A student and activist from an Indian-American background has lashed out at the University of Houston's course in Hinduism, terming it "Hinduphobic" and complaining that it gives a misleading account of India's political landscape.
In a report aired on an Indian TV channel, the university confirmed it was considering grievances raised by the student, Vasant Bhatt.
The offending course is an online class called "Lived Hindu Religion" taught every week in the form of video lectures by Professor Aaron Michael Ullrey.
Bhatt, the university student of political science, has formally complained to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences under which the course is classified.
The Professor Ullrey was allegedly quoted by Bhatt as having portrayed Hinduism not as an "ancient, lived tradition" but a "political tool" employed by "Hindu nationalists" and a "system of oppression against minorities."
Bhatt also referred to a section of the course syllabus, which asserts that the word Hindu is comparatively new and does not figure in ancient texts.
The syllabus is also said to include:
"Hindutva," or "Hindu-ness," is a definition coined by Hindu nationalists—those who hold the view that Hinduism should be India's state religion—to describe their faith while excluding others, especially Islam.
Context of the Controversy
This row follows closely on the heels of India having rejected the latest report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), terming its conclusions "politically motivated and biased."
"We have noticed the newly published 2025 Annual Report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which again takes a trend of making politically charged and insensitive observations. The USCIRF's constant efforts to distort individual incidents and impugn India's rich multicultural society are an act of willful intent and not a reflection of concern for religious freedom," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal asserted on Wednesday.
Reactions of Hindu Groups
The controversy has also elicited responses from Hindu On Campus, a diaspora student group working against Hinduphobia.
"Political differences are encouraged, but projecting extremism in false terms under the cover of Hindu identity is unacceptable," the organization stated, affirming that there has been Hinduphobia in the US for decades.
Bhatt's Response to the University
After his complaint, Bhatt said he was unsatisfied with how the university handled his concerns, claiming that the religious studies department had not seriously dealt with his main issues.
"The department tried to deflect the central issue by challenging my process and undermining my legitimate concerns—instead of investigating the substance of the complaint," Bhatt explained to the broadcaster.
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