Indian-American Doctor Confronts Racist Comments Over Bindi on Social Media Dr. Karishma Reddy, a board-certified plastic surgeon based in the United States, recently faced a wave of racist backlash after sharing an Instagram reel about her bindi, a traditional Hindu forehead mark. The post, which featured a lighthearted anecdote about a patient encounter, sparked a flood of anti-Indian comments, with some users demanding she “go back to India.” Reddy’s response to the hostility highlighted the growing prevalence of xenophobic rhetoric targeting South Asians in the U.S., even among those who claim to uphold values of compassion and inclusivity. The incident unfolded after Reddy posted a video reminiscing about a casual moment from her medical practice. The post quickly drew attention, but instead of positive feedback, it was met with a barrage of offensive remarks. Many users accused her of “worshipping cows” and mocked the cultural significance of the bindi, despite its longstanding tradition in Hinduism as a symbol of marital status and spiritual connection. Reddy expressed shock at the intensity of the backlash, noting that she had never encountered such overt anti-India sentiment in her life. “I have never seen so much anti-India rhetoric in my entire life,” Reddy said in a statement. “I might be naive to that because I’ve spent a lot of my life in a healthcare setting, where Indian people aren’t really seen as a minority. I’ve always been treated with kindness and respect by my colleagues, which made this all the more puzzling.” She emphasized that the hostility was not only hurtful but also contradictory, given the broader acceptance of Indian professionals in the medical field.#social_media #hate_speech #bindi #dr_karishma_reddy #indian_american
Lenskart Founder Clarifies Controversy Over Religious Symbols in Employee Guidelines A social media controversy erupted after a viral post claimed Lenskart’s internal style guide prohibited Hindu religious symbols like bindi and tilak while allowing the hijab. The alleged policy sparked widespread backlash, with users accusing the eyewear company of discriminatory practices. Founder Peyush Bansal swiftly addressed the claims, stating the document in question was outdated and did not reflect the company’s current policies. The controversy began when a screenshot circulated online, purportedly from Lenskart’s employee guidelines, suggested the company permitted the hijab but restricted Hindu symbols such as bindi, tilak, and Kalawa. Writer Shefali Vaidya, a prominent social media figure, shared the screenshot and questioned the alleged policy, highlighting the perceived double standard. She wrote, “This is what @peyushbansal tells his employees: hijab is okay, but bindi/tilak/Kalawa is not, for @Lenskart_com, a company in Hindu-majority Bharat.” Her post ignited debates about workplace inclusivity and cultural sensitivity. Online reactions were sharply divided. Some users condemned the alleged policy as discriminatory, arguing it unfairly targeted Hindu employees. One user criticized the policy, stating, “Hindu employees denied the right to wear kumkum/bindi, while hijab is allowed? Double standards must end.” Another user vowed to boycott Lenskart, saying, “I will never buy glasses from Lenskart… this anti-Hindu establishment.” Others called the situation “stupidity” and accused the company of undermining cultural sentiments. In response, Bansal clarified on X that the circulated document was inaccurate and did not represent the company’s current guidelines.#lenskart #peyush_bansal #shefali_vaidya #bindi #tilak
