Community members, and advocates for harmony,

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As members of a diverse and inclusive Canadian society, we all share a commitment to fostering mutual respect, understanding, and love among communities. However, recent announcements about an upcoming event at the University of Toronto (Mississauga) —titled CSACH and CID present: Envisioning a Constitutionally True India—have raised serious concerns among many, particularly within the Hindu Canadian community. The event features panelists whose public statements and social media activity have been promoting divisive rhetoric and harboring hostility toward Hinduism, potentially undermining the harmony we strive to maintain in Canada.

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We respectfully urge the University of Toronto to NOT allow hosting this event with its current panelists—Harsh Mander and T. M. Krishna—due to their well-documented public statements that Hindu Canadians find deeply hurtful and exclusionary. Below, we outline our concerns and invite you to join us in sending emails to the University of Toronto to request the cancellation of this event or a reconsideration of its panelists to ensure a balanced and inclusive dialogue.

 

Why Are We Concerned?

 

1. Harsh Mander: A well known Anti-Hindu Rhetoric:

Harsh Mander, a so called human rights activist, author, and social worker, is one of the panelists for this event. While Mr. Mander is known for his work on social justice and peace, many of his public statements on social media platform have raised concerns among Hindu Canadians. For instance:

• In a post on November 17, 2021 (https://x.com/harsh_mander/status/1460895944929685504), Mr. Mander stated:
  “@salman7khurshid is entirely right that Hindutva promotes hate & violence. This isn’t Hinduism. Gandhi, a devout Hindu, respected every other faith. People of all faiths must rescue their religions from hatemongers. 
  This statement and many such Sterotype Hindu Community worldwide and potentially alienating Hindu Canadians who feel it paints their faith in a negative light or perpetuates stereotypes.

• Additionally, Mr. Mander has faced scrutiny for his praise of controversial figures. For example, some reports and posts suggest he has glorified figures like Moh. Yunus who are directly linked with Hindu Community Genocide in Bangladesh (snip below) or other political leaders whose actions have been criticized internationally for divisive and hateful remarks towards Hindus.

• Harsh Mander was implicated in the charge sheets concerning the 2020 Anti-Hindu Delhi riots. The Delhi Police accused him of delivering a speech at Jamia Millia Islamia University that allegedly incited violence.​

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2. T. M. Krishna: Known for making Anti-Hindu Statements:

T. M. Krishna, so called a renowned Carnatic musician and Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient, is another panelist for this event. While Mr. Krishna is celebrated for his contributions to music and social reform, many of his public statements raised concerns among Hindu Canadians for targetting Hindus and Spreading misinformation against the community.

• In a post on September 2, 2021 (https://x.com/tmkrishna/status/1433289720834916357), Mr. Krishna wrote:
  “The Hindutva project is not about Hinduism, it’s about power. It uses religion as a tool to divide and dominate. We must resist this distortion of our traditions.”

 

His statements and actions have been as contributing to a narrative that singles out Hinduism and  its followers for criticism.

 

The Impact on Hindu Canadians:

As a vibrant and integral part of Canadian society, Hindu Canadians deserve to feel respected and included in public discourse. The participation of panelists whose statements have been as hostile or dismissive of Hinduism could create an environment of discomfort, division, and alienation at the University of Toronto (Mississauga) —a place that prides itself on diversity and inclusion. We believe that hosting this event with its current panelists risks undermining the harmony we all seek to maintain in our multicultural society.

 

Our Request to the University of Toronto:

We respectfully call on the University of Toronto to cancel the event CSACH and CID present: Envisioning a Constitutionally True India with its current panelists or, at the very least, reconsider the panel to ensure a balanced and inclusive representation that respects all communities, including Hindu Canadians. We believe this proactive step is essential to maintaining harmony, love, and mutual respect on campus and beyond.

 

How You Can Help:

We invite you to join us in this effort by sending a polite and constructive email to the University of Toronto. Below are contact details and a sample email template you can use or adapt:

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: Sample Email Template:

Subject: "Urgent Appeal: Cancel the Event 'Envisioning a Constitutionally True India' Promoting Hatred Against Hindu Canadians"

 

Contacts to send Email: 

• Office of the Vice-Provost, Students: viceprovost.students@utoronto.ca (mailto:viceprovost.students@utoronto.ca)

• Centre for South Asian Civilizations (CSACH): csach.utm@utoronto.ca (mailto:csach.utm@utoronto.ca)

• Centre for Integrative Design (CID): cid.utm@utoronto.ca (mailto:cid.utm@utoronto.ca)

• Workplace Investigations Team: wpi.psec@utoronto.ca 

• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Office: edio.utm@utoronto.ca

• Governance (Office of the Campus Council): council.utm@utoronto.ca

• Human Resources: hrserv.utm@utoronto.ca

• Office of the Vice-Principal: veron.fernandes@utoronto.ca

• Conference and Events Services: confserv.utm@utoronto.ca

• Media Relations: jennifer.hartman@utoronto.ca

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Dear UofT Team,

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I am writing to express my concern about the upcoming event CSACH and CID present: Envisioning a Constitutionally True India, scheduled to be hosted at the University of Toronto (Mississauga) on Friday, March 21 · 7:30 - 9:30pm EDT (3359 Mississauga Road Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6) . While I appreciate the University’s commitment to fostering dialogue and diversity, I am troubled by the inclusion of panelists Harsh Mander and T. M. Krishna, whose public statements and social media activities have been promoting divisive or hostile rhetoric toward Hindus.

As a community member who deeply values harmony and inclusivity, I urge the University to either reconsider hosting this event with its current panelists or cancel it entirely. Taking this step is vital to ensuring that the University continues to be a welcoming and respectful space for all students and community members, especially those belonging to minority faith groups. UofT should not become a platform for spreading hatred or fostering an unsafe environment for Hindu students on campus. Given the deeply troubling credentials of the current panelists, canceling this panel discussion is a crucial and necessary action.

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Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response and am happy to discuss this further if needed.

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Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Contact Information, if applicable]

 

A Call for Harmony and Love:

Our goal is not to silence voices or stifle debate but to ensure that public forums, especially at esteemed institutions like the University of Toronto, promote understanding, respect, and unity. By addressing these concerns proactively, we can work together to build a stronger, more inclusive community for all Canadians, regardless of faith or background.

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Please join us in this peaceful and constructive effort. Together, we can maintain the harmony and love that define our society.

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Thank you for your support.