Tulsi Gabbard’s Indian connection: From gifting Bhagavad Gita to PM Modi to speaking on Kashmir | World News

US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Tulsi Gabbard, the ex-Democratic congresswoman and newly minted Republican, as Director of National Intelligence. Known for her scepticism of American foreign policy and a background rooted in Hindu tradition, Gabbard brings a unique perspective to US-India relations. A lieutenant colonel with combat experience in Iraq, Gabbard’s role as intelligence chief underscores Trump’s shift towards foreign policy sceptics and voices that question traditional American military interventions.
Tulsi Gabbard made history as the first Hindu to be elected to Congress. A lifelong vegetarian, she took her oath of office on the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu text. She was raised as a Hindu by her mother, who had embraced the faith after being born on the US mainland.
Representing Hawaii, Gabbard became not only the first Hindu member of the House but also the first American Samoan to serve in Congress.
Gifting Bhagavad Gita to PM Modi
In 2014, Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu-American Congresswoman, pledged to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to establish an International Yoga Day. In a statement, Gabbard expressed her commitment to lead the effort in Congress, saying, “I promised to take the lead in passing a resolution to support Prime Minister Modi’s call to the UN.” Both Gabbard and Modi agreed that yoga transcends physical exercise, serving as “a lifestyle consciousness and worldview” that can improve health, promote peace, and offer solutions to global challenges. Gabbard also noted, “The West would be surprised by the vast knowledge the ancient Vedic texts offer the modern world.” Their meeting in New York included discussions on shared priorities, such as combating extremism and fostering US-India cooperation.

She gifted Prime Minister Modi a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, a personal memento she had cherished since childhood. Gabbard also voiced her strong support for Modi’s proposal to establish an International Yoga Day.
On Kashmir: ‘A complex situation’
In her remarks on Kashmir, Gabbard expressed that the situation is far from straightforward, highlighting the region’s historical and cultural complexities. She noted that understanding Kashmir requires recognising its past and the experiences of those who were displaced.
“It’s important as outsiders to understand the complex history of Kashmir,” she said, adding that many families fled from their homes and still cannot return. She reflected on how the region’s policies historically limited rights, particularly those of women. According to her, recent changes have sparked both hope and concern, particularly regarding human rights and civil liberties. However, Gabbard emphasised that the ultimate resolution must come from within India, stating, “this is a situation…in a sovereign country that must be worked out by all sides who have a stake in their own future there.”

On her Hindu identity
As a Hindu in US politics, Gabbard has faced unique challenges and frequent allegations of being a “Hindu nationalist.” In an op-ed for ReligionNews, she shared her frustration with this stereotype and condemned what she called “religious bigotry” in American society. She argued that her support from people of diverse faiths — Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists — is a testament to her inclusive approach.
“Today it’s the profiling and targeting of Hindu Americans…tomorrow will it be Muslim or Jewish Americans?” she questioned, suggesting a dangerous precedent in racial and religious profiling. She pointed out that her political opponents have often stoked fear based on her faith, recalling statements made by her Republican challengers during past elections who argued that Hinduism was incompatible with the US Constitution. Gabbard warned against such divisive rhetoric, asserting, “Religious bigotry and attempts to foment fear of Hindus and other minority religions persist.”
On Bhagavad Gita
On Janmashtami, she described the Gita as a “transcendental lifeline” that provides hope and wisdom in times of uncertainty. Reflecting on the challenging year of 2020, she urged others to draw strength from the Gita, saying that the scripture offers a way to remain grounded amid life’s turbulent “strong winds of change.”

Gabbard has shared how the Gita guided her through difficult times, including her military deployment. “The Bhagavad Gita offers us guidance and hope,” she noted, emphasising the scripture’s timeless relevance and its role in providing a spiritual perspective that transcends day-to-day struggles.
Condemnation of religious violence in Bangladesh
In 2021, violent mobs targeting Hindu communities erupted across Bangladesh during the Durga Puja festival Gabbard shared her concerns about religious tolerance extending beyond India to neighbouring Bangladesh. In a video statement, she condemned the violence directed at Hindu worshippers by Islamist extremists, stating that such acts reflect a profound misunderstanding of religious values. “It broke my heart to see such hate and violence,” she said, urging Bangladesh’s government to protect its religious minorities, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists, from “the jihadist forces of hate.”
According to Gabbard, these acts of violence betray the fundamental principles of faith, stating, “God is love and his true servants embody and manifest that love in the world.” Her comments reflect her broader call for respect and protection for religious minorities globally.