Clashes in India between Hindu nationalists and minority religious groups, particularly Muslims, fuel tensions among Indian Americans. In Minneapolis, Muslims and Hindus of Indian origin share meals and conversation in hopes of lessening the strain.
Soni has not seen these tensions surface yet on campus. But he said USC received blowback for being one of more than 50 U.S. universities that co-sponsored an online conference called “Dismantling Global Hindutva.”
Soni said it’s important that universities remain places where “we are able to talk about issues that are grounded in facts in a civil manner,” But, as USC’s head chaplain, Soni worries how polarization over Hindu nationalism will affect students’ spiritual health.“If someone is being attacked for their identity, ridiculed or scapegoated because they are Hindu or Muslim, I’m most concerned about their well-being — not about who is right or wrong,” he said.
“The space to freely express themselves is shrinking for Hindus,” he said, adding that even agreeing with the Indian government’s policies unrelated to religion can result in being branded a Hindu nationalist. “If they don’t take sides or don’t have an opinion, it’s automatically assumed that they are Hindu nationalist,” she said. “Their country of origin and their religion is held against them.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
4 Edison cops charged in alleged no-show job schemeOfficers face charges including racketeering, conspiracy, bribery, theft, money laundering, official misconduct, pattern of official misconduct, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.
Read more »
ConEd unveils storm resiliency changes 10 years after Superstorm SandySince Superstorm Sandy devastated the tri-state area, Con Edison has spent $1B to improve storm resiliency to reduce future outages and minimize infrastructure damage.
Read more »
Religious polarization in India seeping into US diasporaClashes in India between Hindu nationalists and minority religious groups, particularly Muslims, have sparked tensions online and in person in the Indian American diaspora
Read more »
India test-fires ballistic missile from nuclear-powered submarineTest of 'nuclear deterrence capability' makes India one of six countries -- alongside US, UK, Russia, France and China -- with nuclear strike and counterstrike capabilities on land, sea and air.
Read more »
Shaker-Style Furniture Is Everywhere Right Now (Including At Target)The religious sect’s classic design style is enjoying a resurgence.
Read more »
Abortion in Indiana: Judge gauges if ban defies religious rightsA top Indiana lawyer has questioned the validity of a lawsuit brought by a group of residents who argue that the state's abortion ban violates their religious freedoms.
Read more »