Thread by @hinduoncampus

We are once again disturbed by the systematic and institutionalized racism that Rutgers’ South Asian History Department harbors. They have chosen to defend Professor Truschke by diluting her neocolonial work as simply “controversial.”

southasia.rutgers.edu/images/Truschk…

Truschke must stop tokenizing the minorities that have read her work as a means to excuse the trauma that she causes to the Hindu community.

Additionally, Truschke does use “radicalized attacks on religious communities'' by white-washing the genocides that Hindus have faced and by glorifying the tyrants that caused those genocides, which has resulted in trauma for the Hindu students who have had her as a professor.

There are also documented instances where Hindu students received threats by those enabled through her words.

https://twitter.com/hinduoncampus/status/1369191778532917248

When presented with concerns by Hindu students, Truschke leverages her position of power and white privilege to explain how she is not problematic and brushes off concerns in a callous and blaming manner.

Truschke has not faced the genocides or dealt with the transgenerational trauma that Hindus have; therefore, she cannot dismiss our concerns and neither should the University.

There have not been violent threats from @hinduoncampus towards Truschke. However, Truschke’s Twitter trolls have been attacking Hindu students online. We expect Rutgers to extend protection to its Hindus students.

This discussion is NOT about politics. The lens that Truschke applies to Hindu students is dangerous, as if our Hindu identity can be boiled down to a political affiliation or a manufactured protest. This is textbook McCarthyism.

Since the department asked for input on making Rutgers a more inclusive community, Rutgers must provide a safe space for Hindu students to speak with administrators about our concerns.

The administration must not confuse Rutgers students with Twitter trolls whom we have no connection to. For once, give space and listen to why your Hindu students feel unsafe. We are people too.