{"id":22908,"date":"2026-04-10T04:41:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T04:41:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hinduismtoday.com\/hpi\/?p=22908"},"modified":"2026-04-10T04:41:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T04:41:50","slug":"an-educator-explores-hinduism-and-belonging-in-us-public-schools-in-new-book","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hinduismtoday.com\/hpi\/2026\/04\/10\/an-educator-explores-hinduism-and-belonging-in-us-public-schools-in-new-book\/","title":{"rendered":"An Educator Explores Hinduism and Belonging in US Public Schools in New Book"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

UNITED STATES, April 3, 2026 (RNS): An education scholar and mother of two college students, Indu Viswanathan is no stranger to the challenges of misrepresentation in the U.S. public school system. She was first exposed to stereotypes and tropes surrounding the Hindu faith \u2014 which she and other practitioners say have persisted \u2014 as a grade school student in the 1980s. Now, Viswanathan\u2019s newly released book, \u201cHindu at Heart: Education, Faith, and What It Means to Belong in America,\u201d published by Briarcliff Press in March, challenges an inaccurate historical narrative of Hinduism conceived by Westerners. Refuting claims the religion is a pagan, irrational or un-American tradition, she draws on decades of research and firsthand engagement with families, schools and public institutions. At a time of increasing animosity toward Indian immigrants, the book aims to open a larger, timely discussion, said Viswanathan, who lives in New York City.

\u201cThe Hindu American and Hinduism experience is the site of study, but it\u2019s speaking to larger themes right now in America \u2014 vis-\u00e0-vis education, purpose of education, immigration and religion,\u201d she said in an interview with RNS on March 27. In describing \u201cthe Hinduism master narrative,\u201d Viswanathan says, \u201cThis is the foundational portion of the book. The term \u201cmaster narrative\u201d is something that\u2019s used in the U.S., in the West \u2014 not that it\u2019s the correct narrative, but it\u2019s the narrative that has dominant power. The master narrative about Hinduism takes up this idea of three parts of this endogenous cycle of Hinduphobia. One, that it (is) oppressive, regressive and irredeemable. The second part is that it then becomes a moral imperative to either change Hinduism from the outside or to actually get rid of it altogether. And then the third part is that anyone who tries to obstruct that is seeking to uphold the inherent repression, oppression and irredeemability of Hinduism.\u201d

Read more of the interview with Indu Viswanathan at source.
https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2026\/04\/03\/in-hindu-at-heart-educator-discusses-hinduism-and-belonging-in-american-public-schools
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