The controversy over an academic event at Rutgers University has turned into a flashpoint for America’s Hindu community — and triggered an unusual bipartisan intervention from Capitol Hill.
The Story
Four members of the US Congress — Democrats Suhas Subramanyam, Shri Thanedar, Sanford Bishop, and Republican Dr. Rich McCormick — have written to Rutgers University expressing concern over an upcoming event titled “Hindutva in America: A Threat to Equality and Religious Pluralism.”Their letter warns that the event, hosted by Rutgers’ Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), could stigmatise Hindu students by conflating Hinduism, a religion, with “Hindutva,” a political ideology.The issue has become a rallying point for Hindu-American advocacy groups, who say it reflects a broader pattern of bias and misunderstanding in US academia.
What the lawmakers’ letter says
In their bipartisan letter to Rutgers president Jonathan Holloway, the four Congressmen said universities must “distinguish between extremist ideologies and the beliefs of ordinary practitioners.”They urged Rutgers to ensure that “students of any faith feel safe to express their identity,” warning that events like this could make Hindu students “feel targeted or unsafe.”The lawmakers stopped short of calling for the event’s cancellation but asked Rutgers to “disassociate its institutional branding” from the conference to send a message of neutrality.Their intervention follows a campaign by Hindu-American organisations that say the event’s framing is prejudiced and could fuel hostility against Hindu students.
What the event is about
The event, scheduled for October 27, is being organised by the CSRR to launch a report titled “Hindutva in America.” The centre, led by professor Sahar Aziz, describes the report as an exploration of “the transnational far-right ideology of Hindutva” and its influence in American politics and civil society.The organisers maintain that their focus is on political ideology, not religion. The report’s summary distinguishes “Hindutva,” which it calls a “Hindu-supremacist political movement,” from “Hinduism,” which it says “contributes positively to America’s pluralism.”However, critics argue that in practice, this distinction often collapses — and that university events like this one end up portraying Hindu identity itself as suspect.
Why Hindu-American groups are angry
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) and the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) have both condemned the event, saying Rutgers should not lend its institutional imprimatur to something they describe as “anti-Hindu.”In a statement, CoHNA said that over the past two weeks it had heard from “many students feeling vulnerable and concerned that their religion and identity are at risk simply for being Hindu on campus.”The group says it facilitated more than 10,000 emails to Rutgers through its campaign platform.HAF similarly released an open letter asserting that the CSRR report “uses discredited sources and one-sided narratives to paint Hindu organisations as extremist proxies.”Both groups emphasise that they are not asking for the event to be cancelled, but for Rutgers to make clear it is not institutionally endorsing its message.
What Rutgers has said so far
As of October 25, Rutgers University had not issued a detailed public response. In the past, however, the university has defended the independence of the CSRR, saying that “the views expressed by faculty or centres do not necessarily reflect those of the institution.” Professor Sahar Aziz, who directs the CSRR, has in earlier statements about other controversies insisted that “academic inquiry must not be constrained by political pressure.”
Why this matters
For many Hindu students, “Hindutva” is not a label they claim, yet they often find themselves treated as representatives of it. What begins ostensibly as ideological critique often translates, on American campuses, into suspicion or stereotyping of Hindu identity itself.Over the past two years, multiple incidents have reinforced this sense of vulnerability. Several Hindu temples across the US — from California to New York — have been vandalised since late 2023, often with graffiti linking Hindu symbols to political extremism. During Diwali in 2024 and 2025, lawmakers and local officials who posted festival greetings online were targeted by waves of hate comments, prompting community organisations to call it a pattern of online Hinduphobia.In academic spaces too, students report being stereotyped as “Hindutva supporters” or “agents of India’s ruling party” simply for being Hindu or Indian, especially in South Asia–related departments. Many describe hesitating to express their faith openly — wearing sacred symbols or attending temple events — for fear of being misread as political.For faculty critical of Hindutva politics, the issue is one of accountability and human rights. But for Hindu students, it often feels like a blurred line between legitimate critique of ideology and prejudice toward a faith community. The controversy at Rutgers has therefore become a proxy for a deeper struggle over who gets to define Hindu identity in America — academics or adherents.The bipartisan nature of the Congressional letter — with lawmakers from both parties and across ideological divides — signals that concerns about bias and safety for Hindu students are now gaining mainstream recognition in Washington.
The bigger context
Over the past decade, academic and policy discussions in the US have increasingly examined “Hindutva” — without much proof— as a global phenomenon. This has come with instances of rising anti-Hindu bigotry both offline and online. But among the diaspora, these discussions often ignite identity anxiety. Indian-origin students and professionals say they face “double scrutiny”. The issue also comes amid a documented rise in temple vandalism and anti-Hindu hate crimes since 2023, which community groups say has created an atmosphere of insecurity. As CoHNA’s Pushpita Prasad put it, “When we stand up against such bigotry, we are labeled as Hindutva extremists. We don’t ask for speech to be shut down — we ask for universities to stop legitimising hate.”
The Newsom Side Angle
Governor Gavin Newsom’s recognition of Diwali also fits into his broader political and cultural outreach to California’s fast-growing Indian-American community. With nearly one-fifth of the US Indian-origin population residing in the state, Newsom has steadily built a reputation as an ally — balancing progressive politics with cultural inclusion. His administration has previously issued proclamations for Holi, Navaratri, and Guru Nanak Jayanti, and his veto of the 2023 caste bill, while controversial among some activists, was seen by many Hindu groups as a gesture of fairness rather than partisanship.Politically, the Diwali law comes at a time when Newsom’s national profile is rising ahead of the 2028 presidential race, and Indian-Americans — a key donor and voter bloc in California’s Democratic base — are becoming an increasingly visible constituency. His willingness to sign AB 268 contrasts with his earlier veto on caste legislation, signalling a calibrated approach: celebrating diversity without appearing to single out one community for scrutiny.
The takeaway
The Rutgers controversy underscores a new phase in American campus politics — where Indian-origin identity and ideology are now part of the culture-war map. It has also brought to light a growing assertiveness among Hindu-American voices in Washington, capable of mobilising bipartisan concern at the federal level. What began as an academic seminar has become a referendum on representation, freedom, and the fine line between critique and caricature.
