The Understanding Hinduphobia 2025 conference, scheduled for February 23, 2025, will focus on the theme “Hinduphobia Through Erasure.” This event aims to shed light on how Hindu history, culture, and contributions are systematically erased in academia, media, and public discourse. Discussions will also explore the consequences of this erasure on global perception and biases toward Hindu communities.
Hindus often struggle to articulate the loss of their historical narrative, civilizational impact, and documented persecution, both in the past and present. This conference seeks to address these challenges by examining how Hindu contributions are omitted and how these omissions shape public opinion, leading to prejudice and fear. Scholars, activists, and community leaders will engage in discussions to develop strategies for effectively identifying and countering these erasures.
Conference Agenda
Session I: 10 AM – 12 PM ET
The event will begin with an invocation and an introduction by Dr. Indu Viswanathan, Director of Understanding Hinduphobia, followed by a welcome address from Pranav Patel, President of Hindu YUVA UT Dallas. Discussions will include:
- Media bias in covering the inauguration of Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir (Mat McDermott, Hindu American Foundation)
- The impact of celebrating Hindu culture while erasing its historical roots (Dr. Smita Raj & Pushpita Prasad, CoHNA)
- How artificial intelligence contributes to the ongoing erasure of Bangladesh’s Hindu genocide (Mayuresh Mhaskar & Meenakshi Sundar Rajan, HinduYUVA)
Session II: 1 PM – 3:30 PM ET
This session will cover:
- The erasure of sacred Hindu geography (Aditi Banerjee)
- How Native American and Indigenous histories face systematic erasure (Dolores Mondragón)
- The struggles of Alevis in Muslim-majority nations (Dr. Dilsa Deniz)
- Biases against Jewish and Israeli communities (Jade Steinberg & Josh Arbital)
- The reinvention of Taino identity in Puerto Rico (Tanya Rodriguez)
- Hinduphobia and its effects on university campuses (Pranav Patel)
Session III: 4 PM – 6 PM ET
- The impact of DEI policies on fostering hostility (Professor Lee Jussim)
- The legal implications of caste-based discrimination laws (Anita Joshi)
- The loss of Hindu contributions in yoga psychology (Snehapriya Rao)
- Restoring Dharma-based therapy (Dr. Kavita Pallod Sekhsaria)
- Navigating Hindu identity in American society (Bhavini Patel in conversation with Dr. Indu Viswanathan)
The conference will be co-hosted by Hindu YUVA UT Dallas and will include speakers from various communities to highlight shared experiences of erasure. By bringing these conversations to the forefront, the event aims to challenge biases and create awareness about Hinduphobia’s impact worldwide.
