Audrey Truschke
@audreytruschke.bsky.social
Professor of South Asian history Rutgers-Newark | Anti-fascist | pro-education | https://www.audreytruschke.com/ | https://princeton.press/8r8idcye
Guess who’s back??
Some of these are literally from decades ago, with yellowed paper and all. Your friendly state universities are hard at work on a shoe string budget.
💪 #highered
Some of these are literally from decades ago, with yellowed paper and all. Your friendly state universities are hard at work on a shoe string budget.
💪 #highered
November 10, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Guess who’s back??
Some of these are literally from decades ago, with yellowed paper and all. Your friendly state universities are hard at work on a shoe string budget.
💪 #highered
Some of these are literally from decades ago, with yellowed paper and all. Your friendly state universities are hard at work on a shoe string budget.
💪 #highered
I'll be in Berlin in a couple of weeks, giving two talks. Do join us!
RSVP (Nov 18): luma.com/tjcyoy5t
RSVP (Nov 20): www.eventbrite.com/e/fieldnotes...
RSVP (Nov 18): luma.com/tjcyoy5t
RSVP (Nov 20): www.eventbrite.com/e/fieldnotes...
November 7, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I'll be in Berlin in a couple of weeks, giving two talks. Do join us!
RSVP (Nov 18): luma.com/tjcyoy5t
RSVP (Nov 20): www.eventbrite.com/e/fieldnotes...
RSVP (Nov 18): luma.com/tjcyoy5t
RSVP (Nov 20): www.eventbrite.com/e/fieldnotes...
The fruits of Republican racism —
November 5, 2025 at 3:23 AM
The fruits of Republican racism —
👀 New entry to the Timeline of Hindu Nationalist Assaults on Academics in North America, part of the #Hindutva Harassment Field Manual.
The timeline covers 30 years of far-right attacks on individuals, institutions, and academic freedom.
www.hindutvaharassmentfieldmanual.org/timeline #HigherEd
The timeline covers 30 years of far-right attacks on individuals, institutions, and academic freedom.
www.hindutvaharassmentfieldmanual.org/timeline #HigherEd
October 30, 2025 at 12:25 PM
👀 New entry to the Timeline of Hindu Nationalist Assaults on Academics in North America, part of the #Hindutva Harassment Field Manual.
The timeline covers 30 years of far-right attacks on individuals, institutions, and academic freedom.
www.hindutvaharassmentfieldmanual.org/timeline #HigherEd
The timeline covers 30 years of far-right attacks on individuals, institutions, and academic freedom.
www.hindutvaharassmentfieldmanual.org/timeline #HigherEd
DIWALI -- NJ Governor-style. I appreciate the invite to Drumthwacket! 😎
October 28, 2025 at 6:46 PM
DIWALI -- NJ Governor-style. I appreciate the invite to Drumthwacket! 😎
This is a comment on an allegedly non-violent protest of a university talk I'm giving tomorrow.
"Burn the speakers alive." That's hate. It's illegal. It's anti-intellectual. And it's core #Hindutva.
Join us at Rutgers-NB tomorrow to learn more: events.law.rutgers.edu/event/hindut...
"Burn the speakers alive." That's hate. It's illegal. It's anti-intellectual. And it's core #Hindutva.
Join us at Rutgers-NB tomorrow to learn more: events.law.rutgers.edu/event/hindut...
October 26, 2025 at 7:09 PM
This is a comment on an allegedly non-violent protest of a university talk I'm giving tomorrow.
"Burn the speakers alive." That's hate. It's illegal. It's anti-intellectual. And it's core #Hindutva.
Join us at Rutgers-NB tomorrow to learn more: events.law.rutgers.edu/event/hindut...
"Burn the speakers alive." That's hate. It's illegal. It's anti-intellectual. And it's core #Hindutva.
Join us at Rutgers-NB tomorrow to learn more: events.law.rutgers.edu/event/hindut...
It is a beautiful day for a panel at Madison, where we hold our largest South Asia studies conference of the year, drawing in scholars worldwide.
My panel of four will discuss big books (yeah, size matters) and setting the narrative on major subjects within South Asian studies.
My panel of four will discuss big books (yeah, size matters) and setting the narrative on major subjects within South Asian studies.
October 24, 2025 at 12:59 PM
It is a beautiful day for a panel at Madison, where we hold our largest South Asia studies conference of the year, drawing in scholars worldwide.
My panel of four will discuss big books (yeah, size matters) and setting the narrative on major subjects within South Asian studies.
My panel of four will discuss big books (yeah, size matters) and setting the narrative on major subjects within South Asian studies.
“Southeast Asians” 😳🤣 # iykyk
October 19, 2025 at 11:32 PM
“Southeast Asians” 😳🤣 # iykyk
Hallowali season is upon us!
October 19, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Hallowali season is upon us!
I am thrilled, once again, to be lawsuit free!
For the last year, I've been a named defendant in a lawsuit challenging the Rutgers caste report. The judge threw it out of NJ court this week, no leave to amend.
It's a win for civil rights, academic freedom, and the anti-caste movement.
For the last year, I've been a named defendant in a lawsuit challenging the Rutgers caste report. The judge threw it out of NJ court this week, no leave to amend.
It's a win for civil rights, academic freedom, and the anti-caste movement.
October 15, 2025 at 1:36 PM
I am thrilled, once again, to be lawsuit free!
For the last year, I've been a named defendant in a lawsuit challenging the Rutgers caste report. The judge threw it out of NJ court this week, no leave to amend.
It's a win for civil rights, academic freedom, and the anti-caste movement.
For the last year, I've been a named defendant in a lawsuit challenging the Rutgers caste report. The judge threw it out of NJ court this week, no leave to amend.
It's a win for civil rights, academic freedom, and the anti-caste movement.
I don't cover everything in my most recent book, but I try.
Seriously, I cover topics ranging from how the Vedic peoples migrated overland to northwest India, to Garba dance's popularity on American college campuses.
I'm next speaking about my book in Madison, WI, at our annual academic mela. 😎
Seriously, I cover topics ranging from how the Vedic peoples migrated overland to northwest India, to Garba dance's popularity on American college campuses.
I'm next speaking about my book in Madison, WI, at our annual academic mela. 😎
October 7, 2025 at 2:28 PM
I don't cover everything in my most recent book, but I try.
Seriously, I cover topics ranging from how the Vedic peoples migrated overland to northwest India, to Garba dance's popularity on American college campuses.
I'm next speaking about my book in Madison, WI, at our annual academic mela. 😎
Seriously, I cover topics ranging from how the Vedic peoples migrated overland to northwest India, to Garba dance's popularity on American college campuses.
I'm next speaking about my book in Madison, WI, at our annual academic mela. 😎
Happening today in Washington DC!
I understand some Hindu nationalists are upset about this event. And that's too darn bad, because I intend to exercise my free speech and academic freedom in pursuit of knowledge and pluralism so long as I draw breath. #Hindutva
I understand some Hindu nationalists are upset about this event. And that's too darn bad, because I intend to exercise my free speech and academic freedom in pursuit of knowledge and pluralism so long as I draw breath. #Hindutva
October 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Happening today in Washington DC!
I understand some Hindu nationalists are upset about this event. And that's too darn bad, because I intend to exercise my free speech and academic freedom in pursuit of knowledge and pluralism so long as I draw breath. #Hindutva
I understand some Hindu nationalists are upset about this event. And that's too darn bad, because I intend to exercise my free speech and academic freedom in pursuit of knowledge and pluralism so long as I draw breath. #Hindutva
A federal judge opens his blistering judgment against Trump's clampdown on free speech with a threat he received in Chambers + his response.
I wonder if he knows *exactly* how much that means to those of us who are persistently threatened for exercising our free speech rights.
I wonder if he knows *exactly* how much that means to those of us who are persistently threatened for exercising our free speech rights.
September 30, 2025 at 6:26 PM
A federal judge opens his blistering judgment against Trump's clampdown on free speech with a threat he received in Chambers + his response.
I wonder if he knows *exactly* how much that means to those of us who are persistently threatened for exercising our free speech rights.
I wonder if he knows *exactly* how much that means to those of us who are persistently threatened for exercising our free speech rights.
Hindi version of my recent interview about writing India's long history --
September 30, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Hindi version of my recent interview about writing India's long history --
September 29, 2025 at 12:37 PM
I'm unabashedly on Team Critical Thought here. We call it like it is, we don't whitewash, we stand on evidence, and we don't soft-pedal for your feelings.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/o...
September 24, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I'm unabashedly on Team Critical Thought here. We call it like it is, we don't whitewash, we stand on evidence, and we don't soft-pedal for your feelings.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/o...
Attempted flex here by a U.S.-based Hindu supremacist group.
They've allied with the American far-right for several years, and thus generally let stuff like this go unremarked upon.
But with the H1B visa news, they look weak. They're attempting to show they have some power still... let's see.
They've allied with the American far-right for several years, and thus generally let stuff like this go unremarked upon.
But with the H1B visa news, they look weak. They're attempting to show they have some power still... let's see.
September 22, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Attempted flex here by a U.S.-based Hindu supremacist group.
They've allied with the American far-right for several years, and thus generally let stuff like this go unremarked upon.
But with the H1B visa news, they look weak. They're attempting to show they have some power still... let's see.
They've allied with the American far-right for several years, and thus generally let stuff like this go unremarked upon.
But with the H1B visa news, they look weak. They're attempting to show they have some power still... let's see.
Fellow Americans — This week, Indian newspapers across the board ran front page wishes for their dear leader’s birthday. It was a gross display that signalled the debasement and fragility that accompanies one’s democracy slipping into authoritarianism.
This is where we are headed. #JimmyKimmel
This is where we are headed. #JimmyKimmel
September 19, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Fellow Americans — This week, Indian newspapers across the board ran front page wishes for their dear leader’s birthday. It was a gross display that signalled the debasement and fragility that accompanies one’s democracy slipping into authoritarianism.
This is where we are headed. #JimmyKimmel
This is where we are headed. #JimmyKimmel
Amazing morning looking at manuscripts and images at London’s V and A!
September 18, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Amazing morning looking at manuscripts and images at London’s V and A!
So cringe-worthy. A sad reflection on the state of Indian higher education after years of far-right political interference and decimation.
theprint.in/feature/lsr-...
theprint.in/feature/lsr-...
September 17, 2025 at 6:42 AM
So cringe-worthy. A sad reflection on the state of Indian higher education after years of far-right political interference and decimation.
theprint.in/feature/lsr-...
theprint.in/feature/lsr-...
Kicking off three days of Jain studies fun!
September 12, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Kicking off three days of Jain studies fun!
My favorite criticism today of my India book is that it should cover the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Bhagavadgita and Ramayana, in addition to Manusmriti.
It does. It's all in there, my friends (and non-friends).
Don't believe me? Read it for yourself --
It does. It's all in there, my friends (and non-friends).
Don't believe me? Read it for yourself --
September 10, 2025 at 3:24 PM
My favorite criticism today of my India book is that it should cover the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Bhagavadgita and Ramayana, in addition to Manusmriti.
It does. It's all in there, my friends (and non-friends).
Don't believe me? Read it for yourself --
It does. It's all in there, my friends (and non-friends).
Don't believe me? Read it for yourself --
This also applies more generally to attacks on individual academics, especially this bit: "used antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault." #FreePalestine
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
September 3, 2025 at 11:28 PM
This also applies more generally to attacks on individual academics, especially this bit: "used antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault." #FreePalestine
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
The question was -- How do we distinguish history versus mythology?
My answer here: epaper.telegraphindia.com/calcutta-edi... #history #mythology #Hanuman #India
My answer here: epaper.telegraphindia.com/calcutta-edi... #history #mythology #Hanuman #India
September 2, 2025 at 12:49 PM
The question was -- How do we distinguish history versus mythology?
My answer here: epaper.telegraphindia.com/calcutta-edi... #history #mythology #Hanuman #India
My answer here: epaper.telegraphindia.com/calcutta-edi... #history #mythology #Hanuman #India