From Dotbusters to Ohio SG: How Hinduphobia festers in the American mainstream - and the bindi remains a flashpoint for racists

Time of India

6 days ago

Hinduphobia festers in US with Bindi as flashpoint (AI-generated Representative image)
The appointment of Indian-origin attorney Mathura Sridharan as Ohio's 12th Solicitor General triggered a wave of racist and Hinduphobic backlash online, with trolls questioning her 'Americanness' and targeting her Hindu identity — particularly her wearing of a bindi.
Announced by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost on July 31, Sridharan's elevation was praised for her legal credentials and prior Supreme Court experience. However, the online response quickly turned hostile, with several users mocking her name, complexion, and religious markers.
The backlash has reignited concerns over rising anti-Hindu sentiment in the US which can be led back to the 'Bindi'— a centuries-old cultural symbol that has historically drawn hate, including from violent groups like the Dotbusters in the 1980s.
Attorney General defends appointment, slams trolls
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who appointed Sridharan, responded strongly to the online vitriol. Clarifying her identity, Yost said, 'A few commenters have asserted incorrectly that Mathura is not American. She is a United States citizen, married to a US citizen, and the child of naturalized US citizens.' He added, 'If her name or her complexion bother you, the problem is not with her or her appointment.'
He reaffirmed his support for Sridharan's qualifications, noting, 'Mathura is brilliant… she won her argument at SCOTUS last year.
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Both the SGs she worked under recommended her. I told her when I originally hired her I needed her to argue with me. She does — all the time.'
Despite this, the trolling continued. Comments ranged from questioning her religious faith to falsely accusing her of divided loyalties, with some users claiming she was 'un-American' and a 'foreigner.' One user wrote, 'Is she a Christian? That's the biggest factor that concerns me.
Based on the bindi on her forehead, I worry she is not.'
Hindu advocacy groups push back
Hindu American groups and diaspora leaders were quick to rally in support of Sridharan. Suhag Shukla, executive director of the Hindu American Foundation, described her as 'a brilliant attorney who argued before SCOTUS, an amazing mother and proud Ohioan.' Responding to attacks over her wearing of a bindi, Shukla said on X, 'The bindi identifies one as Hindu, just as a cross pendant might a Christian… We wear them often, and racist backlash won't dissuade us," spekaing about its significance .
Shukla added, 'Mathura will be an incredible Solicitor General and Ohioans will be well represented. Anti-Hindu hate is real, but our traditions are our superpower. We will not be deterred and we move forward in service and with love.'
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) also issued a statement calling Sridharan's appointment a proud moment for the Hindu community. The group warned, however, that the online backlash was a clear indication of 'the blatant Hinduphobia and racism that exists in Ohio and beyond.'
The Dotbusters era: A racist past
For many Hindu Americans, the fixation on the bindi is not new — it reminiscences a darker period inUS history. In the 1980s and early 1990s, a violent hate group calling itself the 'Dotbusters' targeted South Asians, particularly Hindus, in Jersey City, New Jersey. The name was a direct reference to the bindi, referred to as a 'dot' in the context that gave the organisation its name.
The group engaged in physical attacks, intimidation, and harassment, often focusing on young Hindu women.
One of the most brutal incidents was the fatal beating of Navroze Mody in 1987. Police were slow to act, leading to widespread fear among Indian residents.
Eventually, the South Asian community formed self-defense groups and pushed back through organized resistance. The Dotbusters faded, but the trauma and symbolism of that period continue to resonate today.
Bindi a flashpoint and a wider racist sentiment
Far-right commentator Stew Peters fueled online vitriol last year by accusing Indian immigrants of being "parasitic," mocking their hygiene, and using slurs like "dot head".
The term "dot head" refers to the bindi, a small decorative mark worn on the forehead by many Indian women, often as a symbol of their religious or cultural identity. His rant triggered widespread condemnation and drew attention to the persistence of anti-Hindu sentiment in American discourse.
In addition to the backlash over symbols like the bindi, Hindu Americans also continue to face broader hostility.
The rhetoric against Hindus isn't limited to isolated extremists. Hindu Americans in public life have repeatedly faced bigoted attacks. Tech executive Sriram Krishnan, despite his mainstream presence, has dealt with derogatory comments online. JD Vance's wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, was mocked for her Indian heritage during his Senate campaign. Presidential candidate
Vivek Ramaswamy
was frequently labeled 'not American enough' and faced jeers for invoking his Hindu faith on the campaign trail.
Even beyond prominent figures, members of the broader Hindu community have reported slurs and suspicion simply for practicing their religion or wearing cultural markers/attires.