"Call me a poet of death." So opens this article, which defies description. It's about death and life, personal loss and academic excellence, images and poetry, pain and beauty. I've rarely devoured a scholarly article, as I did this one... www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

It's new for India's far-right paramilitary RSS to directly lobby on Capitol Hill. It's bad news for America. And it may well be illegal under U.S. law. You're going to want to read this one -- prismreports.org/2025/11/12/r... #Hindutva #RSS100Years #RSS100

Hindu nationalists wield less power in NYC today versus six months ago. If you are a Hindu American and frustrated -- even irate -- about Hindu nationalists taking your identity in vain and pushing far-right hate, here are your people and playbook -- scroll.in/article/1088...

It's lovely to be quoted in this article, exploring Vance's recent "I hope my not-really-Hindu wife converts to Catholicism" statement and what various responses tell us about the state of American pluralism, far-right alliances, and religion. www.abc.net.au/religion/cat...

On India's #Hindutva fury at a mayor oceans away: "[Mamdani] exposes the ideological brittleness at the heart of Hindutva—a movement so insecure in its vision of India that it cannot tolerate even diaspora success stories that fall outside its narrow script." caravanmagazine.in/politics/mod...

Honoring my heritage -- My first interview in a Polish newspaper! oko.press/walka-hindus...

Guess who’s back?? Some of these are literally from decades ago, with yellowed paper and all. Your friendly state universities are hard at work on a shoe string budget. 💪 #highered

Modi’s man, Amit Shah, is directly tied to assassination attempts of American and Canadian citizens (one successful and one failed). I repeat: Hindutva is violent. globalnews.ca/news/1151469...

Great response to this conversation, which has been viewed thousands of times within 24 hours! For those who want to know my sources for all this information -- I give you over 115 pages of notes + bibliography in my India book. Dive in and have fun! www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR05...

A progressive, diverse wing of the South Asian American diaspora is poised to transform U.S. politics. Among other things, that group opposes Hindu nationalism. This is the way forward. www.cnn.com/2025/11/07/u... #Mamdani

I'll be in Berlin in a couple of weeks, giving two talks. Do join us! RSVP (Nov 18): luma.com/tjcyoy5t RSVP (Nov 20): www.eventbrite.com/e/fieldnotes...

Delights of today include watching American Hindu nationalists trip all over themselves trying to spin their losses in yesterday's elections. Delights moving forward include progressive coalitions that cultivate true pluralism, affordability, and a brighter future for everyone.

The warmest of congrats to Mayor Mamdani! This is a big moment for New Yorkers and the South Asian American diaspora, especially in demonstrating both groups' diversity as politically powerful. Many of us in New Jersey are cheering you on! www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/n...

The fruits of Republican racism —

On how to think about reacting -- and meaningful empathy -- when elites within one's own community are willing to face and stoke prejudice to enhance their own power. www.dispatch.com/story/opinio...

Lovely to be quoted here on the Vances' "she's not Hindu" controversy. This issue matters as a bellwether for religious pluralism and diversity in America. newrepublic.com/post/202493/...

Being an academic isn't a popularity contest. But we should be free to conduct and share our work without harassment. Decent context here for thinking about why political groups and actors want to suppress scholarship on a far-right supremacist movement. www.counterview.net/2025/10/rutg...

So far, Hindu nationalist groups in America have had almost no response to Vance's outrageous denial of his wife's #Hindu identity. Here's some thoughts on explaining their muted (largely absent) response and why it matters -- timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/you...

Rutgers faculty unions along with other unions here at Rutgers, throughout New Jersey, & beyond support Mark Bray & the rights of students & faculty to academic freedom & freedom of speech. aftnewjersey.bsky.social teamnjea.bsky.social @psc-cuny.org @ruaaup-ptl.bsky.social

👀 New entry to the Timeline of Hindu Nationalist Assaults on Academics in North America, part of the #Hindutva Harassment Field Manual. The timeline covers 30 years of far-right attacks on individuals, institutions, and academic freedom. www.hindutvaharassmentfieldmanual.org/timeline #HigherEd

I've done 3 talks in 1 week, while on sabbatical (I know, I made poor choices). Plan for the next few weeks is to lose myself in researching and writing on Akbar. I'll come up for air in late Nov, when I speak in Berlin. www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/event/fieldn...

DIWALI -- NJ Governor-style. I appreciate the invite to Drumthwacket! 😎

I have organised a lecture with @audreytruschke.bsky.social titled "Fieldnotes from Battles over Indian History, Society, and Sciences" to be held at the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften on November 20, 2025, from 4-6pm. www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/event/fieldn...

I have a personal rule -- I do not shake hands with fascists. I acknowledge that they are part of our society in practice, but they should not be, and I am uninterested in making them feel welcome. Today, I got to live out that rule. 💪

This is a comment on an allegedly non-violent protest of a university talk I'm giving tomorrow. "Burn the speakers alive." That's hate. It's illegal. It's anti-intellectual. And it's core #Hindutva. Join us at Rutgers-NB tomorrow to learn more: events.law.rutgers.edu/event/hindut...

Art triumphs over hate at the auction block — www.cnn.com/2025/10/24/s...

As #TrumpsShutdown drags on, it's worth reminding -- Our elected reps on Capitol Hill pay themselves during shutdowns, while millions of public servants miss paychecks. www.npr.org/2025/10/24/n...

It is a beautiful day for a panel at Madison, where we hold our largest South Asia studies conference of the year, drawing in scholars worldwide. My panel of four will discuss big books (yeah, size matters) and setting the narrative on major subjects within South Asian studies.

It is good to see this important issue being cover -- MAGA is racist -- including anti-Indian -- and having a couple of Indian-descent leaders isn't making a dent in the agenda of the American right to normalize bigotry. www.salon.com/2025/10/21/k...

The ability to #Teach, #Research, & speak on important topics is what #Academics do, but what do we do when academic freedom is threatened? Join ISA & @aaup.org to discuss the global threats to #AcademicFreedom & what resources exist to support #Faculty in the fight to preserve it: buff.ly/95exrLj

I'm giving three talks in the next week -- Oct 24 on my India book in Madison, WI Oct 27 on Hindu nationalism at Rutgers-New Brunswick Oct 28 on academic freedom outside of the U.S. at a virtual panel Details below -- Do join as you like! www.audreytruschke.com/upcomingtalks

A gentle word to my fellow profs balking at my laptop ban in class -- Let me assure you that the majority of your students on laptops are playing video games, shopping online, or looking at social media. Trust me; even when they're talking in class, they're doing this stuff. I see it all the time.

For those on this site who are upset by aspects of my teaching pedagogy... just wait until I tell you about my offense statement on syllabi (the gist -- you'll see offensive stuff; I don't censor). Folks, there are lots of ways to teach. And variety is the spice of academic life. Live and let live.

Fellow academics, I'm doing it. Going all in. Pulling the plug, literally. This is on my syllabus for Spring 2026: "This is an analog class. No Canvas; this syllabus is your guide." All readings are printed books; hand-written exams; no laptops. #academicbluesky #Highered #academia #Rutgers

Academics matter. And Hindu nationalism is no match for us. Hindu nationalists know their weakness. That's why they fight to keep professors out and crush those within their borders; it's their only tool to suppress critical inquiry and knowledge. scroll.in/latest/10878...

Lovely to see news coverage of the Rutgers report "Hindutva in America" and panel discussions to analyze it. I'm part of the next event talking about the report, next week in New Brunswick. www.nriaffairs.com/hindu-suprem...

“Southeast Asians” 😳🤣 # iykyk

Hallowali season is upon us!

During a military-style raid on a building in Chicago’s South Shore, one resident heard a knock on his door. 

It wasn’t the feds —  it was a mom and her 7-year-old daughter, pleading for help. He let them hide in his unit for the next 3 days. chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

My heart breaks for the victims of the torture-embracing state of Israel, and it hardens against those who continue to defend such immorality and horrors. www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...

I am thrilled, once again, to be lawsuit free! For the last year, I've been a named defendant in a lawsuit challenging the Rutgers caste report. The judge threw it out of NJ court this week, no leave to amend. It's a win for civil rights, academic freedom, and the anti-caste movement.

Rutgers president (I'm paraphrasing) -- I won't cancel speech you don't like. Live with it. Join the discussion if you like. But your cancel petitions go straight to my trash can. #Rutgers #freespeech #academicfreedom www.nj.com/opinion/2025...

Hell, I can do this in 3 words — The dean called…

Reviewer #2 has comments.

We are all Antifa. Solidarity with my colleague @mark-bray.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

A Rutgers professor has been forced to flee the country for his safety, after targeting by a far-right student group that was *checks notes* claiming they felt unsafe. I'm horrified. I'm angry. A short 🧵 #AcademicFreedom #Rutgers #violence #antifa www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

I don't cover everything in my most recent book, but I try. Seriously, I cover topics ranging from how the Vedic peoples migrated overland to northwest India, to Garba dance's popularity on American college campuses. I'm next speaking about my book in Madison, WI, at our annual academic mela. 😎

This video of Chicagoans intervening to save a man from being abducted off the streets by ICE is making the rounds on Instagram. Community action works. Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DPZL2AL...

Happening today in Washington DC! I understand some Hindu nationalists are upset about this event. And that's too darn bad, because I intend to exercise my free speech and academic freedom in pursuit of knowledge and pluralism so long as I draw breath. #Hindutva

I am happy to share the conversation I had with @audreytruschke.bsky.social We talk about many topics over the 5,000 years of India’s history and why it’s history is important for us today. Hope everyone enjoys! @princetonupress.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/convergi...