By HT News Desk
A massive controversy has erupted over the content of a course on the Hindu religion offered by the University of Houston. An Indian-American student and activist has accused the university of being “Hinduphobic” and “distorting India’s political landscape”.
According to an India Today report, the university has said it is reviewing the concerns raised by the student named Vasant Bhatt.
HT cannot independently verify this information.
The University of Houston’s Lived Hindu Religion course is offered to the students online, with video lectures delivered by Professor Aaron Michael Ullrey weekly.
Bhatt, a political science major at the university, has lodged a complain before the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences under which this course is being offered.
According to the student, Professor Ullrey reportedly said that Hinduism was not an “ancient, lived tradition”, but a “political tool” weaponised by “Hindu nationalists, and a system of oppression against minorities.”
According to the report, Bhatt shared a quote from the syllabus that stated that the word ‘Hindu’ is recent and not found in scriptures.
This story was originally published in hindustantimes.com. Read the full story here.
