As Hindu parents, we must confront a deeply troubling question: How do ideological shifts in America impact our children and our family’s future?

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I come from a well-known family in Karnataka, steeped in the traditions of Hinduism. My grandfather, Dr. DV Gundappa, authored a revered version of the Bhagavad Gita in Kannada, and our family's commitment to Hindu culture and spirituality has always been unwavering. Growing up, the practices of our faith—chanting the Vedas, performing seva, observing key samskaras—were our guiding lights. These traditions, deeply connected to both our spiritual and national identity, were passed down with great care and devotion.

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However, over the years, I’ve witnessed a disturbing shift within our families and community. 

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Subtle, then ever more pronounced, foreign ideologies are taking root in our communities, particularly the rise of wokeism and Marxism. These ideologies, once dismissed as fringe, have now deeply infiltrated the hearts and minds of the younger generation, altering the way they view their heritage, culture, and even their families.

 

I have seen firsthand the pain and confusion of Hindu parents who did not see this change coming. At first, it seemed like a phase—just some new influences from school, social media, or peer groups. But soon, these ideas began to reshape the way children viewed their very identity.

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“What’s wrong with social justice?” they ask.
“Why is caste so problematic?”
“What does it mean to be Hindu, anyway?”

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At first, these questions seemed innocent, even natural in a changing world. But they are not simply innocent inquiries—they are symptoms of a larger ideological shift that is undermining our children’s connection to their heritage and the values we have worked so hard to instill.

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A particularly troubling example is the rise of organizations like Equality Labs, which push an agenda of caste sensitivity that mirrors the critical race theory framework. This group, along with others promoting similar ideologies, is rewriting our children’s understanding of their identity. Their so-called "caste training" is not about education—it is about indoctrination, about reshaping a child’s worldview to view everything through the lens of oppression and class struggle.

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This training encourages participants to sever cultural ties and adopt a victim-victimizer mentality, making it easier to dismiss the values of our religion and family traditions as outdated or even harmful. It is no longer enough for children to passively learn about social justice—they are told that to be "good" they must actively reject their roots, their families, and everything their parents have worked to build.

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The framework of viewing everything through a victim-victimizer lens is pervasive in modern ideologies like critical race theory. This oppressor-oppressed model makes individuals constantly question whether they are on the "right side" of things. It introduces a heightened sensitivity, often referred to as "fragility," where every situation is viewed with suspicion and hypersensitivity. 

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There are many other organizations working within the US to craft a narrative of caste oppression by “Hindu supremacists”:

 

• Ambedkar King Study Circle

• All-African People’s Revolutionary Party, USA

• Ambedkarite Buddhist Association of Texas, USA

• Dalit Solidarity Forum , USA

• Friends for Education International, USA

• Hindus for Human Rights, USA

• Indian American Muslim Council, USA

• Periyar International, USA

• San José Peace & Justice Center, San Jose, USA

• Silicon Valley Democratic Socialists of America, California, USA

• Sadhana

• Brown Girl Magazine

 

This mindset makes it challenging to approach life from a Dharmic perspective—rooted in values like compassion, mutual respect, and understanding—as we are taught in programs like Vedantic training at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam and Chinmaya Mission's Balvihar.

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Social media, with its powerful influence, reinforces the victim-victimizer framework, and many young people—especially women—are hailed as leaders for adopting these views. There is a growing trend of social media influencers who champion these ideologies, creating a sense of moral superiority. This also has a mental health impact that parents are concerned about.

 

Interestingly, there was a study by an Assistant Professor from Brown University, who found that many young women were increasingly identifying as trans or non-binary in groups, suggesting a form of social indoctrination. She posited that this was a result of peer influence and social movements, not necessarily individual identities. Her thesis was controversial and led to her being dismissed from Brown, but it highlights how social media and groupthink can steer young people toward specific ideologies.

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The influence of social media in shaping young adults’ beliefs cannot be underestimated. It has become a space where young people, in particular, receive validation and attention for adopting these progressive, often divisive, viewpoints. It creates a sense of belonging, a way to feel they are contributing to the "greater good" of society, but it also diverts them from more traditional, grounded perspectives. It's troubling to witness how deeply ingrained these ideas have become in youth culture at large.

 

A troubling trend has emerged in some universities, where students are encouraged to sever ties with their families, particularly their parents, as part of their commitment to social justice movements like anti-caste activism. A speaker addressed students, advocating for "allyship" in the fight against caste, akin to anti-racist movements. However, allyship is not just about verbal support—it demands active involvement in reshaping narratives and even brainwashing others into adopting these views.

 

To truly be an ally, students are told they must be involved in protests, raise awareness, and—most shockingly—sever relationships with their parents. This idea stems from the belief that parents, from perceived “caste-privileged backgrounds”, pass on their “casteist” lineage to their children. In many universities, the pressure to abandon one’s family and heritage in the name of activism has grown so intense that students are encouraged to break ties with their parents to prove their commitment to causes like anti-caste or anti-racist movements. 

 

The ideology is clear: reject/cancel/dismantle the old to embrace the new. 

 

This is eerily reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution in China, where children were encouraged to turn on their parents, tearing apart family bonds in the name of ideological purity.

 

This is not just an abstract concern—it is a real, growing crisis. 

 

Hindu parents, particularly those who have raised their children abroad in hopes of providing them with a better future, are waking up to a harsh truth: their children, influenced by these ideologies, may turn away from their heritage, their families, those they grew up with, abandoning all old classmates and friends particularly if they have a different ideology.

 

This is where we must act.

 

As parents, we have a critical role to play in protecting our children from this ideological erosion. We must be vigilant, engaged, and proactive. We cannot afford to remain passive while external forces shape our children's worldview. We must engage with their education, monitor the books they read, and understand the ideologies they are absorbing, especially through social media.

We cannot let these ideas sever the deep spiritual and cultural roots that bind us together. The stakes are too high. If we fail to act, we risk losing not just our traditions, but our very identity.

 

It raises a profound question: if children are told to reject their cultural roots, including their parents' values, what has been gained from the sacrifices made for their education and well-being?

 

To protect our children and the legacy of our civilization, we need to take action now. That is why I have developed a comprehensive training program to help us reclaim and protect our cultural heritage. Through community talks, presentations, and educational outreach, we can start building awareness of who we are—so that we can teach the next generation how to defend and share our values with pride.

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We must also support organizations like the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), Hindu Parents Network (HPN) and CoHNA Youth Action Network  (CYAN), which advocates for our community and works to educate lawmakers, educators, and the public about the true contributions of Hindus and the challenges we face. By standing together, we can protect our children from the ideological forces that seek to distort our cultural identity.

 

Sanatana Dharma can help us protect the sanctity of family, culture, and tradition in an increasingly divisive world.

Regarding strategies against wokeism, I prefer not to label movements as "Marxist," "woke," or "leftist" because these terms can change in meaning over time and mean different things to different people. Instead, I focus on actions that stay clear of political identities. 

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We’ve reached out to lawmakers, and Dr. Rich McCormick, a congressman from Georgia, has spoken about the contributions of Hindus in the U.S. on the floor of Congress. He’s also interested in initiating a program for freshman Congress members to visit India annually, which we are supporting through CoHNA. This program would aim to give these leaders an accurate understanding of India’s civilizational identity, the working of its government, and its post-colonial journey.

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I urge you to take this challenge seriously. Read books like Rajiv Malhotra’s work: Being Different and Breaking India to understand the forces at play. Stay involved in your children’s education. Equip them with the knowledge and values they need to resist the pressures of ideologies that run counter to our beliefs.

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Together, we can ensure that our children grow up with the strength to honor and uphold their Hindu identity—no matter the challenges ahead. Please join me in this mission. Reach out if you are interested in helping to spread awareness and building a stronger, more informed community.

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Thank you for your time, your dedication, and your commitment to our Hindu values. Let’s rise together to protect our Dharma.

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Pranam,

Shobha