The DharmaNEXT Conference 2026 brought together 150 Hindu children and youth aged 9-19 at the Asia-Europe Institute, Universiti Malaya, for a day of learning, dialogue and action focused on making Hindu teachings meaningful in a rapidly changing world.
The event to be held at Asia-Europe Institute, Universiti Malaya, is on Aug 16. Participation is welcomed, and for more information contant, SUGAM Secretariat +6012 308 9356 or admin@sugam.org
Organised by Sugam Samskhaaraa under the auspices of Yayasan Sugam, in collaboration with Kriyalakshmi Gurukulam, Malaysia Hindu Sangam, Malaysia Hindu Dharma Mamandram and Sri Murugan Centre, the conference will be conducted entirely in English.
This is a deliberate effort to ensure that young Hindus who are not fluent in Tamil or other Indian languages could still access, understand and engage meaningfully with Hindu values and teachings.
"For Hindu children who may not speak Tamil fluently, this language barrier should never make them feel disconnected from their faith," said Sumitra Jayaseelan, Project Director of DharmaNEXT Conference 2026 and Co-Founder of SUGAM.
"Tamil and other Indian languages remain an invaluable part of our heritage. At the same time, we must create additional pathways through which every young Hindu can understand Dharma, ask questions and develop a personal connection with its values. DharmaNEXT uses English as a bridge so that no child is left behind."
Unlike a conventional conference where participants primarily sit and listen, DharmaNEXT places young people at the centre of the programme. Youth speakers will deliver TED-style presentations connecting Hindu thought with contemporary issues, while younger participants are to share their ideas and understanding through creative poster presentations.
A key feature will be the Interactive Dharma Lab, where participants work in teams to examine real challenges affecting the Malaysian Indian and Hindu community. Guided by facilitators, they applied values such as responsibility, compassion, service, integrity and respect to develop practical responses, before presenting their proposals to a panel. The organisers are now exploring mentoring and seed support for selected ideas to help turn them into tangible community initiatives.
The programme also features a keynote address by Datuk Dr Waitchalla R.R.V. Suppiah, former Secretary-General of Malaysia's Ministry of Youth and Sports, together with interactions involving community leaders, professionals, educators and youth mentors.
"We do not want young people to leave the conference simply remembering what they heard," Sumitra added. "We wanted them to leave believing that they can contribute. Dharma is not only something to be studied or discussed - it must be translated into thoughtful choices, service and action."
For the record, DharmaNEXT Conference is a youth-centred initiative of Sugam Samskhaaraa under the auspices of Yayasan Sugam. It seeks to make Hindu knowledge and values accessible, relevant and meaningful to a new generation, while empowering young people to apply Dharma to contemporary personal and community challenges.
Sugam SAMSKHAARAA nurtures timeless Vedic values and heritage among the younger generation. The name SAMSKHAARAA refers to the lasting impressions left on the mind by life’s experiences, shaping one’s nature and responses. True to its name, Sugam SAMSKHAARAA aims to leave positive cultural imprints on children, fostering a deep, lifelong connection to their traditions.
