Audrey Truschke is a professor of South Asian studies at Rutgers University, her area of expertise is the Mughal (Muslim rule) age in India. Truschke is a well known apologist for the Mughal era reign which saw countless genocides and pogroms against Hindus and the destruction of countless temples by Islamic purists. Audrey's asserts that modern day Hindutva seek to vilify the Mughals in order to advance their own nationalistic agenda for a Hindu state, which would resemble something close to a secular Vedic nationalism.
However, this week, Professor Truschke went beyond the pale of academic ethics and simple logic when she wrote an article for India Abroad entitled "Anti-Semitism of Hindu Nationalists" where she sought to link Hindutva with anti-Jewish sentiments. Her entire argument is based upon a few anti-semitic quotes made by some Hindu Nationalists and her own experience online receiving anti-Semitic tweets (even though Audrey is not Jewish).
However, this week, Professor Truschke went beyond the pale of academic ethics and simple logic when she wrote an article for India Abroad entitled "Anti-Semitism of Hindu Nationalists" where she sought to link Hindutva with anti-Jewish sentiments. Her entire argument is based upon a few anti-semitic quotes made by some Hindu Nationalists and her own experience online receiving anti-Semitic tweets (even though Audrey is not Jewish).
It was immediately obvious to not only Hindu Nationalists but the general Hindu community that Professor Truschke's assertion that Hindu Nationalism is in anyway anti-Semitic was not only absurd but a malicious smear campaign against not only Hindutva but also PM Modi, the RSS and the BJP all of which she mentions in her article. To sum it up, Truschke did nothing but obviously and brazenly single Hinduvta out among the religious nationalist movements of the world.
Truske's article is not only defensive of Jews but points to a growing intolerance in India against non-Hindus, implying that a Hindu state would be undesirable. Truske seems to forget that Hindutva is not the only religious nationalist movement in the world, it's just the only one that is not acceptable. Truschke is fully aware that Israel by its very definition is a "Jewish State" and that the treatment of and rhetoric against the Muslim Palestinians is certainly a point of international contention. She is also aware that there are close to 60 Islamic countries on earth, many of which have extremely persecutory laws against non-Muslims, however it is doubtful Truschke would argue negatively against Jewish or Islamic Nationalism, only Hindu Nationalism.
Than there is her accusation of anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism is present everywhere in every country and in almost every political party. There is not a single shred of evidence to support the idea that Hindutva is any more anti-Semitic than any other nationalist or even globalist movement alive today, and does Truske really believe she would experience any less anti-Semitism if she were dealing with the Muslim world? Don't we see both hardcore Leftists and Islamists making much more often more violent statements against Jews? Truske has turned a few personal attacks on her into a canard of anti-Jewish Hindutva. This despite the fact that Hindu Nationalism has always historically had close ties and support for Zionism, not to mention Jews have lived in India unpersecuted for centuries.
Audrey has made it manifestly known in her writing and speeches that she believes modern Hindu Nationalists exaggerate the crimes of the Muslim Mughal rulers in order to bolster their own claim to a Hindu State today, but what she may be hiding is that her opposition is not against religious nationalism such as Zionism, but only Hindu nationalism, meaning it is Truschke who is anti-Hindu. Her most recent article was obviously a hit piece on Hinduism, the BJP and Modi whom will be up for reelection in 2019.
Truske's article is not only defensive of Jews but points to a growing intolerance in India against non-Hindus, implying that a Hindu state would be undesirable. Truske seems to forget that Hindutva is not the only religious nationalist movement in the world, it's just the only one that is not acceptable. Truschke is fully aware that Israel by its very definition is a "Jewish State" and that the treatment of and rhetoric against the Muslim Palestinians is certainly a point of international contention. She is also aware that there are close to 60 Islamic countries on earth, many of which have extremely persecutory laws against non-Muslims, however it is doubtful Truschke would argue negatively against Jewish or Islamic Nationalism, only Hindu Nationalism.
Than there is her accusation of anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism is present everywhere in every country and in almost every political party. There is not a single shred of evidence to support the idea that Hindutva is any more anti-Semitic than any other nationalist or even globalist movement alive today, and does Truske really believe she would experience any less anti-Semitism if she were dealing with the Muslim world? Don't we see both hardcore Leftists and Islamists making much more often more violent statements against Jews? Truske has turned a few personal attacks on her into a canard of anti-Jewish Hindutva. This despite the fact that Hindu Nationalism has always historically had close ties and support for Zionism, not to mention Jews have lived in India unpersecuted for centuries.
The treatment of Hindus of course under Mughal rule and under Islamic Pakistan and Bangladesh today is highly persecutory and institutionalized. Mughals mass murdered untold millions of Hindus, sex slaved countless more. They taxed and enslaved them and shamed them and brutalized them. Today in Pakistan and Bangladesh Hindu girls are routinely kidnapped, raped, and married to a Muslims man, in Pakistan this "marriage" is almost always upheld by the Islamic courts. To cry anti-Semitism while negating one of the largest and most wicked genocidal regimes in history is quite frankly disgusting.
Audrey has made it manifestly known in her writing and speeches that she believes modern Hindu Nationalists exaggerate the crimes of the Muslim Mughal rulers in order to bolster their own claim to a Hindu State today, but what she may be hiding is that her opposition is not against religious nationalism such as Zionism, but only Hindu nationalism, meaning it is Truschke who is anti-Hindu. Her most recent article was obviously a hit piece on Hinduism, the BJP and Modi whom will be up for reelection in 2019.
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