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Audrey Truschke

@audreytruschke.bsky.social

5.3K followers 230 following 860 posts

Professor of South Asian history Rutgers-Newark | Anti-fascist | pro-education | https://www.audreytruschke.com/ | https://princeton.press/8r8idcye

www.audreytruschke.com

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Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · Jun 3

It's publication day! 🙌

U.S. link: amazon.com/India-000-Ye...
UK link: amazon.co.uk/India-000-Ye...
India link: amazon.in/India-000-Ye... (*releases June 17)

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Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 17h

Big Picture. University administrators need to be clear on the kind of college environment they are charged with cultivating.

University campuses should be intellectually challenging but physically safe.
We threaten ideas, not people.
We embrace rigor, not violence.

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Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 17h

Student threats to academic freedom.

This is a growing problem. And it's hard to talk about, but we must. Some of this work is educational -- Helping students understand that being met with fierce criticism of their ideas is college life.

It's our job as professors.

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Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 17h

University support.

This professor appears to be getting the support he needs from the Rutgers administration.

That should continue; it's the rightful priority here.

Also, Rutgers should also work to bring him back, to make campus safe for him and for us all.

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Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 17h

In contrast, death threats pose a visceral, immediate threat and should not be tolerated, ever.

I've received violent threats from far-right individuals. I still do sometimes.

These threats should be taken seriously by law enforcement and university administrations like.

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Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 17h

Feeling unsafe on campus.

This is a common claim by right-wing students at present. What they mean is they don't like learning about left-leaning ideas. But college is about being intellectually challenged; that's the point.

Hearing ideas you dislike poses no physical threat.

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Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 17h

Feeling unsafe and being unsafe are two, entirely different things.

We should be clear on this and address them separately.

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Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 17h

A Rutgers professor has been forced to flee the country for his safety, after targeting by a far-right student group that was *checks notes* claiming they felt unsafe.

I'm horrified.
I'm angry.

A short 🧵 #AcademicFreedom #Rutgers #violence #antifa

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Rutgers professor moving to Europe after threats over antifa accusations

Mark Bray says threats intensified after a Turning Point USA petition accused him of promoting political violence

www.theguardian.com

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Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 18h

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. 😎

Reposted by Audrey Truschke

Cristian Farias @cristianfarias.com · 2d

This video of Chicagoans intervening to save a man from being abducted off the streets by ICE is making the rounds on Instagram.

Community action works.

Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DPZL2AL...

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Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 4d

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

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Reposted by Audrey Truschke

Xavier Bonilla @xavierbonilla.bsky.social · 8d

I am happy to share the conversation I had with @audreytruschke.bsky.social We talk about many topics over the 5,000 years of India’s history and why it’s history is important for us today. Hope everyone enjoys! @princetonupress.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/convergi...

#447 - 5,000 Years of India: A Dialogue with Audrey Truschke

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Audrey Truschke about the history of India.

open.substack.com

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Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 7d

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.

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Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 7d

A significant victory for all of us pro-Palestinian academics!

It is refreshing to see a clear-eyed defense of freedom of speech, for citizens and non-citizens alike.

www.politico.com/news/2025/09... #FreePalestine #freespeech #highered

Judge excoriates Trump in blistering decision calling efforts to deport pro-Palestinian academics illegal

The Reagan-appointed judge decried Trump’s “great threat to Americans’ freedom of speech.”

www.politico.com

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Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 7d

Hindi version of my recent interview about writing India's long history --

Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 8d

I've toyed, for years on and off, with the idea of teaching a class titled "Offense." But it's never seemed like quite the right moment.

We're still not there yet, but we're fast approaching the right time for it I feel.

Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 8d

This is probably the most recent accounting of that: www.wearesavera.org/wp-content/u...

www.wearesavera.org

Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 8d

Lovely coverage of my India book over the weekend.

www.deccanherald.com/features/boo...

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Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 10d

The description of this "training" video... so embarrassing for Northwestern's administration to be foisting this propaganda on people.

Kudos and power to these students!

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Northwestern students blocked from enrollment after refusing controversial antisemitism training

Students say mandatory training video is biased in favor of Israel and could inflame campus tensions over Gaza

www.theguardian.com

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Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 11d

Peak "this meeting could have been an email"

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 11d

Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered hundreds of generals to travel on short notice from around the world to hear him make a short speech on military standards and the “warrior ethos.”

New details emerge on Hegseth’s unusual mass gathering of top brass

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has summoned hundreds of generals for what is expected to be a short lecture on the “warrior ethos.” But top brass is bracing for possible firings or demotions.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 11d

She's the threat.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/u...

Gabbard Ends Intelligence Report on Future Threats to U.S.

www.nytimes.com

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Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 11d

I don't discuss it much, but in my spare time I teach my own kids math and reading. This is separate from school.

I don't understand why more American parents don't do this.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/u...

What Declines in Reading and Math Mean for the U.S. Work Force

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Audrey Truschke

Religion Dispatches @religiondispatches.org · 12d

rßing this piece every time I get Hindutva hate mail

@audreytruschke.bsky.social with six things you need to know about Hindu nationalism

religiondispatches.org/what-in-the-...

WHAT IN THE WHAT?? Hindu Nationalism, Explained

This is the first installment in RD’s latest series, “What in the What??,” in which our experts offer insight into religious political movements currently shaping our world. Our inaugural expert, Dr...

religiondispatches.org

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Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 12d

This is what I call a compliment: "the extremists of every sect reviled him" (غالیان هر طایفه او را مطعون میداشتند)

source: Abul Fazl, Akbarnama, late 16th century

Audrey Truschke @audreytruschke.bsky.social · 13d

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...

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Reposted by Audrey Truschke

Religion Dispatches @religiondispatches.org · 14d

in this very first installment of our new explainer series, "Make It Make Sense," @audreytruschke.bsky.social gives y'all a helpful list of thing everybody should know about Hindu nationalism

religiondispatches.org/make-it-make...

MAKE IT MAKE SENSE: Hindu Nationalism, Explained

This is the first installment in RD’s latest series, “Make It Make Sense,” in which our experts offer insight into religious political movements currently shaping our world. Our inaugural expert, Dr...

religiondispatches.org

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