Representative Image. / Pexels

First, it was the University of Houston (UH), where a course titled “Lived Hinduism” was tainted by overt political bias. The faculty member responsible for the course labeled India’s Prime Minister a “Hindu nationalist”—a term laden with political overtones that has no place in a class intended to explore religious and cultural practice. Hinduism, rooted in Sanatan Dharma, is a deeply personal and philosophical tradition. Learning to live as a practicing Hindu has absolutely nothing to do with the beliefs or actions of any political figure, Indian or otherwise.

Now, the University of California, Berkeley, finds itself in the spotlight for an even more egregious episode. The UC Berkeley Student Senate not only denied a resolution to proclaim Hindu Heritage Month—a symbolic gesture regularly granted to other communities such as Latiné, Armenian, and Jewish students—but did so in a manner that revealed deep-seated Hinduphobia and cultural hostility.

Also read: UC Berkeley rejects Hindu Heritage Month resolution

The tone, language, and behavior of the Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC) were so disturbing that international media took notice. The Times of India headline read: “Flushed down the toilet”: UC Berkeley student senate rejects Hindu Heritage Month; sparks accusations of Hinduphobia, bullying.

According to the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), a simple request by a Caribbean Hindu student for a heritage month proclamation was met with politicized rhetoric and inflammatory accusations of “Hindu nationalism.” This, again, had nothing to do with the task at hand—recognizing and celebrating the contributions of Hindu heritage in the United States—and everything to do with a distorted and prejudiced view of Hindu identity.

Both incidents are part of a troubling pattern. At UH, a faculty member inserted Indian electoral politics into a religious studies course. At UC Berkeley, student leaders hijacked a cultural recognition effort with false associations and anti-Hindu bias. In both cases, the political mischaracterization of Hindu identity appeared to be a deliberate attempt to undermine and marginalize Hindu students.

Let’s be clear: India—that is, Bharat—is the world’s largest democracy, grounded in secular constitutional values. Its current Prime Minister has been democratically elected for a third term and commands significant respect on the world stage. Whether or not Bharat evolves into a Hindu nation is for its citizens to decide. But that political debate has no bearing on whether Hindu students in the United States deserve respect, representation, and the right to celebrate their heritage. There is every reason to be proud of being Hindu, and no apology is required.

Also read: Dialogue proposed on Hindu tradition to counter Hinduphobia

To suggest that proclaiming Hindu Heritage Month is equivalent to endorsing Hindu nationalism is a gross misrepresentation. It reveals either willful ignorance or a deeper animosity toward Hindu identity. Either way, such thinking has no place in American academia. University campuses should be sanctuaries for respectful dialogue, intellectual inquiry, and cross-cultural understanding, not breeding grounds for religious stereotyping and ideological projection.

What’s especially troubling is that in both cases, the students who made the initial requests were either U.S.-born or from the broader Hindu diaspora, not Indian nationals. Their appeals had nothing to do with Indian politics and everything to do with dignity, identity, and belonging. That they were met with bullying, harassment, and political mischaracterization is not only unacceptable—it is dangerous and, frankly, preposterous.

We must ask: Is there an emerging trend of suppressing Hindu voices under the guise of political critique? Who are the faculty and student leaders perpetuating this distortion of Hindu identity? If it stems from ignorance, then universities must educate. If it stems from bias, they have to act.
Sadly, institutional accountability has been lacking. I wrote twice to the UH President with no action yet. The UC Berkeley Chancellor has also been contacted, and we must allow time to see if his administration will act with the integrity the situation demands. In the Berkeley case, CoHNA reports that some Hindu students were so traumatized by the hostility they faced. At UH, a student who raised concerns about the faculty’s bias told me directly that he was harassed, and the response by the administration was dismissive.

Let me be clear: Politics has its place on university campuses—but not when it is entirely out of context. Not when it distorts religious practice into political ideology. Not when it punishes students for expressing pride in their cultural identity.

Academic freedom is a cornerstone of higher education. But so is responsibility. So is respect. So is the principle that diversity includes everyone, including Hindus.

It wasn’t long ago that American universities were grappling with a wave of antisemitism. Today, we must ask the same vigilance to address rising Hinduphobia. Our institutions of higher learning must be spaces where all faiths, all heritages, and all voices are protected, not politicized, not silenced, and certainly not bullied.

NOTE: The author has used ChatGPT to make his opinion more effective.

 

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