Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) has canceled a planned Hindi-language book event at its Germantown Library following objections from a coalition of religious and civil rights organizations over the involvement of a group they labeled a “hate group.”
The event, titled “Many Languages, One Library: Celebrating Hindi,” was scheduled for Sunday, April 12. It was intended to mark the introduction of 160 new Hindi-language books to the library’s collection. The books were funded in part by the Balvihar Hindi School, which is affiliated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), a group linked to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in India.
Montgomery County, Maryland, located just outside Washington, D.C., is among the most diverse counties in the United States, with a large and vibrant Indian American and broader South Asian American population.
The Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) system serves this diverse community through a network of 22 branches, including the Germantown Library, which sits in the county’s most populous area. Reflecting both the scale of the system and the community it serves, MCPL recorded more than 7.4 million total circulations last year and maintains a physical collection of over 1.6 million items.
MCPL announced the cancellation of the event on its website, a development first reported by the Bethesda Today
“This Sunday’s Hindi language event will not be taking place. Due to significant interest from the community, Montgomery County Public Libraries is reimagining how it celebrates the Hindi-speaking community and new additions to its collection, with a focus on ensuring an inclusive and community-centered approach. We appreciate the generosity of the local community who donated funds for the collection, and we look forward to celebrating with them.”
The library did not clarify whether the donated books will still be added or when a rescheduled event might take place.
The cancellation followed a letter sent on April 8 by a coalition that included national and local advocacy groups such as Hindus for Human Rights, the Indian American Muslim Council, the Sikh Coalition, Dalit Solidarity Forum USA, and Peace Action Montgomery. The coalition argued that the VHPA is linked to Hindutva—a political ideology that seeks to define India primarily as a Hindu nation—and said such associations risk introducing exclusionary ideas into public institutions.
“This concern is not about Hinduism, Hindu culture, or the Hindi language,” the coalition wrote. “It is about political ideology entering public institutions under the guise of cultural programming.”
VHPA Vice President Shyam Tiwari told Bethesda Today that the campaign against the event was part of a “misinformation campaign” by what he described as “Hinduphobic groups.” He said the Hindi book initiative originated as a grassroots effort by residents seeking to contribute to their community and maintained that VHPA does not promote hostility toward other religions.
In a separate statement emailed to The American Bazaar, the group No Hindutva Maryland also weighed in, criticizing Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, who had been scheduled to speak at the event.
“We welcome the cancellation of this event; however, the situation did not arise in a vacuum,” the group said, arguing that the controversy was “the result of years of poor judgment and enabling by county government, especially” by Elrich.
The statement added that despite “repeated warnings from community members and credible research from institutions like Georgetown and Rutgers, he chose to legitimize and engage with the VHPA,” which it described as “an organization tied to a broader movement that has promoted hate, exclusion, and violence against religious minorities across South Asia, including Muslims, Christians, and others.”
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Citing findings from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, the group said a “basic Google search could have prevented the willing embrace of this dangerous organization by local government.”
It added, “Montgomery County deserves better than selective engagement and selective outrage toward hate.”
In a joint statement shared with The American Bazaar, three South Asian American Democratic candidates running for Montgomery County Council At-Large said they “oppose the involvement of VHPA in public programming and spaces supported by Montgomery County.”
Elrich, who is term-limited, is also a candidate for an At-Large seat.
“As candidates of South Asian heritage—Afghan, Pakistani, and Indian—we do not speak about this lightly,” wrote Arif Wali, Hamza Khan, and Prabu Selvam.
Here is the statement from the candidates in full.
Joint Statement from South Asian Candidates for Montgomery County Council At-Large
We are deeply concerned by recent reporting in Bethesda Magazine and what it reveals about the involvement of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) in Montgomery County public institutions. While the cancellation of the Germantown Library event was a necessary step, it does not address the underlying issue—particularly in light of the Germantown event. We strongly oppose the involvement of VHPA in public programming and spaces supported by Montgomery County.
Let us be clear: the record surrounding VHPA and the broader Hindutva movement it is part of has been documented by civil rights organizations and leading academic institutions. Research, including a detailed factsheet from Georgetown University’s Bridge Initiative, examines VHPA and its ideological context:
This broader body of work, including analysis from Rutgers University, has raised serious concerns about the promotion of anti-Muslim rhetoric, the glorification of violence, and the targeting of minority communities.
We will say this plainly: this is hate.
Montgomery County should not provide platforms, recognition, or legitimacy to organizations tied to hate—whether that hate is expressed here or abroad.
As candidates of South Asian heritage—Afghan, Pakistani and Indian—we do not speak about this lightly. We grew up with Hindi language and culture as part of our everyday lives—through film, music, and community—alongside our own native languages, including Urdu, Bengali, Pashto, and Tamil.
Together, we reflect the breadth of South Asia’s diversity across cultures, languages, and national backgrounds. We are united by a shared commitment to pluralism, dignity, and the rejection of hate in all its forms.
This is not about opposing Hindi literature. It is about ensuring that Montgomery County does not provide a platform to organizations whose documented record includes the promotion and normalization of hate.
We call on Montgomery County Public Libraries to establish clear standards for partnerships and programming to ensure that public institutions remain inclusive and safe for all communities.
Montgomery County must remain a place where diversity is protected—not selectively celebrated.
Signed,
Arif Wali – County Council At-Large Candidate (Democrat)
Hamza Khan – County Council At-Large Candidate (Democrat)
Prabu Selvam – At-Large County Council Candidate (Democrat)
