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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India moving towards becoming global economic powerhouse: Kovind
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Amritsar (PTI): Former president Ram Nath Kovind on Friday said that with digital transformation, economic reforms and a strong focus on the ease of doing business, India is moving towards becoming a global economic powerhouse.
He was speaking after inaugurating the 19th edition of the Punjab International Trade Expo (PITEX) in Amritsar.
The former president said that this 19th edition of PITEX is being organised at a time when India is recognised as one of the fastest-growing large economies in the world.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the event organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) the former president, while referring to Punjab, said the state is a living example of courage, sacrifice and enterprise.
"The spiritual light of Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) inspires peace and humanity across the world. The heritage of Punjab is deep and inspiring," Kovind said, according to a statement issued by the PITEX.
The former president congratulated the PHDCCI for hosting the 19th edition of PITEX and suggested that the chamber should expand PITEX outside Punjab.
He proposed that a similar event should also be held in New Delhi.
