Report Id: 1576
Reported By
@Isahind, @hinduoncampus, @CoHNAOfficial
Nov 02, 2021
Davis, CA
Other Collective Distorts Deepavali Festival as “Very Violent”, Calls to Stop the Celebration
In an Instagram post on November 2nd, 2021, the account (@other_collective), a student-run organization in the University of California, Davis campus, said: “Diwali, also known as Festival of Lights, is celebrated by millions of South Asians annually. However, little attention is given to its casteist history and origins. Swipe to learn about why you should say no to Diwali this year and instead commit to the abolition of the caste system.”
The organization, Other Collective, is founded by Kimia Akbari (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimia-akbari-5b6a02144/)
In a post of 10 cards, the group alleges:
1) Diwali is celebrated by Savarna Hindus and is extremely violent for Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis and Bahujans
2) Diwali is celebrated as defeat of Asuras (today’s Bahujans, according to them) by Suras (Savarnas)
3) Ram and Laxman cut Shrupnakha’s nose, ears and breasts and Sita’s abduction was in response to mutilating Shrupnakha’s body
4) Ravana is venerated by caste-oppressed people
5) Hindu diaspora continues to exclude Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists
The post quotes Kancha Illiah Shephard for many of the assertions. At the end, it asks for money for organizations like Equality Labs.
Date of Incident:
Nov 02, 2021
Location:
Davis, CA
Davis, CA
Incident Type:
Systemic Erosion, Distortion
Systemic Erosion, Distortion
Perpetrator Name
Other Collective
Other Collective
Perpetrator Specification
Organization, College / Institution
Organization, College / Institution
Total Incidents of Systemic Erosion3
No. of Bully3
No. of Prohibit Pooja2
No. of Prohibit Symbols2
Systemic Erosion over 12 month
