University of Houston Stands by Hinduism Course Amid Accusations of 'Hinduphobia'

Vasant Bhatt, an Indian-American student at University of Houston, claims a course on Hinduism distorts the religion and promotes 'Hinduphobia.' The university defends its scholarly approach, emphasizing academic freedom and the course's analytical use of terms like 'Hindutva' and 'fundamentalism' without religious criticism.

At the University of Houston, tensions have emerged over a course on Hinduism after a complaint by Indian-American student Vasant Bhatt. Bhatt accused the course of distorting Hinduism and promoting 'Hinduphobia', prompting a defense from the university that highlighted its commitment to academic freedom and rigorous scholarship.

The course, titled 'Lived Hindu Religion', aims to study Hinduism's historical and political aspects. The university stated that terms like 'Hindutva' are applied in an analytical context, insisting the course is designed to foster critical thinking about the religion's evolution and political interactions.

In response, Professor Aaron Michael Ullrey and the university administration robustly defended the course content. They asserted that Hinduism is explored as a diverse and evolving tradition, not reduced to a single political ideology, and reiterated that students are encouraged to engage with complex religious discussions.

(With inputs from agencies.)