An educator explores Hinduism and belonging in US public schools in new bookAn educator explores Hinduism and belonging in US public schools in new book

In her book Hindu at Heart: Education, Faith, and What It Means to Belong in America, educator Indu Viswanathan examines the historical and contemporary challenges Hindu Americans face within the United States public education system. She argues that a persistent “master narrative”—initially constructed by Westerners and rooted in Protestant ideals—often misrepresents Hinduism as an irrational, regressive, or un-American tradition. This narrative creates an “endogenous cycle of Hinduphobia” that permeates schools and media, leading many to view the faith as incompatible with American democratic values despite evidence that Hindu Americans are deeply invested in civic participation. By drawing on decades of research and personal engagement with families and institutions, Viswanathan highlights how educational curriculum can become a site of exclusion or belonging. She ultimately calls for a reimagining of religious representation in schools, suggesting that while advocacy for more accurate portrayals is relatively new compared to other communities, it is essential for fostering a truly inclusive democracy where Hindu students can see their identities authentically reflected.