Hindi books event in US cancelled after protests over VHP links, Hindutva spread

A group of US public libraries in Maryland, US, cancelled a planned Hindi-language event at its Germantown branch on Sunday (April 12), following objections from a coalition of religious, civil rights, and community organisations. The Hindi event planned by the Montgomery County Public Libraries (MPCL) was cancelled after a backlash over its alleged links with the American affiliate of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

According to a report by the US-based local news outlet, Bethesda Today, the event, titled "Many Languages, One Library: Celebrating Hindi," aimed to celebrate the addition of over 160 new Hindi-language books to the library’s collection, funded in part by the Balvihar Hindi School, which is affiliated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA).

The protests came from groups like the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), Hindus for Human Rights, the Sikh Coalition, and Dalit Solidarity Forum USA, among others. The VHPA called it a "misinformation campaign" by "Hinduphobic groups".

The VHPA, which describes itself as "the oldest and one of the largest Hindu organisations in the US", is a branch of the India-based Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). The VHPA was founded in the US in 1970 and was incorporated in 1974.

Montgomery County, located just outside Washington DC, is one of the most diverse counties in the US, with a sizeable Indian American and South Asian population. The MCPL system, which is run by the Montgomery County government, operates 22 branches, serves this community with more than 1.6 million items in its collection and recorded over 7.4 million circulations last year, according to the Bethesda Today report.

In its announcement on the library’s website, MCPL stated: "This Sunday's Hindi language event will not be taking place. Due to significant interest from the community, Montgomery County Public Libraries is reimagining how it celebrates the Hindi-speaking community and new additions to its collection, with a focus on ensuring an inclusive and community-centered approach. We appreciate the generosity of the local community who donated funds for the collection, and we look forward to celebrating with them."

The statement did not specify whether the donated books would still be added to the collection or when a potential rescheduled event might occur.

HINDI BOOK EVENT CANCELLED AFTER PRESSURE FROM COALITION OF CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS

According to the report by Bethesda Today, the cancellation came after an April 8 letter from a coalition that included groups such as Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), Hindus for Human Rights, the Sikh Coalition, Dalit Solidarity Forum USA, Peace Action Montgomery, and others.

The coalition had expressed concern over VHPA's involvement, describing it as linked to Hindutva—an ideology they characterised as seeking to define India primarily as a Hindu nation—and arguing that it risks introducing exclusionary ideas into public institutions in the US.

"This concern is not about Hinduism, Hindu culture, or the Hindi language," the coalition wrote in a press release published by the IAMC on April 9. "It is about political ideology entering public institutions under the guise of cultural programming."

IAMC President Mohammad Jawad said: "Partnering with the VHPA, an overtly anti-Muslim group, sends the message that the Germantown Public Library does not care about its Muslim community members. We urge the library to drop the VHPA as a collaborator and work instead with groups that value and celebrate the diversity of the Hindi-speaking community."

Reverend Abhi Janamanchi of Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Congregation stated: "This is not about Hindi, and it is not about Hinduism," Janamanchi said, adding that it is about a public library partnering with "an organisation with documented ties to Hindu nationalist networks linked to religious violence and persecution".

Sravya Tadepalli of Hindus for Human Rights added: "The Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America has platformed multiple anti-Muslim hate mongers, and as Hindus, we are very alarmed."

Other voices in the coalition, including representatives from Dalit Solidarity Forum and The Religious isms Project, raised issues around exclusionary ideology, caste, and the need for public institutions to remain safe and inclusive spaces for all residents.

In response, VHPA Vice President Shyam Tiwari described the opposition to Bethesda Today as a "misinformation campaign" by "Hinduphobic groups". He told the news outlet that the book initiative began as a grassroots effort by local residents wanting to contribute to their community and emphasised that VHPA does not promote hostility toward other religions.

Additional criticism came from an organisation named No Hindutva Maryland. In a separate statement shared with the US-based news outlet The American Bazaar, the group criticised Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, who had been scheduled to speak at the event.

"We welcome the cancellation of this event. However, the situation did not arise in a vacuum," the group said, arguing that the controversy was "the result of years of poor judgement and enabling by county government, especially" by Elrich.

Three South Asian American Democrat party candidates for Montgomery County Council, including Arif Wali of Afghan heritage, Hamza Khan of Pakistani heritage, and Prabu Selvam of Indian heritage, shared a joint statement with American Bazaar opposing the VHPA’s involvement.

"As candidates of South Asian heritage, we do not speak about this lightly. We grew up with Hindi language and culture as part of our everyday lives This is not about opposing Hindi literature. It is about ensuring that Montgomery County does not provide a platform for organisations whose documented record includes the promotion and normalisation of hate. Montgomery County must remain a place where diversity is protected—not selectively celebrated."

- Ends

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