Contextualising Georgia’s resolution condemning Hinduphobia and Anti-Hinduism
The State of Georgia with over 130,000 people of Indian origin (nearly 1.5% of the State population) passed unprecedented milestone legislation condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry[1]. Kudos to the Atlanta chapter of the national organization, Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), for organizing the whole effort.
The growing and influential Hindu community of Forsyth County, a city with a 60-acre Cricket field[2], engaged their Legislators while observing the first-ever ‘Hindu Advocacy Day’ on March 22. Their power of persuasion and advocacy with the Legislators led to the passage of the resolution defining Hinduphobia as “a set of antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes and behaviors towards Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) and Hindus that may manifest as prejudice, fear, or hatred.”
This legislation is a model for other Hindu communities to emulate and engage their own policymakers and Legislators. In fact, the groundwork is already done for the larger Hindu community across America. All we have to do is to identify the pro-India legislators with an open minds who will understand and appreciate the tenets of Hinduism.
Georgia’s resolution is very comprehensive and includes the contributions of the highly educated Hindu community in every profession. The resolution specifically quotes the perpetrators of Hinduphobia citing, “Hinduphobia is exacerbated and institutionalized by some in academia who support the dismantling of Hinduism and accuse its sacred texts and cultural practices of violence and oppression.”
I would go as far as suggesting that the legislative action in Georgia is a slap on the face of academics like Audrey Tresche of Rutgers University. She is one of the most vocal critics of Hinduism and a key architect for a conference on Dismantling Hindutva. She is blindsided in her own anti-Hindu activism not to recognize Hindu-hate crimes published in a 2022 report at her own institution. According to this report, “there have been documented instances of hate crimes against Hindu Americans over the last few decades in many parts of the country.”
In contrast to Georgia’s legislators celebrating Hindus and Hinduism, the caste being characterized of Hindu origin and an assumed basis for discrimination is shaping up another form of Hinduphobia in the United States.
The City of Seattle recently banned caste discrimination[3]. It is ironic that a born Hindu, an activist with misplaced priorities and/ or not believing in the ethos of Hinduism, led the passage of caste-based discrimination in the City Council. We all stand against discrimination anywhere but a confused Desi in Seattle promoting “caste” being of Hindu origin is blatantly wrong. The truth is that caste, originating from the Spanish word ‘casta,’ was the evil legacy of the British empire to divide Indian society into splintered groups and discredit the old age “varna” system.
To the best of my knowledge, Representative Pramila Jaypal of Washington State, a Hindu American politician never talked about caste not being of Hindu origin. She went as far as sponsoring a House Bill on Islamophobia by her colleague, Ilhan Omar from Minnesota. Did she not realize that Omar’s Bill was nothing more than her anti-India, anti-Modi, and anti-Hindu stance? Fortunately for us, the Bill is now cleared from the books because it was not taken up by the Senate. However, one must wonder if Jaypal herself suffers from Hinduphobia and why?
The State of California with a large population of influential Hindu Americans manifests a stronger Hinduphobic environment with caste at its center. For example, the University of California campuses and the California State University System as a whole have approved caste discrimination policies. Their sinister motives include that the upper caste Hindus discriminate against the lower caste Dalits or at least have the potential to do so without any evidence.
The caste-based discrimination issue has gone as far as empowering an Afghan American, California State Senator Aisha Wahab, to introduce a bill to make caste a protected category in the state’s anti-discrimination laws[4]. Wahab claims that caste discrimination is a social justice and civil rights issue, two overly used phrases in American politics. If passed, California will be the first state in the nation to outlaw caste-based bias. It stands to divide the American Hindu community based on the family surnames which everyone assumes when born but it has nothing to do with their profession or role later in life.
Wahab’s bill may be a reflection and/ or fear of her own Hinduphobia. However, I am disappointed in California’s Representative Ro Khanna, an American Hindu, not stating that the caste is neither of Hindu origin nor to be feared. His statement could stop the caste issue as wildfire in academia, corporate corridors, and now State legislation. But why should I be surprised? To the best of my recollection, Khanna never opposed the bill on Islamophobia by Minnesota’s Omar. It appears that Khanna himself holds something against India and Modi.
Recently, Khanna made a statement about India’s internal matter related to the conviction of Rahul Gandhi by an Indian court. In a tweet (given below), he stated that Modi has the power to reverse the court’s decision for the sake of Indian democracy. Does he not understand the independent role of the legislative body and judiciary? He also got caught in India’s media for lying about his grandfather’s role during the darkest period of India’s Emergency in 1975. The fact is that his grandfather stood for the declaration of emergency contrary to Khanna’s claim.
The expulsion of Rahul Gandhi from parliament is a deep betrayal of Gandhian philosophy and India’s deepest values. This is not what my grandfather sacrificed years in jail for. @narendramodi you have the power to reverse this decision for the the sake of Indian democracy. https://t.co/h85qlYMn1J
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) March 24, 2023
I wish Khanna is more active in his home State to break down caste-based issues which may haunt him in the future as someone belonging to the so-called “upper caste.” If he is like our own daughters, who know nothing about the caste system, the future generations are more likely to face wrongful litigations just because their surnames are indicative of certain castes.
I call on four million Hindus in the U.S., representing the third largest religion, to stand united and seek legislations and resolutions similar to Georgia. We must engage our neighbors, politicians, and policymakers at all levels (local, State, and Federal) about the essence of ancient Hinduism such as Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The World is one family) and believing in one’s Karma. We can emphasize the practical aspects of Hinduism like our deep respect for all forms of life- the forests and trees, rivers and lakes, animals and mountains. Hindus venerate nature and believe that all forms of life are manifestations of divinity. Hinduism is a philosophy and way of life with deep roots in the centuries-old Sanatan Dharma with teachings for people of all faith.
We have been quite successful in the recent wave of proclamations of Hindu Heritage Month in October across North America. Now the need of the hour is to think big and have the united Hindus take pride in their faith, culture, and heritage, learn from Georgia’s experience, and replicate the resolution condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry. Hindu Americans are a model and peaceful community of immigrants with remarkably high earning capacity but not well connected within the broader community. We must become active in our communities with greater presence and activism in school boards, city and county level elections, state politics, and Washington.
Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
Reference:
[1] Georgia passes resolution condemning Hinduphobia – Apr 01, 2023, The Hindu
[2] Forsyth County has fastest-growing Asian population in U.S. – Jun 20, 2019, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
[3] Seattle bans caste discrimination: What does the law entail? What is the debate around it? – Feb 23, 2023, The Indian Express
[4] New bill aims to outlaw caste discrimination in California – Mar 23, 2023, The Indian Express
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Formerly, a researcher in Italy, Japan, and France, he has widely travelled and came to the US in 1978. He was a faculty and academic administrator in several different universities in PA, TX, NJ, MN, WI, and NY, and an Executive Fellow in the White House S&T Policy during the Clinton administration.
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A very well written letter. Unfortunately, the champions of this divisive politics are some Hindus who want to cash in the dividends from the increasing wokism in the country, since they are unable to offer constructive ideas for the wellbeing of the society.