2016–17 California textbook controversy over South Asian topics

The 2016–17 California textbook controversy centered on the portrayal of South Asian topics, particularly regarding India, in educational materials for K-12 schools. This controversy emerged when the Californian State Board of Education adopted a set of history and social science textbooks that critics argued misrepresented key aspects of Hindu history and culture. Hindu groups, including the Hindu American Foundation, contended that the textbooks presented a biased narrative, focusing excessively on negative historical events, such as caste discrimination, while overlooking the contributions of Hindu civilization. The debate revealed deep rifts within the community on issues of representation, racism, and the influence of political agendas in educational content, prompting discussions on historical accuracy and cultural sensitivity in academic resources.