India, a nation celebrated for its cultural diversity and historical richness, has increasingly faced accusations of racism and stereotyping abroad. While these perceptions are often rooted in misinformation and generalizations, they are exacerbated by specific actions and ideologies within India, particularly those associated with Hindu nationalism. The propagation of practices like consuming cow urine and dung, alongside the suppression of minorities, especially Muslims, has fueled cringe-worthy narratives that dominate foreign media and social platforms. These elements, amplified by viral videos and news reports, contribute significantly to the negative stereotyping of Indians as a whole, despite such behaviors being far from representative of the country's 1.4 billion people.
Hindu Nationalism and the Cow Worship Narrative
Hindu nationalism, often encapsulated under the ideology of Hindutva, promotes a vision of India as a Hindu-centric nation. This ideology, championed by groups like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its political affiliate, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has led to the aggressive promotion of practices tied to Hindu religious traditions, including the veneration of cows. While cow worship is a legitimate aspect of Hindu culture for many, the fringe practice of consuming cow urine (gomutra) and dung has been sensationalized by Hindu nationalist groups as a health cure or spiritual ritual.
In January 2025, a controversy erupted when the director of IIT Madras, V. Kamakoti, commented on the medicinal properties of cow urine, sparking a debate among scientists. The Hindu reported that while the research was merely an analysis of bovine urine, its promotion as a health benefit was criticized by experts like Dipshikha Chakravortty, who warned that consuming any urine is "detrimental and dangerous". Similarly, in April 2025, the principal of Delhi University’s Laxmibai College faced backlash after sharing a video of classroom walls being coated with cow dung to "beat the heat," a move that went viral and drew mockery online. One X user sarcastically remarked, “If drinking cow urine is made compulsory in colleges, then no one can stop the country from becoming a Vishwa Guru,” highlighting the ridicule such actions invite.
These incidents are not isolated. In August 2023, Union Minister Parshottam Rupala suggested that cattle owners could profit from selling cow urine and dung, further mainstreaming these practices. Such endorsements from public figures lend credibility to fringe behaviors, which are then amplified by social media. Videos of Hindu nationalists consuming cow urine or promoting dung-based products have become fodder for foreign content creators, who use them to paint Indians as backward or superstitious. A 2024 report by The Wire noted that such practices are often mocked globally, contributing to a narrative that all Indians engage in these rituals.
International Incidents and the Amplification of Stereotypes
The global reach of these practices has been further highlighted by incidents involving Indian travelers. In 2019, The Times of India reported that Indian passengers were detained at international airports, including in the United States and Australia, for carrying cow dung cakes and bottles of cow urine in their luggage. These items, often intended for religious or medicinal use, violated biosecurity laws and led to headlines like “Indian Passengers Caught Smuggling Cow Dung” in foreign tabloids. Such stories, while affecting a minuscule fraction of travelers, are disproportionately amplified by foreign media, reinforcing stereotypes about Indian hygiene and cultural practices.
Social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok have worsened this trend. Videos titled “Indians Drink Cow Urine” or “Cow Dung Medicine in India” garner millions of views, often posted by foreign influencers who cherry-pick extreme examples to generate clicks. A 2023 analysis by The Hindu noted that such content, devoid of context, shapes foreign perceptions, leading to comments like “This is why India will never progress” or “All Indians are cow worshippers”. These generalizations ignore that the majority of Indians, including Hindus, do not engage in these practices, but the damage is done when such content goes viral.
Suppression of Minorities and Its Global Fallout
Beyond cultural practices, the suppression of minorities, particularly Muslims, under Hindu nationalist policies has provided further ammunition for foreign critics. Since the BJP came to power in 2014, reports of anti-Muslim violence and discriminatory policies have surged. A 2025 report by India Hate Lab documented a 74% increase in anti-minority hate speech in 2024, with 75% of incidents occurring in BJP-ruled states. The report highlighted conspiracy theories like “love jihad,” which falsely claim Muslim men seduce Hindu women to convert them, as tools to demonize Muslims. Such rhetoric has led to vigilante violence, including lynchings over alleged cow slaughter, as noted in a 2024 Journal of Democracy article comparing Hindu nationalist tactics to Jim Crow-era oppression.
High-profile policies like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the Waqf Amendment Bill have also drawn international condemnation. The CAA, which fast-tracks citizenship for non-Muslim refugees while excluding Muslims, was criticized by the Council on Foreign Relations as discriminatory. In March 2025, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin condemned the Waqf Bill as “severely harming the rights of the Muslim community,” accusing the BJP of “systematic discrimination”. These policies, coupled with events like the 2002 Gujarat riots under then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi, have cemented India’s image in some foreign circles as a nation hostile to minorities. A 2024 Salon article warned that Modi’s Hindu nationalist agenda threatens not just India’s Muslims but also global perceptions of India, as Indian-American communities advocating for the BJP inadvertently legitimize this narrative.
Foreign media outlets like Al Jazeera and CBC News have extensively covered these issues, often framing India as a hotbed of religious intolerance. A 2024 Al Jazeera report noted that the Indian government’s blocking of India Hate Lab’s website under the IT Act signaled an attempt to suppress evidence of anti-Muslim hate. Such actions reinforce perceptions of India as an authoritarian state, further fueling anti-Indian sentiment. On platforms like X, posts criticizing Modi’s policies, such as one from April 2025 stating that “Hindutva has grown more radical under Modi, targeting minorities,” reflect global unease.
The Cycle of Misrepresentation and Racism
The combination of sensationalized cultural practices and minority suppression creates a vicious cycle. Hindu nationalist actions—whether promoting cow-based rituals or enacting discriminatory policies—generate domestic controversy that is picked up by international media. These stories are then exaggerated or decontextualized, leading to racist tropes about Indians being “cow fetishists” or “religious extremists.” A 2025 Firstpost article lamented that the “instantaneous dissemination of images of attacks on Hindus” fails to garner sympathy, while negative stereotypes dominate. This selective outrage means that while Hindu nationalists may intend to assert cultural pride, they inadvertently invite mockery and prejudice.
Foreign perceptions are further skewed by a lack of nuance. A 2024 BBC report on migration noted that Hindus make up 80% of India’s population but only 41% of its emigrants, while Muslims are overrepresented among emigrants due to discrimination. This suggests that minorities face pressures that drive them abroad, yet foreign narratives often lump all Indians together, ignoring the diversity of experiences. The result is a blanket racism that targets Indians regardless of their beliefs, as seen in online comments calling Indians “dirty” or “backward” based on cow-related content.
Breaking the Cycle
To counter this, India must address the root causes of these perceptions. Hindu nationalist groups need to recognize that promoting fringe practices like cow urine consumption invites global ridicule, overshadowing India’s scientific and cultural achievements. The government must also curb hate speech and violence against minorities, as these not only violate India’s secular ethos but also provide fodder for anti-Indian propaganda. A 2024 The Hindu report on AI misuse highlighted how technology disproportionately targets Muslims and Dalits, suggesting that ethical governance is crucial to improving India’s image.
Moreover, Indians abroad can play a role by challenging stereotypes and showcasing the nation’s diversity. Community leaders should counter the influence of BJP-aligned diaspora groups that amplify Hindutva abroad, as noted in a 2025 Al Jazeera article. Finally, foreign media and influencers must be held accountable for perpetuating racist tropes without context, as their selective reporting fuels prejudice.
Conclusion
The racism India faces globally is not a vacuum but a reflection of specific actions amplified out of proportion. Hindu nationalist practices like promoting cow urine and dung, combined with the suppression of minorities, provide easy targets for foreign critics. While these behaviors are not representative of most Indians, their visibility—through viral videos, news reports, and travel incidents—shapes a distorted narrative. By addressing these issues domestically and advocating for a more nuanced global discourse, India can begin to dismantle the stereotypes that fuel anti-Indian racism, reclaiming its image as a diverse and dynamic nation.
