The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has publicly accused The New York Times (NYT) and Bloomberg of suppressing a groundbreaking study from the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) in collaboration with 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 Statement
In a strongly worded statement, HAF claimed that the study examined the impact of Equality Labs’ anti-caste training, widely implemented in corporate and academic spaces. According to HAF, the findings are deeply troubling. “The study shows that DEI corporate and college caste trainings offered by Equality Labs do exactly the opposite of what they claim—they worsen anti-Hindu discrimination and hate,” the organization stated.
HAF further alleged that The New York Times had initially planned to cover the study and had even set a publication date. However, the story was abruptly shelved without explanation. Bloomberg similarly quashed coverage, with no official reason provided.
HAF’s statement highlighted a particularly alarming aspect of the NCRI study: participants exposed to Equality Labs training materials were significantly more likely to adopt dehumanizing rhetoric against Brahmins, including using terms like “parasites,” “virus,” or “devil personified.” The study’s findings, HAF argued, underscore the dangerous potential for such trainings to deepen bias and incite hostility rather than reduce discrimination.
Colin Wright’s Exposé on Substack
Dr Colin Wright, an evolutionary biologist and editor-in-chief of Reality’s Last Stand, published a detailed exposé on the study and the media’s decision to suppress it. Wright’s article emphasized the broader implications of the NCRI findings, which documented how DEI initiatives, including those by Equality Labs, inadvertently foster increased perceptions of bias, punitive tendencies, and authoritarian attitudes.
Wright explained that the study’s methodology involved exposing participants to Equality Labs’ training materials and comparing their responses with a control group that received neutral academic information about caste. The results were startling: the Equality Labs group was more likely to perceive bias in neutral scenarios and advocate for punitive actions, including dehumanizing rhetoric. This included substituting terms in adapted quotes from Adolf Hitler, replacing “Jew” with “Brahmin,” to measure responses. The Equality Labs-trained participants were significantly more likely to endorse the adapted dehumanizing rhetoric.
Problems with Equality Labs and the Study’s Findings
Equality Labs, a prominent anti-caste advocacy group, has long been criticized by Hindu organizations for its controversial rhetoric and approach to caste issues. The NCRI study adds empirical weight to these critiques, showing that Equality Labs’ materials may not only fail to combat caste discrimination but actively exacerbate divisions and foster hostility.
Key Findings:
- Increased Perceptions of Bias: Equality Labs’ training heightened participants’ tendency to perceive discrimination even in neutral or hypothetical scenarios.
- Hostile Attribution Bias: The training primed participants to see injustice against specific groups, fostering distrust and undermining confidence in institutional fairness.
- Dehumanizing Rhetoric: Participants exposed to the training were more likely to endorse extreme, divisive language, indicating a chilling overlap with authoritarian tendencies.
The study raises concerns about the unintended consequences of DEI initiatives that rely on divisive and unverified frameworks. Critics argue that the programs might inadvertently perpetuate stereotypes and fuel resentment rather than fostering inclusivity.
The Media’s Role and Accountability
According to Wright, The New York Times had cited NCRI’s research in over 20 prior articles without requiring peer review. However, in this case, the editors demanded peer review as a pretext to withhold publication. Bloomberg outright quashed the story, allegedly influenced by editors sympathetic to DEI programs.
HAF called on both outlets to publish the findings, arguing that withholding the research undermines transparency and accountability. “To refuse to cover this case-control study is to censor critical information that has immense repercussions for the Hindu American community,” HAF stated.
Broader Implications for DEI Programs
The NCRI study and its suppression highlight a growing debate over the efficacy and ethics of DEI training. Critics point out that such programs often rely on untested theories, lack rigorous oversight, and may inadvertently foster division. A 2021 meta-analysis cited by Wright found that many DEI initiatives not only fail to reduce prejudice but can exacerbate it by fueling resentment and perceptions of unfairness.
The findings on caste training are particularly alarming, given the contentious debate over caste discrimination in the United States. 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 underscores the urgent need for evidence-based approaches to combating discrimination and fostering inclusivity. The suppression of the study by major media outlets has raised serious questions about editorial independence and the influence of ideological biases.
As HAF’s statement concludes: “The public deserves to know if the tools being deployed to foster equity and anti-racism are instead causing harm. To suppress this research is to undermine the very goals of inclusivity and fairness.”
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?
The idea of a caste war in America has gained traction in recent years, largely fuelled by advocacy groups such as 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 groups question the validity of these claims, arguing that the narrative is overstated and even harmful. It became an issue of such importance that even Donald Trump spoke up against California’s Senate Bill 403 promising to curtail the ‘radical left’s overreach’ while reaching out to Hindu-American voters. In 2023, backlash had led Governor Newsom to veto the bill stating that existing anti-discrimination laws already provided 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 controversy surrounding caste discrimination in the US underscores the complexities of addressing sensitive cultural issues through DEI initiatives and legislation. 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.