Montgomery County Public Libraries canceled the Germantown Library event, Many Languages, One Library: Celebrating Hindi, after a coalition objected to Balvihar Hindi School’s involvement, which is linked to Hindutva and viewed as promoting exclusionary and violent narratives.

VHPA representatives deny involvement in oppression or anti-religion activity, insisting the organization promotes education and inclusivity and labeling the campaign as misinformation.

The coalition included national groups such as Hindus for Human Rights, Indian American Muslim Council, Sikh Coalition, Dalit Solidarity Forum USA, and local groups like No Hindutva Maryland and Peace Action Montgomery.

A broader critique from the same coalition argued that VHPA promotes exclusionary ideology, risking public institutions adopting political ideology rather than culture.

Critics urged a thorough review of foreign-language materials and language offerings, arguing that Hindutva networks may influence U.S. activities and that programming should go beyond Hindi.

Advocates note that there are more than 9,000 Hindi speakers in Montgomery County, highlighting that Hindi is spoken across diverse religious communities beyond Hindus.

The cancellation followed concerns that Hindutva-linked groups could influence public programming, prompting MCPL to rethink how it celebrates Hindi-language culture.

Debate continues on how to balance cultural programming, language preservation, and concerns about ideological influence in libraries, with calls for broader language representation.

They characterized the opposition as misinformation and emphasized a grassroots origin for the Hindi book initiative, denying any hostility toward other religions.

Some critics argue that local officials, including County Executive Marc Elrich, gave legitimacy to VHPA despite warnings, reflecting broader governance concerns.

The coalition warned that allowing VHPA-affiliated groups into the event could introduce political ideology into public institutions under the banner of cultural programming, potentially marginalizing religious minorities and oppressed communities.

MCPL announced the cancellation on its site and said it would reimagine Hindi-language celebration through a more inclusive, community-centered approach, without a stated date or details on book donations.