Hindu American Leader Sounds Alarm on Mamdani, Says Jews and Hindus Face Common Threats

NEW YORK (VINnews.com)— Jews and Hindus in America increasingly face similar ideological pressures and security concerns, creating the potential for a powerful new alliance, according to Suhag Shukla, executive director and co-founder of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF).

In an interview with Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch, Shukla discussed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, rising Hinduphobia and antisemitism, Islamic terrorism, India-Israel relations and the growing cooperation between Hindu and Jewish Americans.

Mamdani, Jews and Hindus

Schonbuch noted that “Zionist” is increasingly used as a slur against Jews and Israel supporters, while terms such as “Hindutva” or “Hindu nationalism” can similarly be used to attack Hindus who defend India or their religious identity.

Shukla said hostility toward both communities can emerge from political ideologies that divide society into permanent categories of “oppressors” and “oppressed.”

She specifically pointed to Mamdani’s tenure in the New York State Assembly, saying he had actively attacked another Indian-American legislator who was Hindu.

Shukla said such politics demonstrate how ideology can override even a shared ethnic or cultural background.

Hinduphobia and Antisemitism

Asked whether Hinduphobia is a genuine problem in America, Shukla responded unequivocally.

“I think there is absolutely,” she said.

Shukla said anti-Hindu prejudice ranges from stereotypes in educational materials to threats and violence against Hindu institutions and individuals. She acknowledged that anti-Hindu hate crimes remain far fewer than antisemitic incidents but warned that religiously motivated attacks can intimidate entire communities.

She also described Hindu Americans as increasingly “caught in the middle,” facing hostility from elements of both the radical left and far right.

Why Hindus and Jews Are Natural Allies

Shukla said Jews and Hindus share remarkable similarities. Both are ancient traditions centered on family, education and religious continuity, and both have survived centuries of persecution while maintaining distinctive identities.

She also highlighted India’s historic acceptance of Jewish communities, attributing it partly to Hindu civilization’s tradition of religious pluralism.

The two communities also share experience confronting Islamist terrorism.

Shukla discussed the 2008 Mumbai attacks, in which Pakistani terrorists killed people from India and around the world and specifically targeted the Chabad Jewish center.

“There is definitely a shared experience of what it is to be under that threat of terrorism,” she said.

A Growing Hindu-Jewish Partnership

Shukla said there is now “tremendous interest” in strengthening Hindu-Jewish cooperation in the United States.

HAF already works with Jewish organizations on religious liberty, education and campus issues. She said the communities have common concerns about ethnic-studies curricula, ideological extremism and foreign influence within American universities.

The interview also addressed the growing strategic relationship between India, Israel and the United States, as well as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and what Shukla described as an often overly simplistic portrayal of Indian politics by Western media.

Shukla said she hopes the coming generation of Hindu Americans will be able to openly embrace their religious and cultural identity without facing stereotypes or political double standards.

For Jews and Hindus confronting many of the same ideological challenges, she suggested, greater cooperation may be only beginning.

Watch the full interview with Suhag Shukla on the Viktor Frankl Podcast.

Follow Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch and the Viktor Frankl Podcast for more interviews and analysis:
https://www.youtube.com/@rabbiforamerica