To: President Jonathan Holloway, Chancellor Nancy Cantor, SVP of Equity Anna Branch
I am writing as a student considering applying to Rutgers University. Rutgers is an institution of higher education that I have respected for long, and I certainly believe that it would be a place where I could commence the next chapter of my academic career. However, recent events that have occurred at the university have raised concerns in my mind about my ability to feel safe and accepted as a student at Rutgers.
I am a Hindu American, and my faith is something that’s integral to my identity. Being Hindu and practicing my faith, both inwardly and outwardly, is something that I am very proud of. I am grateful that in our nation, everyone, across all faith groups, has the freedom to practice their religion. As I enter college, I want to continue to be able to uphold my faith, without fear or shame.
I have seen statements that Professor Audrey Truschke, of Rutgers University-Newark, has made regarding Hinduism, sacred texts and religious figures that we as Hindus revere. As a practicing Hindu, these statements have deeply disturbed and pained me. Professor Truschke, for instance, termed Shri Rama, a Hindu deity who we believe is the personification of the divine, as a “misogynistic pig.” In the process, she mistranslated a sacred Hindu text, the Ramayana. Further, Professor Truschke has asserted that the Bhagavad Gita, which we Hindus believe was expounded by the deity Sri Krishna Himself, “rationalizes mass slaughter.” The Bhagavad Gita is a text that many Hindus, young and old, recite and even memorize. Professor Truschke’s statements are not simply academic commentaries - rather, they distort and demonize the faith that hundreds of millions of people around the globe, including millions of Americans like myself, practice.
As a young Hindu, I’ve been heartened and inspired by the effort that Rutgers students have spearheaded to express their concerns regarding Professor Truschke’s statements and actions. These students have been incredibly respectful and courageous in the face of various threats and vile statements that have been directed at them. I have also been jarred by the hate and vitriol that has been aimed at Rutgers students simply for speaking out for themselves and their faith. (At this juncture, I would note that the threats that Professor Truschke has received are also unacceptable.) Professor Truschke herself has made reference to the “BJP IT Cell” and “right wing extremists” being behind these efforts. These patently false statements negate the genuine voices of Rutgers students, and subject them to being labeled as bigots simply for speaking up for themselves and striving to make a change in their university.
As a prospective Rutgers student, I can imagine myself standing alongside the Hindu students currently at Rutgers, being the subject of hateful threats and essentially being told that my voice doesn’t matter. This makes me fearful - fearful of whether I can freely and proudly express my Hindu identity on campus, fearful of whether I can feel safe and not be threatened, and fearful of whether I can truly be part of the Rutgers community. The statement penned by Rutgers-Newark supporting and validating Hindu students was a powerful one, and I’m grateful that it was released. I humbly submit, however, that more work remains to be done. I would respectfully request Rutgers University to continue in its efforts in creating a safe and welcoming environment for Hindu students, so that prospective students like me feel safe and confident in choosing Rutgers.
