US academic conference on ‘Dismantling Global Hindutva’ targeted by Hindu groups days before event
Indian speakers at conference receive threat emails, gets trolled on Twitter
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, writes to Home Minister Shah demanding action against Indian participants
Boston, US: The first American academic conference on ‘Dismantling Global Hindutva’ is being widely targeted by right-wing activists in India and elsewhere. The three-day conference is scheduled to take place from September 10-12.
Cosponsored by departments and centers of more than 53 universities, most of them from the US, including Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton, the “Dismantling Global Hindutva” conference will discuss various issues relating to the Hindu supremacist ideology in India and elsewhere, an Al-Jazeera report stated.
Various panels on global Hindutva, caste oppression, Islamophobia, and the persecution of minorities in India, will be held during the conference and will feature more than 25 academicians, activists, and journalists as speakers.
Over the past three weeks, the organizers and speakers of the conference have been on a receiving end of harassment and intimidation by various Hindu right-wing groups and individuals staunchly opposing the conference, calling it a “Hinduphobic gathering”.
The organizers insist the conference only aims to discuss the global implications of Hindutva and develop resources for an anti-Hindutva pedagogy in the academy, the Al-Jazeera report further stated.
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, a far-right group whose members are accused of assassinating journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh in 2017, also wrote to India’s Union Home Minister Amit Shah, calling on him to take action against India-based speakers and participants of the conference.
Nandani Sundar, who is set to take part in the conference as a speaker said she has been receiving hateful emails and was trolled on Twitter.
“This is what Hindutva groups have been doing in India – shutting down seminars by threatening the organizers, physical disruption, etc. Now they are doing the same thing globally,” Sundar was quoted as saying by Al-Jazeera.
Over the past three weeks, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), the Coalition of Hindus in North America (CoHNA), and the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) claim to have collectively sent more than 1.3 million emails to dozens of universities to withdraw their support for the conference.
David Ludden, professor of history at New York University, one of the co-sponsoring schools, acknowledged receiving thousands of emails but says his department will not back out.
“Administrators did receive emails claiming that the conference represents an anti-Hindu ideology. They reached out to me and I explained that this is an academic conference aimed at expanding the production of knowledge about Hindutva, including a critical analysis of its claim to represent Hindus, Hinduism, and Indian culture,” Ludden was quoted by Al Jazeera.
“The campaign against the conference is meant to both shut down the conference and send a clear signal to all critics of Hindutva,” conference organizers told Al Jazeera in an emailed statement.
Last week, more than 50 South Asian diaspora organizations, 937 academics from across the world, including scholars of genocide and mass violence, issued a statement in support of the conference and called for an end to the Hindu right-wing attacks on academic freedom.
“The campaign of intimidation carried out by Hindutva affiliates cannot be allowed to take root in the academy in the US, Europe, or around the world. Free speech must be protected,” said the statement.
Dr. Audrey Truschke, Associate Professor of South Asian history at Rutgers University-Newark wrote a detailed thread on Twitter about the whole situation.
“We are watching as right-wing Hindu American groups harass, intimidate, and endanger academics, including students. What you're doing is beyond unacceptable. It is unethical, hate-mongering, and very, very dangerous. Stop. Now.” She wrote in one of her tweets from the thread.
She also explained how groups should react to the rise of Hindutva who are promoting intolerance in the name of Hinduism.
We are watching as right-wing Hindu American groups harass, intimidate, and endanger academics, including students.
— Dr. Audrey Truschke (@AudreyTruschke) September 5, 2021
What you're doing is beyond unacceptable. It is unethical, hate mongering, and very, very dangerous. Stop. Now. #Hindutva
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Sand sculpture urging people to vote attracts visitors to Ullal beach
Ullal: A sand sculpture illustrating the significance of elections and the importance of voters exercising their right to franchise was created on Ullal beach recently, during an event jointly organized by the Ullal Taluk Panchayat, Ullal City Municipality, Kotekar Town Panchayat, and Someshwara Town Municipality.
The art event, themed on elections and carrying the slogan 'Election: The Pride of the Nation', was inaugurated by Dakshina Kannada District SVEEP Committee President and Zilla Panchayat CEO, Dr. Anand K. He commenced the event by releasing a balloon into the air.
Addressing the gathering, the SVEEP officer reminded all voters present on Ullal beach to cast their votes without fail on April 26. He added that the committee had organized a variety of programs to encourage voters to exercise their right to franchise during the ongoing general elections, with the sand art event being an innovative way to spread the message.
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Attendees of the event enthusiastically chanted the election slogan of the SVEEP Committee, which was announced by the Director of the Janashikshana Trust, Sheena Shetty, and Krishnappa Moolya. A display of the folk art, Dudi, was also organized on the occasion. The sand sculpture on the election attracted the attention of other visitors to Ullal beach.
SVEEP Master Trainer Sacheth Kumar Suvarna served as the Master of Ceremony, and Assistant Director Ramesh Nayak proposed the Vote of Thanks.
Among the dignitaries present during the event were Ullal Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer Shaila K Karigi, Municipal Councillor of Ullal City Municipality Raghavendra, Kotekar Town Panchayat Chief Officer Anand Seregoppa, Someshwara Town Municipality Chief Officer Raju, SVEEP Master Trainer Sharanya Shetty, and other officials.
