Rutgers Seminar Explores Hinduism Through Scholarship And Dialogue
India-West News Desk
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ- Scholars, students and community members gathered at Rutgers University on April 30 for a seminar examining Hinduism through academic research, cultural history and campus discussion.
The event, titled “Demystifying Hinduism: Clarity Through Scholarship,” was organized by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), and its youth wing, the CoHNA Youth Action Network (CYAN), in partnership with the Rutgers Hindu Students Council and the university’s Hindu Chaplaincy.
More than 75 attendees participated in presentations and panel discussions focused on representation of Hindu traditions in academic and public spaces.
Hitesh Trivedi, Hindu chaplain at Rutgers, said the seminar was organized in response to concerns raised by Hindu students about how Hinduism is discussed in institutional settings.
“Amid a growing pattern of academic Hinduphobia, it has become the norm to see non-Hindus framing the conversation about Hinduism,” Trivedi said in a statement, adding that organizers wanted to create a space for broader academic engagement with Hindu traditions.
Lavanya Vemsani, professor of Indian history and religions at Shawnee State University, discussed portrayals of Hindu women in contemporary academic writing, media and popular culture. Her presentation examined figures including Savitri, Urvashi, Ganga, Satyavati, Kunti and Draupadi.
Jeffery D. Long, professor of Indian philosophies at Elizabethtown College, spoke about the influence of Hindu thought and Dharmic traditions on Western culture. His presentation referenced figures and works including George Harrison, Julia Roberts, J.D. Salinger, MAS*H and Star Wars while tracing Hinduism’s engagement with American society over time.
The seminar also featured a session by high school history teacher Neil Desai on concerns surrounding Hinduphobia in academic environments.
A student-led panel discussion addressed topics including caste-related stereotypes, pluralism in Hindu Dharma, atheism, misogyny and representation of Hinduism on college campuses.
Organizers said the seminar was part of a broader effort to encourage informed discussion of Hindu traditions in academic and public settings.
