The West, often seen as a bastion of tolerance, is not immune to Hinduphobia.
VAs the world observes International Human Rights Day, a solemn question confronts us: why do the rights of Hindus continue to be sidelined in the global human rights discourse? The principles of equality, dignity, and justice that underpin this day are undermined when an entire community faces systemic hate and targeted violence, yet their plight remains largely unacknowledged. Hinduphobia, a deep-seated prejudice against Hindus and their cultural practices, has been on the rise, manifesting in violent attacks, institutional discrimination, and cultural erasure across the globe. Why is this growing threat met with silence, even as incidents span continents and demographics? Can we genuinely champion human rights while excluding an entire community’s struggles from our collective conscience?
A GLOBAL PHENOMENON
Hinduphobia is neither new nor geographically limited. It stretches across borders, from the Indian subcontinent to the Americas, Europe, and Australia. In South Asia, where Hindus have historically coexisted with other communities, their safety is increasingly precarious. Hindus, once constituting nearly a quarter of the population in Bangladesh, have dwindled to less than 8%. The alarming decline is not coincidental; it reflects decades of systemic violence and cultural repression. Recent weeks have seen hundreds of attacks on Hindu temples, homes, and businesses. The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a monk advocating for minority rights, on questionable charges is emblematic of how institutions perpetuate this bias. Similarly, in Pakistan, Hindus face forced conversions, the abduction of young girls, and the desecration of their temples, highlighting an unchecked pattern of persecution.
However, for the Left-Woke ecosystem, there isn’t even a bleating like a lamb, despite their inability to hold back screams over Sambhal. How many Indian leaders have condemned the way minorities are treated, but wax eloquent on secularism when they claim to be a minority? Why are they not protecting minorities where they are a majority? This is hypocrisy at its best.
The West, often seen as a bastion of tolerance, is not immune to Hinduphobia. The Leicester riots in the United Kingdom, where Hindu neighborhoods were attacked following a cricket match, reveal how deeply ingrained anti-Hindu prejudices can provoke violence. In the United States, Hinduphobic slurs, memes, and disinformation campaigns proliferate on social media, as highlighted by a Rutgers University study. Even Australia has witnessed incidents of temple vandalism, often linked to pro-Khalistani rhetoric. Can we dismiss these as isolated incidents, or must we acknowledge them as symptoms of a broader global trend?
AN INDIFFERENT WORLD
The lack of a robust international response to Hinduphobia raises troubling questions. Why does the global human rights community, so vocal on other forms of bigotry, remain largely silent on this issue? Hinduphobia is often dismissed or conflated with critiques of Indian politics or Hindu nationalism, trivializing the lived experiences of millions of Hindus. Western academia and media frequently reinforce this erasure, framing Hindus as historical oppressors while ignoring their current victimization. Is this selective blindness not a betrayal of the universal principles that human rights are supposed to represent?
The governments in Bangladesh and Pakistan, exacerbate the issue with their passive or complicit stances. In Bangladesh, perpetrators of anti-Hindu violence often operate with impunity, while Hindu activists are jailed on fabricated charges. Meanwhile, the Nobel laureate does not have the gumption to admit the atrocities. In Pakistan, judicial systems routinely fail Hindu minorities, offering no redress for atrocities like forced conversions. Even in Western democracies, Hindu students in schools and academia face bullying and ostracization, with little institutional acknowledgment or intervention. How many temples must be desecrated and lives disrupted before the international community takes notice?
CONFRONTING HINDUPHOBIA
To address Hinduphobia, a concerted and multifaceted approach is essential. First, Hinduphobia must be recognized as a distinct form of hate and bigotry. International organizations, including the United Nations, must acknowledge it explicitly and integrate it into their frameworks for combating discrimination. Why has Hinduphobia not been given the same recognition as antisemitism or Islamophobia? Without this acknowledgment, meaningful action remains elusive.
Second, governments and civil society must prioritize documenting and exposing Hinduphobia. A global database capturing incidents of hate crimes, online abuse, and systemic discrimination against Hindus would provide a foundation for advocacy, policy reform, and legal accountability. Social media platforms must also take greater responsibility for the hate they enable. Can tech companies and governments collaborate to identify and dismantle the coded language and dog whistles that perpetuate Hinduphobia, or will they continue to be complicit?
Third, education is pivotal in dismantling stereotypes. Schools and universities must update their curricula to reflect the diversity and richness of Hindu culture, countering centuries of biased narratives. Why should Hinduism be reduced to caricatures of caste and oppression while its profound contributions to philosophy, science, and spirituality are ignored? Programs and courses informing students on Hindu culture and practices in the Western countries would go long way in promoting mutual respect and understanding while bridging cultural divides.
Lastly, Hindu communities worldwide must unite to demand justice and recognition. Advocacy groups have made notable progress, but a broader coalition is needed to amplify these efforts. Hindus must engage with political systems, build alliances, and argue their rightful place in global human rights conversations. Will the global Hindu diaspora rise to meet this challenge, or will their silence further embolden the forces of hate?
A CALL TO ACTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
On this International Human Rights Day, the fight against Hinduphobia must take center stage. Every desecrated temple, every hate-fuelled attack, and every ignored plea for justice underscores the failure of the international community to uphold the principles of equality and dignity. Hinduphobia is not just a Hindu issue; it is a human rights issue. For such reasons, governments and civil society must make active efforts to declare an “international day for combating Hinduphobia” at the United Nations, much along the lines of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. It is already clear that indifference is complicity, and silence is betrayal. The world must act decisively against Hinduphobia, recognizing it as a global problem that threatens the very fabric of pluralism and coexistence. Governments, institutions, and individuals must pledge to stand against hate in all its forms. Can we afford to continue turning a blind eye, or will this be the moment we confront Hinduphobia with the urgency it demands? Let this day serve as a wake-up call—a reminder that human rights cannot be selective.
* Prof Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit is the Vice Chancellor of JNU.