Jhaanvi Ganesh, a student at Rutgers University, spoke about the marginalization of Hindu students in an academic setting at the Congressional briefing on Hinduphobia organized by HinduACTion. She is studying public health and is the Northeast Regional Coordinator of Hindu Yuva, the largest student organization in the nation with chapters at over 75 universities.
She addresses the growing concern of Hindu phobia or anti-Hindu hate, which they argue is often overlooked on college campuses. “In discussions about discrimination and prejudice, it encompasses a range of attitudes and actions from subtle biases and stereotypes to outright hostility and discrimination targeting individuals who identify as Hindu or practice Hinduism,” she said.
Ganesh shares personal experiences of feeling misunderstood, marginalized, and vilified based on their religious identity and emphasizes the significant toll it took on their mental health, leading to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and experiencing microaggressions in academic settings.
“These instances of Hinduphobia or anti-Hindu sentiment, not only perpetuate harmful stereotypes but also create an atmosphere of fear and inclusion-exclusion for Hindu students on our campuses,” she said.
Ganesh urges policymakers, government officials, and community leaders to take concrete action to address the systemic issues of Hindu phobia within academic institutions. “It is imperative that we recognize harmful impact of bias, curriculum and hostile classroom environments on Hindu students wellbeing and academic success,” she said.
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