JD Vance and Usha Vance (AP photo)
TOI Correspondent from Washington: US vice-president JD Vance ignited a fierce controversy on religious freedom in MAGA-infused America this week after hoping his wife Usha, daughter of practising Hindus, would take up his Christian faith even though he acknowledged she has the “free will” not to. The remarks, made before a large conservative audience at a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi on Wednesday night, sparked a volatile debate on social media about the balance of personal faith and public life in their inter-religious marriage. While Vance’s stand drew applause from the conservative youth audience, they triggered a robust backlash from many Indian-American and pro-Hindu commentators, with critics branding it “Hinduphobic” pandering to MAGA’s Christian nationalist base with an eye on his political future. Taunted by a social media influencer, who wrote “It’s weird to throw your wife’s religion under the bus, in public, for a moment’s acceptance by groypers,” Vance lashed back on Friday. “My wife- is the most amazing blessing I have in my life. She herself encouraged me to reengage with my faith many years ago. She is not a Christian and has no plans to convert, but like many people in an interfaith marriage–or any interfaith relationship–I hope she may one day see things as I do,” he wrote. “Regardless, I’ll continue to love and support her and talk to her about faith and life and everything else, because she’s my wife,” he added. The spark for the explosive debate came during a question-and-answer session earlier this week when Vance was asked by an Indian-origin student how, among other things, he was making sure his children did not overlook their mother’s Hindu heritage and why immigrants had to embrace Christianity “to be one of you guys” and show that they love America.Vance acknowledged his wife grew up in a Hindu family though he insisted it was not in a particularly religious household, implicitly contradicting his wife (who was not present at the event) who has spoken of her parents and grandparents being observant Hindus. In fact, he asserted, they were both agnostic or atheist when they met, although several photos online show they also got married in a Hindu ceremony. The couple, with their children, also visited the Akshardham Temple during a recent India visit. The Vances have three children, Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel. Usha’s parents, Radhakrishna “Krish” Chilukuri and Lakshmi Chilukuri, immigrated from Andhra Pradesh, India to the United States in early 1980s. Vance then went on to speak of his own belief in the Christian gospel and said “I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way,” while disclosing that their two older children attend a Christian school, and their eight-year-old son recently received his First Communion. He also revealed that Usha attends Mass with him most Sundays, a revelation that triggered much anguish among ardent Hindus who accused him of trying to convert her.Vance though defended his stand of publicly encouraging his wife to embrace his faith. “Yes, Christians have beliefs. And yes, those beliefs have many consequences, one of which is that we want to share them with other people,” he wrote. “We hope you may, one day, see that the Bhagavad Gita is the truth,” one critic on X clapped back snarkily.
