Indian Students Secure $200,000 Settlement Over Cultural Discrimination

Two Indian PhD students at the University of Colorado Boulder have been awarded a civil rights settlement of $200,000 (approximately Rs 1.8 crore) after claiming systemic discrimination related to their cultural food practices on campus. The incident that triggered the legal action took place on September 5, 2023, when Aditya Prakash, then a doctoral candidate in the university’s Anthropology Department, faced objections while reheating his lunch—palak paneer—in a shared microwave.

Prakash, 34, reported that a female staff member expressed discomfort with the “smell” of his food, describing it as pungent. He asserted his right to use the communal microwave, stating, “My food is my pride. And notions about what smells good or bad to someone are culturally determined.” Prakash argued that the staff member’s comments reflected a misunderstanding of cultural differences. He noted a conversation with facilities staff, wherein he pointed out that even broccoli had been considered problematic due to its odor, asking, “How many groups of people do you know who face racism because they eat broccoli?”

The situation intensified when Prakash’s partner, Urmi Bhattacheryya, supported him in the dispute. They allege that their stance led to further discrimination, including Prakash being called to meetings with senior faculty who accused him of making the staff member “feel unsafe.” Bhattacheryya claimed she was removed from her teaching assistant role without explanation for defending Prakash.

Prakash expressed their frustration, stating, “The department also refused to grant us master’s degrees that PhD students are awarded en route to the PhD. That’s when we decided to seek legal recourse.” They filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for Colorado, arguing that the university’s actions created a hostile academic environment that hindered their progress and amounted to “systemic bias” against international students.

In September 2025, the University of Colorado Boulder agreed to settle the case, compensating Prakash and Bhattacheryya with $200,000 and formally awarding their previously withheld master’s degrees. Despite this resolution, the couple has been barred from future enrolment or employment at the university.

Following the settlement, Bhattacheryya took to Instagram to share her reflections on the journey. She expressed, “This year, I fought a fight – a fight for the freedom to eat what I want and to protest at will… no matter the colour of my skin, my ethnic extraction or the unflinchingly unchanged Indian accent.” Her post highlighted the emotional toll the discrimination had taken on her, stating, “I endured startling health reversals I’d never encountered before… I will not be humbled by injustices. I will not be silent in the face of deliberate upheavals.”

The case has ignited discussions about cultural sensitivity and the treatment of international students in academic institutions, spotlighting the importance of inclusive practices and the recognition of diverse cultural backgrounds within educational environments.