The New York Times ( NYT ) and Bloomberg have been accused by the Hindu American Foundation ( HAF ) of obstructing a groundbreaking study conducted by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI ) and Rutgers University. The study raises serious concerns about the adverse effects of caste-based Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ( DEI ) training programs on Hindu Americans.
Hindu American Foundation’s Declaration
In a clearly worded speech, HAF claimed that the investigation examined the impact of Equality Labs ‘ anti-caste training, commonly implemented in commercial and scientific spaces. According to HAF, the results are profoundly disturbing. According to the study,” Equality Labs ‘ corporate and college caste trainings significantly worsen anti-Hindu discrimination and hate,” the organization claimed.
HAF further claimed that the publishing had already set a release time and had originally planned to cover the research. But, the story was immediately shelved without reason. Bloomberg also quashed protection, with no established reason provided.
HAF’s speech highlighted a particularly disturbing element of the NCRI research: participants exposed to Equality Labs teaching materials were significantly more likely to follow dehumanizing rhetoric against Brahmins, including using terms like “parasites”, “virus”, or “devil symbolized”. The study’s results, HAF argued, underscore the dangerous possibility for such courses to develop discrimination and inspire hostility rather than decrease discrimination.
Colin Wright’s Exposé on Substack
Dr Colin Wright, an evolutionary biologist and editor-in-chief of Reality’s Final Stand, published a comprehensive exposé on the research and the public’s decision to suppress it. Wright’s content emphasized the broader relevance of the NCRI studies, which documented how DEI initiatives, including those by Equality Labs, mistakenly develop increased perceptions of discrimination, punitive tendencies, and totalitarian attitudes.
According to Wright, the study’s design involved matching individuals ‘ responses to those from a control group who had received caste-specific educational background information. The outcomes were alarming: the Equality Labs team was more likely to support disciplinary actions, including dehumanizing rhetoric, in natural settings. This included substituting phrases in adapted comments from Adolf Hitler, replacing” Jew” with” Brahmin”, to measure actions. The participants in the Equality Labs training were significantly more likely to support the modified degrading language.
Issues with Equality Labs and the Study’s Findings
Hindu companies have long criticized Equality Labs, a well-known anti-caste advocacy group, for its contentious language and method of dealing with class issues. These criticisms are given more weight by the NCRI study because it demonstrates that the materials from Equality Labs may not only refuse to combat caste discrimination but also constantly cause divisions and develop hostility.
Important Findings:
- Increased Bias Perceptions: Training at Equality Labs increased the likelihood that participants would still experience discrimination in speculative or natural settings.
- Angry Attribution Bias: The training made participants more prone to seeing injustice against particular groups, fostering distrust and stifling trust in administrative fairness.
- Dehumanizing Rhetoric: Individuals exposed to the education were more likely to accept serious, controversial speech, indicating a chilling clash with authoritarian tendencies.
The research raises questions about La activities that rely on antagonistic and untested systems. According to critics, the programs may unintentionally sustain stereotypes and foster hatred rather than foster inclusivity.
The Media’s Role and Accountability
Wright claims that more than 20 of its earlier articles did not require peer review because of the NCRI’s studies. But, in this case, the reporters demanded peer review as a pretext to deny release. The story was reportedly squelched by editors who were friendly to La programs after Bloomberg publicly blasted it.
HAF demanded that the results be made public by both outlets, arguing that keeping the study secret violates accountability and transparency. The Hindu American community is impacted enormously by HAF’s statement,” To fail to include this case-control research is to censor important information.”
Broader Relevance for DEI Programs
The effectiveness and ethics of La education are currently at the forefront of a growing debate. Critics point out that such programs often rely on unknown theories, have comprehensive monitoring, and perhaps inadvertently develop section. According to a meta-analysis from 2021, Wright found that many DEI initiatives can exacerbate prejudice by creating feelings of injustice and exacerbate it.
Given the contentious debate over caste discrimination in the United States, the findings on caste training are particularly alarming. High-profile legislative efforts, such as California’s Senate Bill 403, have sought to address caste discrimination, but opponents argue these measures unfairly target the Hindu community and rely on biased narratives.
A Call for Transparency
The NCRI study emphasizes the need for concrete strategies to promote inclusivity and combat discrimination. Important questions have been raised about editorial independence and the impact of ideological biases as a result of the study’s suppression by major media outlets.
The public should be able to find out if the tools being used to promote equality and anti-racism are actually harming, according to HAF’s statement. The very objectives of inclusivity and fairness are undermined by suppressing this research.
With the stakes so high, the controversy over this study is likely to spark broader discussions about the role of DEI programs, media accountability, and the unintended consequences of well-intentioned initiatives.
Caste War in America?
In recent years, the idea of a caste war in America has gained popularity thanks to advocacy organizations like Equality Labs. These organizations claim caste discrimination is rampant in U. S. institutions, necessitating urgent intervention through legislation and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ( DEI ) training programs. However, many experts and community organizations dispute these assertions, claiming that the narrative is overstated and even harmful. Even Donald Trump criticized California’s Senate Bill 403, promising to stop the “radical left’s overreach” while reaching out to Hindu-American voters, because it became such a significant issue. Governor Newsom vetoed the bill in 2023 because it was argued that the current anti-discrimination laws already offered sufficient protections. Speculation arose that Vice President Kamala Harris, herself of Indian heritage, influenced the veto to avoid alienating Hindu-American voters—a key Democratic constituency.
The complexity of addressing sensitive cultural issues through DEI initiatives and laws is highlighted by the controversy surrounding caste discrimination in the US. The NCRI study’s findings and its alleged suppression by major media outlets highlight the need for transparency, accountability, and evidence-based approaches. Without these, well-intentioned programs risk fostering division instead of inclusivity, leaving communities further polarized.
