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In a world flooded with false rhetoric and anti-Hindu narratives, both in the West and Bharat, the UK High Court of Justice has delivered a landmark decision that Hindus everywhere can celebrate. In a defamation case brought by Islamist activist Mohammed Hijab against The Spectator and its columnist Douglas Murray, the Court not only rejected Hijab’s claims but also made a decisive observation: Hinduism and Hindutva cannot be separated.

The verdict debunked propaganda, exposed anti-Hindu bias, and gave a clean chit to Hindus who have long been defamed by the weaponization of the “Hindutva” label. For Hindus in North America, especially, this decision is both vindication and inspiration. It demonstrates that reasoning prevails, propaganda collapses, and Hinduism, with its diverse traditions and deep civilizational ethos, deserves respect, not ridicule.

Rutgers Report: Fiction Meets Judicial Reality
The implications of this ruling extend far beyond the United Kingdom. In the U.S., the much-criticized Rutgers Report attempted to construct a sharp divide between Hinduism and Hindutva. According to that report, Hinduism was to be tolerated as a benign spirituality while Hindutva was painted as a dangerous political ideology.
That false framing has been weaponized to attack Hindu organizations, silence voices in academia, and stigmatize the diaspora. The UK verdict destroys this fiction. By affirming that Hinduism and Hindutva are inseparable dimensions of Sanatan Dharma, the Court has undercut the very foundation of the Rutgers narrative.

While the decision may not serve as a binding precedent in American courts, it is a powerful citation. Should Hindus in North America challenge Rutgers-style defamations, this ruling provides both moral strength and judicial logic. In short, the series of articles by this author in this newspaper (Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5A, 5B, and 6) exposing the fabrications of the Rutgers Report now stands vindicated in a UK court.

The Case: Mohammed Hijab vs. The Spectator
The case arose from a column in The Spectator by Douglas Murray, in which he critiqued Islamist rhetoric. In the article titled ‘Leicester and the downside with diversity’, published on 24th September 2022, columnist Murray referred to Mohammed Hijab as a street agitator. Hijab claimed defamation and portrayed himself as the victim of malicious portrayal. Yet the Court’s judgment turned the tables.

In particular, the Judge noted Hijab’s attempt to ridicule Hindus by mocking reincarnation, a core Hindu belief. The judgment stated:

“The phrase ‘if they believe in reincarnation’ was not a genuine conditional clause that sought to distinguish Hindu Hindutva from non-Hindu Hindutva. It was a rhetorical device intended to inflame sectarian tensions by inviting ridicule of a central tenet of Hinduism.”

In other words, Hijab’s tactic was not an intellectual critique but incitement—an attempt to sow divisions and mock an ancient faith. The Court’s deeper significance lies in its refusal to create artificial categories between “Hinduism” and “Hindutva.” Both were recognized as inseparable aspects of the same tradition, a clarity with global resonance.

Exposing the Anti-Hindu Mindset
It is no coincidence that Hijab’s rhetoric and the Rutgers Report echo the same anti-Hindu impulse. Whether through religious polemics or academic authority, both sought to delegitimize Hindus by portraying Hindutva as alien, dangerous, and distinct from Hinduism itself.

The judgment exposes this duplicity. It recognizes that Hindutva cannot be caricatured as extremism when it is, in fact, the civilizational expression of Hindus worldwide. The attempt to ridicule reincarnation is no different in spirit from the attempt to ridicule Hindutva: both deny Hindus the right to define themselves.

Hindus Should Celebrate the Truth
For Hindus in the diaspora, particularly in North America, this verdict is a moment of pride and encouragement. It shows that impartial courts can pierce propaganda and stand on the side of truth. It reinforces the ancient maxim Satyamev Jayate—truth always wins.

This victory should embolden Hindus to challenge defamatory narratives in media, academia, and politics. It is an invitation to stop being apologetic and instead celebrate Hindu identity with one voice. The UK decision is not just a British story but a global milestone for the Hindu community.

Operation Sindoor: A Timely Strategy
When this author concluded the Rutgers Report series by calling for “Operation Sindoor”—a Strategic Initiative for Neutralizing, Dismantling, and Opposing the Overwhelming Rhetoric. It is meant to be a peaceful movement to counter false narratives, a metaphor for reclaiming dignity and unity. Remarkably, even as that call was being made and the article written, the UK court was rendering its judgment.

It is also significant that Bharat’s Independence Day 2025 carries the theme of Operation Sindoor. Just as freedom was won through sacrifice and collective will, today Hindus must carry forward the spirit of Sindoor to safeguard truth and dignity. The resonance between Bharat’s celebration of independence and the UK Court’s recognition of Hinduism is striking: both affirm the Hindu spirit of resilience and dharma.

“Operation Sindoor is no longer just an idea—it is a responsibility.”

Krishna Janmashtami: From Myth to Message
This year, the celebration of Janmashtami, the birth of Bhagwan Krishna, also falls near Independence Day. Krishna’s birth was a divine intervention to rid the world of adharma and restore balance. He came to liberate his people from fear and tyranny.

The symbolism is too powerful to ignore. Just as Krishna counseled Arjuna in the Gita to rise against falsehood and uphold dharma, the UK verdict is a modern reminder that evil cannot be allowed to dominate unchallenged. Hindus must see this moment as Krishna’s timeless message: the fight for truth is sacred, and victory comes when courage and conviction meet divine justice.

Conclusion
The UK High Court’s verdict is a landmark affirmation: Hinduism and Hindutva are one. Any attempt to divide them is a malicious distortion. For Hindus worldwide, this is a reason to rejoice. For Hindus in North America, it is a rallying point.

With Operation Sindoor echoing in Bharat’s Independence Day and Krishna Janmashtami symbolizing the eternal triumph of dharma over adharma, the message is clear: this is the time to celebrate, unite, and act. Armed with truth, reason, and now judicial affirmation, Hindus must reclaim their rightful narrative.

NOTE: The author acknowledges the use of ChatGPT in researching topics and the meaningful improvement of content.

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of India Abroad)