English
English
English
Navarro said in an interview, “Prime Minister Modi is a great leader, but he does not understand how Indian leaders are building relations with Russia and China. The Brahmin class in India is profiteering, which needs to be stopped.”
Controversy erupts over ‘Boston Brahmin’ comment by Peter Navarro
New Delhi: US President's Business Counselor Peter Navarro has again targeted India over the purchase of oil from Russia. This time he used the casteist word 'Brahmin' and said that Brahmins are profiteering at the expense of the Indian people and it is necessary to stop it. After this statement, a controversy has erupted in India. Many leaders including BJP, TMC, Shiv Sena UBT have given their opinion on this subject.
TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose said on social media that the term 'Boston Brahmin' was used for the rich class of the New England region of America. In the English-speaking world, this term refers to the social or economic 'elite class'. He said that misunderstanding or misusing this word is illiteracy.
“Boston Brahmin” was once a widely used term in the US to refer to the American New England wealthy elite. “Brahmin” is still a term used in the English speaking world to denote social or economic “elites” ( in this case the rich). The illiteracy on X is astonishing.
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) September 1, 2025
In response, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said that the term 'Boston Brahmin' was born in 1861 in Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.'s novel 'Elsie Venner', where this class is compared to the highest priestly caste of India. These people are known for their intelligence, philanthropy and civic duty.
. The racist term "Boston Brahmin" was coined by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. in his 1861 novel Elsie Venner, comparing these influential families to the highest priestly caste in India. Known for their intellectualism, philanthropy, civic duty, and exclusivity, their power . By the… https://t.co/KdQp6CdrVD
— Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) September 1, 2025
Shiv Sena UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also reacted to Navarro's statement. She said that it is shameful to put forward your point by referring to a particular caste in India. She said that the use of the word 'Brahmin' in the American context is deliberate and do not try to explain it.
The usage of the word Brahmin (yes elite Boston Brahmins US context am aware) by someone senior in US Administration cannot come out of the blue in India’s context, this was deliberate. So please sit out on explaining this one.
— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) September 1, 2025
Navarro said in an interview to 'Fox News Sunday', "Prime Minister Modi is a great leader, but he does not understand how Indian leaders are building relations with Russia and China. The Brahmin class in India is profiteering, which needs to be stopped." The controversy has escalated over the meaning of the word 'Brahmin' and Navarro's allegations against India, leading to intensified political rhetoric.
