ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
CoHNA to host Dalit-Bahujan dialogue amid NY caste bill debate
CoHNA has framed the session as a response to what it perceives as renewed media and activist focus portraying Indian Americans and Hindus as inherently hierarchical or discriminatory.
-
1759953093.png)
Staff Reporter - Mon, 11, May 2026
- 02:04 EDT
- 33
Poster of the event / CoHNA via X
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), a grassroots advocacy organization representing Hindu communities in North America, is convening a virtual event titled “Beyond the Narrative: Dalit & Bahujan Realities” on May 16.
The event comes in response to a recent bill introduced in New York, Assembly Bill A6920 and Senate Bill S6531, which seeks to prohibit discrimination based on a person’s caste in employment opportunities, housing and access to public accommodations.
The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Steven Raga and Sen. James Sanders Jr. in the Assembly and Senate, respectively, would explicitly add “caste” to state law.
This move is viewed by CoHNA as “a return of the media fever to paint Indian Americans as uniquely discriminatory, oppressive & hierarchical. To silence any opposition as ‘upper caste.’”
In light of the new bill, CoHNA is organizing the virtual discussion featuring “American Hindu leaders from diverse backgrounds” for a conversation on what they have seen, observed and lived through, and how the broader community should think about these issues.
CoHNA has framed the session as a response to what it perceives as renewed media and activist focus portraying Indian Americans and Hindus as inherently hierarchical or discriminatory.
ALSO READ: Online post of California students forming 'human swastika' sparks outrage
Urging people to attend, CoHNA said, “Hear directly from Dalit and Bahujan Hindu leaders as they share their lived experiences, challenge dominant narratives, and affirm authentic Hindu voices and sacred traditions with clarity and authority.”
A familiar group of privileged caste activists + elite academics has turned its attention to NY State to pass a bill that would institutionalize discrimination against Hindus. We are seeing a return of the media fever to paint Indian Americans as uniquely discriminatory,… pic.twitter.com/v1OJuxBI9F
— CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) May 10, 2026
The dialogue will feature key collaborators from CoHNA, including CoHNA Director of Government Relations and board member Sudha Jagannathan, CoHNA Steering Committee member Aldrin Deepak, and CoHNA and Hindu Parents Network Steering Committee member Smitha Raj Chummy.
If passed and signed into law, the New York legislation would make New York the first U.S. state to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on caste.
A similar bill in California passed the state legislature in 2023 but was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who argued the measure was unnecessary because existing state law already bans discrimination based on ancestry, national origin, religion and other characteristics — protections that are to be “liberally construed.”
Discover more at New India Abroad.
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login