Indian PhD scholars Aditya Prakash and Urmi Bhattacheryya at the University of Colorado Boulder have secured a civil rights settlement worth approximately Rs 1.8 crore (USD 200,000) following a discrimination dispute that stemmed from an incident involving Indian food, specifically palak paneer. The case drew attention after a staff member allegedly objected to Prakash heating his lunch in a departmental microwave in September 2023, complaining about what was described as an unpleasant or “pungent” smell.
According to reports, the situation began when the staff member asked Prakash not to use the microwave because of the odour from his food. Prakash responded briefly, stating that it was simply food and that he would heat it and leave. What might have appeared to be a minor disagreement soon escalated into a larger conflict that the students say reflected deeper issues of bias and unequal treatment.
Following the confrontation, Prakash, who was 34 at the time, and Bhattacheryya, then 35, filed a civil lawsuit against the University of Colorado Boulder in the United States District Court for Colorado. In their legal complaint, they alleged that the university retaliated against them after Prakash raised concerns that the complaint about his lunch was discriminatory in nature.
The students further argued that the department’s informal kitchen rules and practices disproportionately targeted South Asian food habits. They claimed these rules created an unwelcoming environment by discouraging South Asian students and staff from opening or heating their lunches in shared spaces, effectively singling them out based on cultural differences.
Prakash stated that in the aftermath of the incident, he was repeatedly summoned to meetings with senior faculty members, where he was accused of making staff feel “unsafe.” Bhattacheryya, meanwhile, alleged that she was abruptly removed from her teaching assistant role without any clear justification. She also claimed she was accused of “inciting a riot” simply for continuing to eat Indian food for two days after the original palak paneer episode.
After a prolonged legal process that stretched over nearly two years, the university agreed in September 2025 to settle the case. As part of the agreement, the institution paid the couple Rs 1.8 crore and awarded them their Master’s degrees. However, the settlement also included a condition that barred them from any future enrolment or employment at the university. Following the conclusion of the case, Prakash and Bhattacheryya returned to India earlier this month.
Reflecting on the experience in a social media post, Bhattacheryya described the episode as a personal and emotional struggle. She wrote that she had fought for the basic freedom to eat food of her choice and to protest against unfair treatment, regardless of her skin colour, ethnic background, or accent. She also spoke about the toll the ordeal took on her health, self-respect, and confidence, though she emphasised that she ultimately refused to be silenced or subdued by what she viewed as injustice.
The University of Colorado Boulder later confirmed that a settlement had been reached but maintained that it did not admit any wrongdoing. A university spokesperson said established procedures were followed to address allegations of discrimination and harassment, reiterating that the institution denied liability in the matter.
As news of the settlement spread, many people on social media expressed support for the students, congratulating them for standing up against what they saw as discriminatory behaviour. Several users praised their persistence, with some humorously noting they would celebrate the outcome by eating palak paneer, while others highlighted the case as an example of raising one’s voice through lawful and principled means.
