Henry Jackson Society Study Finds 51% of UK Hindu Parents Report Anti-Hindu Hate in Schools

A recent survey conducted in the UK has found that more than half of Hindu parents reported that their children have experienced anti-Hindu hate in schools.

A new study by the Henry Jackson Society has found that over half of Hindu parents in the UK have reported incidents of anti-Hindu hate in schools. Surprisingly, less than 1% of schools with Indian students have reported any anti-Hindu-related incidents in the last five years. Read on to learn more about the study's findings and what they mean for the Hindu community in the UK.

Hindu Parents in UK Lack Confidence in Schools' Ability to Address Anti-Hindu Hate, According to Study by Henry Jackson Society

A recent study by the Henry Jackson Society has found that only 19% of Hindu parents in the UK believe that schools are able to identify incidents of anti-Hindu hate, and just 15% believe that schools adequately address such incidents. The study was conducted by surveying 988 anonymous parents and submitting Freedom of Information requests to public schools with South Asian students.

Parents have raised concerns that Hinduism is being taught through an Abrahamic faith lens, leading to misconceptions and bullying in the classroom. The study suggests a need for enquiry and consultation, and adds weight to the recommendation for a statutory, national approach to teaching religious education subject to inspection. The survey also found that incidents of discrimination against Hindu pupils are present in the classroom, with most incidents stemming from peers.

The Commission on Religious Education has recommended a wider lens on the subject of religious education to address incidents of bullying in UK schools. The commission also recommends access to national resources that can support all schools in teaching complex and sensitive issues that arise. According to the study, young people of Asian and African ethnicities are least likely to report being bullied, and reported rates of bullying are lower for those who associate themselves with a religion. The study highlights the need to address under-researched forms of hate that have the potential to affect students of all ethnic and religious backgrounds.

The first report dedicated to investigating discrimination against Hindus in UK schools has highlighted the extent to which schools are seemingly ill-equipped to identify and prevent anti-Hindu hate. The report suggests that students from other religious minorities in Britain may also be experiencing alienation and bullying that escapes official notice, indicating a need for further study. The lack of national reporting requirements on race or faith-targeted hate incidents in schools is a growing concern, and this report adds to the evidence that such incidents are more widespread than thought. The study calls for schools to take a more proactive approach towards understanding, recording, and tackling the particular types of prejudice manifesting in their classrooms.

It is crucial to record instances of bullying in detail and identify patterns to ensure a safe and equitable society for minority communities, including the Hindu community. Schools play a crucial role in bringing together young people from diverse backgrounds and must handle their differences with sensitivity.

To address the problem, the Government should review its 2012 and 2017 guidelines and implement new reporting standards for schools that cover hate incidents based on race and faith. This is the first step towards identifying the scale of the issue and taking action to create a safer environment for all.

Shifting responsibility away from the current local SACREs system could improve quality assurance and provide a standardized approach for all students. Hinduism is the third largest religion in the UK, representing 1.7% of the population. However, recent civil unrest in Leicester and Birmingham involved vandalism, assaults, stabbings, and attacks on places of worship, including Hindu temples. This unrest was fueled by the false narrative of "Hindutva extremism" and "Hindu terrorism," which resulted in fear and community tensions relating to youth violence and noise control issues during festivals.

The Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) investigated the impact of social media on civil unrest and found that British Hindus were depicted as hyper-nationalist and fascist threats. The report noted the use of anti-Hindu slurs and Hinduphobic tropes, which could escalate tensions ahead of the 2024 Indian election. The NCRI report concluded that conspiracies about "Hindutva" dominance are likely to increase, and the violence seen in Leicester could be replicated elsewhere. Both the HJS and NCRI reports expressed concern about the dangerous and divisive nature of these narratives.

The lack of available studies on anti-Hindu hate became apparent during research into the unrest between the Hindu and Muslim communities in Leicester. The NCRI highlighted the violent and genocidal implications of Hinduphobia, which has been largely ignored or denied in the public sphere. There is a need for greater understanding and awareness of this issue. To address this, the first national study on discrimination against Hindu youth in the UK has been conducted, focusing on the prevalence of discrimination against Hindu pupils in schools. This study aims to shed light on what anti-Hindu hate looks like and how it is manifesting in the UK.

To further understand the prevalence of discrimination against Hindu youth in schools, it would be beneficial to study how other minority groups are experiencing discrimination in educational settings. Engaging with schools' safeguarding leads to understand their awareness of different types of discrimination would also support this understanding. The study follows the Macpherson principle, which requires incidents of perceived racism to be recorded and investigated as such. Looking at the history of anti-Hindu hate during the colonial period, specifically in the late 1800s and early 1900s, can provide context for the findings of this study.

Anti-Hindu hate is still present today and often involves mocking multiple deities and religious customs. This form of hate was noted in previous reports on the unrest in Leicester and is also found in this report. The press has been accused of not engaging with the Hindu community and instead relying on self-identified Muslim spokespersons who peddle false stories about Hindus in Leicester. Additionally, the mainstream press often points to issues in India without recognizing the complex reality in Leicester. Modern anti-Hindu hate can be traced back to a colonialist approach to Hindus and Hinduism in the English-speaking world, which is also reflected in how Hinduism is taught in schools according to respondents of this study.