Academic freedom or academic fraud?

Maligning Hinduism at the University of Houston

A recent Houston Chronicle headline struck a nerve: “University of Houston professor accused of misrepresenting Hindu religion in class[1]. ‘There’s no space for how Hinduism is actually practiced by millions.'” When a Hindu-American student, Vasant Bhatt, raised legitimate concerns about the University’s “Lived Hinduism” course, the administration swiftly hid behind a familiar defense—academic freedom.

As a lifelong academic myself, I deeply respect the principle of academic freedom. It safeguards scholarly exploration and critical inquiry. But what unfolded at the University of Houston is not freedom—it is distortion. It is the misuse of academic authority to present ideologically biased and culturally offensive interpretations of one of the world’s oldest religions. That is not academic freedom. That is academic dishonesty, bordering on fraud.
I wrote to University President Renu Khator and Provost Diane Chase over a week ago to urge intervention. I have yet to receive even an acknowledgment. Silence in the face of valid concern is not leadership—it is complicity.

Bhatt’s allegations, supported by the national nonprofit Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), describe a syllabus that claims the word Hindu is “recent” and portrays Hindutva as a term used exclusively by “Hindu nationalists” to oppress others. The instructor also allegedly characterized India’s democratically elected Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, as a “Hindu fundamentalist.” These claims were detailed in CoHNA’s official statement (CoHNA Press Release, April 2024). These are deeply misleading statements—framed as academic instruction—without balance, context, or respect for millions of Hindu practitioners.

This is happening in Houston, the city that hosted the “Howdy, Modi” event in 2019, where President Donald Trump welcomed Prime Minister Modi in front of a crowd of 50,000 Indian Americans. It is also the same university led by President Khator, an Indian-American who served on India’s Empowered Expert Committee to select its world-class “Institutes of Eminence” (India Ministry of Education, 2018–2021). She knows what Hinduism is. She knows the difference between a cultural tradition and political propaganda. She should know equally well who Modi is serving on the expert committee.

This case raises an urgent question: When does academic freedom cross the line into academic fraud? We are at a moment when universities across the country are facing scrutiny for allowing antisemitism under the guise of free speech. A recent Congressional hearing highlighted how university leadership failed to respond to anti-Jewish incidents, igniting national outrage. Why should anti-Hindu bias be tolerated under the same pretense?

A joint interfaith dialogue of the Jewish and Hindu communities in early 2024, attended by local civic leaders, recognized the shared values of both ancient traditions and specifically addressed the need to reclaim and educate the public about the Hindu Swastika—a sacred symbol misrepresented in Western discourse. More recently, in April 2024[2], during Passover, leaders from both communities met again in Houston to reaffirm their commitment to unity and shared advocacy. These efforts reflect a broader recognition that antisemitism and anti-Hindu sentiment often spring from the same roots of ignorance.

My call is not for censorship or curtailing academic freedom but for accountability. In my letter[3], I respectfully asked the University to:

• Commission an independent review of the course content by respected scholars of Hinduism.
• Suspend or reassign the course pending the review to safeguard academic integrity.
• Directly engage with students who raise concerns rather than dismissing them.
• Avoid invoking academic freedom as a shield for bias and misrepresentation.

It has now been over a week since my outreach to the administration, which was followed by outreach to US Senators from Texas (Ted Cruz and John Cornyn), state legislators, and the University Board of Regents.

As a Hindu who has lived in the United States longer than in my native Bharat (India), I speak on behalf of a growing community concerned with the mischaracterization of our faith in public institutions. No student—Hindu or otherwise—should feel alienated or disrespected in a university classroom.

Academic freedom must be honored and celebrated, but it must also be accompanied by truth, integrity, and cultural respect. When those pillars collapse, freedom is no longer freedom; it has the potential to become fraud.

Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.

Reference:

[1] University of Houston professor accused of misrepresenting Hindu religion in class – Apr 3, 2025, Chron

[2] Jews and Hindus gather to break matzah during a Houston Passover Seder – Apr 9, 2025, Chron

[3] Request for Review and Accountability in UH Course on Lived Hindu Religion – Apr 8, 2025, New India Abroad

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