Two Indian PhD students at the University of Colorado Boulder have secured a landmark civil rights settlement of $200,000 (approximately Rs 1.8 crore) after facing systematic discrimination over heating Indian food on campus. The case has sparked widespread debate about cultural bias and the treatment of international students in American universities.
The Incident That Sparked a Legal Battle
On September 5, 2023, Aditya Prakash, then 34 and pursuing his PhD in the university’s Anthropology Department, was heating his lunch of palak paneer in a microwave when a female staff member approached him. She complained about the “pungent smell” and instructed him not to use the microwave for his food.
Prakash defended his right to use the common space. “My food is my pride. And notions about what smells good or bad to someone are culturally determined,” he explained to the Indian Express.
When a facility member compared the situation to heating broccoli, Prakash responded pointedly: “Context matters. How many groups of people do you know who face racism because they eat broccoli?”
Escalating Consequences
What began as a kitchen dispute quickly escalated into a systematic campaign against Prakash and his partner, Urmi Bhattacheryya, 35. The couple alleged they faced severe retaliation for standing their ground.
Prakash was repeatedly summoned to meetings with senior faculty, accused of making the staff member “feel unsafe.” The situation worsened when Bhattacheryya, who supported her partner, was fired from her teaching assistant position without explanation.
The university also refused to grant them master’s degrees—awards typically conferred to PhD students en route to their doctorate. This action prompted the couple to pursue legal action.
Legal Victory and Settlement
In their lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for Colorado, Prakash and Bhattacheryya argued that the university’s reaction to their cultural food represented a deeper “systemic bias” against international students. They alleged the institution created a hostile environment that obstructed their academic progress.
In September 2025, the University of Colorado Boulder settled the case, paying $200,000 to the couple and conferring their master’s degrees. However, both students are now barred from future enrollment or employment at the university.
Standing Against Cultural Discrimination
Bhattacheryya recently shared their victory on Instagram, describing the emotional and physical toll of their fight. “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,” she wrote.
She described experiencing health issues and erosion of self-respect during the ordeal. “I will not be humbled by injustices. I will not be silent in the face of deliberate upheavals. I will certainly kowtow to no one,” she declared.
Broader Implications
The case highlights ongoing challenges faced by international students in navigating cultural differences within American academic institutions. The couple’s victory represents not just financial compensation but a statement about dignity, cultural pride, and the right to maintain one’s identity in foreign environments.
