comes from gaining political power in USA & by pulling wool over the eyes of the good people of this country.
Unfortunately, this entire decade 2010–2020 passed while this org only talked a good talk, without any concrete action. Since Modi came to power in 2014, Hindutva grew rapidly in USA with sure footing, years passed, money was collected by us & spent with no Accountability or Results. No concrete step was taken by this organization to contain or even stop Hindutva in USA. The Leadership fiddled, ego’s bloated, heads buried in sand & minds closed to input. A Cult mentality has developed… “the superior us” are never wrong…. isnt that what Modi Bhakts also say?
I ask all who joined new in the past 18 months since Babri judgement or since CAA…. think for yourself……
Who in their right mind believes that Hindutva will be dealt a neutralizing blow in USA or India with our current playbook i.e. once-a-month Webinars, posting news articles on our Facebook page using paid services, fundraising, marketing gimmicks or celebrity interviews? Well, unfortunately, this exactly is the belief of the top National leadership of this organization known as IAMC while they recklessly spend away the millions donated by the community. And they continue the outdated playbook of advocacy…… actually, the organization is outdated and has outlived its useful purpose. As Einstein said, doing more of the same and expecting different results is stupidity. In IAMC, we still live in the era of Kodak film-roll. The impotent Trustees follow the policy of “Say Not — Hear Not — See Not”.
Newcomers, can you imagine with an impending Genocide in India, National leadership pretends all problems will disappear with Webinars & Networking?
To make matters worse, the major decisions that have led to lack of results are driven by the misguided, bullying, conniving sole power-house California Bay Area chapter (Qibla of IAMC), which indulges in petty politics internally and externally while millions of Muslims in India stare in the eyes of an impending Genocide. The inexperienced members of the supposed all-powerful Board are led to believe whatever plot is desired by the 6–8 experienced members of Bay Area. Any critique of IAMC Leadership is termed a traitorous act by the Bay Area….. a tact borrowed straight from the book of Modi-Shah….. any criticism means you are anti-national. IAMC literally practices the very thing that we claim to stand against!
To kill competition, IAMC National Executives present & past, mostly ingrown from Bay Area chapter prescribe to the ‘Scorched Earth Doctrine’:
a) burning & suffocating other smaller organizations or activists that are eager to work for the cause of Indian Muslims including one that has enabled the passage of bills in US Congress for Rohingya & Uyghur issues. Specific instructions were barked out from National to isolate Justice for All.
b) bullying Inter-faith partners to not work with other Advocacy orgs, subscribing to the arrogant “My way or the Highway” approach. It was evident in the way they attacked Emgage in Florida chapter.
IAMC Leadership’s take on such Orgs that have much to offer to this cause: “But… but…. they are competition that has to be marginalized. Funds are at stake. Bay Area power-hogging rights are at stake. Who cares if the other org has enabled the passage of 2 Bills in the parliament of the Super-power called USA? So what if Hindutva grows in USA & India? IAMC shall do whatever it takes to marginalize other organizations and maintain monopoly on funds in the name of Indian Advocacy.”
As our volunteer National Executives spend the collected Millions of dollars on their way to Glory while arm-twisting Chapters to raise funds once a year for sustaining the Eastern-time zone based Consultants who are (mis)managed by volunteers living in Pacific time Zone. Other orgs with supposed few thousand dollars stopped 5 of 7 political candidates from getting elected (including Sri Kulkarni) by educating the entire country about Hindutva. Yet, IAMC has 2.5 hired-hands with salary paid from community funds (2.5 x 160 working hours monthly available = 400 working hours). What (if any) Results or outcome in any of the last 12 months comes close to justifying the 400 hours per month supposedly worked by employees that are paid with community money? And now talk of 4 more Executive Directors?
The Bull-crap story told to numerous donors of the “Dire Need” for an Executive Director who can work “full-time” with “laser-like focused”. Well, IAMC Executive Director Mr R is NOT a Full-time employee but was hired as a Contractor (1099) so he can maintain his liberty to also work for other ‘Clients’. Monthly cushy webinar with IAMC sure leave him plenty time to satisfy his other likely 2 ‘Clients’. Full-paycheck from IAMC but part-time work? Working hard or Hardly Working?? Is the National Leadership complicit in this deception? Hundreds across the nation try to keep breathing life in chapters with volunteer time yet the paid-hands play loosey-goosey. This FRAUD requires consequences. FIRE HIM!
IAMC has fiddled while Hindutva grew in past decade. A webinar here, an Action Alert there, a publicity stunt like this fundraiser or booking a Celebrity appearance in a seminar few months ago.….. and Hindutva kept growing by leaps and bounds while it smiled at our out-dated & obsolete playbook. When the house is on fire, we dont need webinars to relay the news. We need Action!
Wonder what cock-and-bull story was sold to Celebrities like Imran Pratapgarhi to appear on the recent fundraising or was sold to Aarfa Khanum Sherwani to participate in a seminar. I’m sure the scripted solicitation went like “We are the largest advocacy organization…..” etc. The part about ZERO results using $3 Million in entire decade was conveniently left out from that story. And you really trust the next decade to them?
IAMC Performance in last decade:
Not a single Bill passed in US Congress or brought to floor for voting. $3 Million wasted!
No CPC designation for India in USCIRF. $3 Million wasted!!
No active intervention against Hindutva candidates. $3 Million wasted!!!
Some days it truly makes me wonder. Match-fixing was prevalent in Cricket. A skilled & resourceful batsman throws away his wicket for a secret price fixed by a hawala agent…. Has IAMC agreed to ‘Match-fixing’ with Hindutva? Are there RAW or Modi agents in the organization that are designing a less-than-mediocre performance? An environment of fear & intimidation exists since 2018.
A full decade plus $3 Million wasted…. and still only talk….. and more talk…. but wait, talk is cheap, well… ‘a talking Act’ cost the community $3 Million and a lost decade?
What then is the penalty on allowing Hindutva to grow drastically under IAMC watch in USA over the last 10 years? The community trusted us to stop Hindutva and gave us whatever we asked for. Simply put, IAMC & its Bay Area Chapter deceived the muslim community.
Anyone out there who still dares to hold us accountable? Please do….
IAMC has to reform drastically in thought & action so that it can lead the cause in the next decade. And I pray that we will reform, sooner than later.
Forecast: Bay Area will issue diktat to discredit & blame this article on someone outside the org as well as a shameless rebuttal to this article with a “we worked so hard” & “atleast some effort is better than nothing”. Well, when one takes up responsibility, they cannot shirk from its accountability or results. As the old saying goes, one doesnt take a knife to a gun-fight and then cry pathetically, “atleast I tried”.
Thanks to the Form 990 posted per regulations on IRS website, the inept leadership of this organization will not be able to hide behind excuses.
