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HIPL — Hinduism in Public Life
Write for HIPL · Voices

Your voice belongs in the circle.

Anyone can write for HIPL. Pitch us an idea; if we accept it, we edit it with you and publish it under your name. Nothing goes live until you approve the final version.

Pitch an ideaRead Voices
From pitch to publication

Six steps, and you approve the last one.

The editor replies to every pitch within 10 working days.

01You pitch100–300 words.
02We replyWithin 10 working days.
03You draftWith an editor assigned.
04We editEdits always come back to you.
05You approveThe final version is yours.
06PublishedUnder your name, for HIPL.
What we publish

Six formats

Essay

An argument or idea about Hindu thought and public life

800–1,500 words

My Hinduism

A personal story: faith, family, doubt, practice, identity

600–1,000 words

Explainer pitch

A topic for the Explorations library, developed with the HIPL team

300-word pitch

Response

A reply to a Dialogue, an Interview or another Voices piece

500–800 words

Review

A book, film, album, exhibition or performance

500–900 words

Local story

A temple, festival, craft, seva project or tradition from your town

500–1,000 words + photos

Who can write

Anyone, of any belief or none.

Anyone 18 or older, from any background. Writers under 18 can submit with a parent's or guardian's consent, which suits school and college students. Hindi submissions are welcome and will be published once the Hindi section opens.

Rights, credit and payment
  • You keep your copyright. You give HIPL a non-exclusive licence to publish, edit, translate and share the piece with credit.
  • Your byline reads "[Your name] for HIPL", with your bio and a link to your contributor page.
  • Every Voices piece carries the note: "Views are the writer's own. HIPL publishes a range of perspectives."
  • Payment: Voices is unpaid at launch. We'd rather say so plainly. We will revisit this once HIPL has funding.
Writer guidelines
  1. Original onlyUnpublished work. No plagiarism; quotes must be attributed.
  2. Cite your sourcesFor factual claims, following our source rules.
  3. Disagree wellDisagreement is welcome. Hate, personal attacks and party-political campaigning are not.
  4. Be open about AITell us if and how you used AI tools. AI-written articles are not accepted.
  5. Write for everyoneClear for a general reader; explain Sanskrit terms the first time.
  6. Introduce yourselfA 2-line bio and, if you like, a photo.
The pitch form

Tell us your idea.

It takes about ten minutes. You'll get a confirmation email straight away, and a reply from an editor within 10 working days.

FAQ

Questions writers ask

Do I need to be Hindu, or an expert?

No. We publish people of any belief or none. Clear thinking and honest writing matter more than credentials.

Can I write in Hindi?

Yes. Hindi pitches are welcome now and will be published once the Hindi section opens.

Will you change my piece?

We edit for clarity, accuracy and length. Every edit comes back to you, and nothing is published until you approve the final version.

Am I paid?

Not at launch. We'll revisit this once HIPL has funding, possibly with a small honorarium or an annual "Best of Voices" prize.

Can I publish it elsewhere too?

Yes. You keep your copyright and HIPL's licence is non-exclusive. We ask that you credit HIPL as the first publisher.

What if you decline my pitch?

We'll tell you, usually with a line on why. You're welcome to pitch again.