Aditya Prakash, 35, an Indian student at the University of Colorado Boulder, and his fiancée Urmi Bhattacheryya have secured a $200,000 settlement from the university following allegations of discrimination rooted in food preferences.
The couple claims they faced retaliatory actions after a staff member—described as British by the BBC—complained about the “pungent” odor of their microwave food. Prakash stated he was told that curry stinks but sandwiches do not, emphasizing that “my food is my pride, and notions about what smells good or bad are culturally determined.”
The lawsuit filed in May 2025 alleged discriminatory treatment and a “pattern of escalating retaliation,” resulting in the loss of research funding and teaching roles for both individuals. The settlement was finalized in September 2025 with terms including the awarding of degrees while barring Prakash and Bhattacheryya from returning to campus for academic or professional purposes.
Prakash described the incident as a deliberate effort to highlight “the consequences to discriminating against Indians for their ‘Indianness.'” He added that the couple faced additional allegations, including his department refusing to grant him his Master’s degree. The dish at the center of the controversy, palak paneer—a spinach and paneer curry containing onions, ginger, garlic, chili powder, garam masala, and other spices—was cited as evidence of cultural specificity in food preferences.
Prakash stated: “If this case can send out a message that this (‘food racism’) cannot be practiced with impunity, that we, as Indians, will fight back, that would be the real victory.” The university declined to comment on specific details but reiterated its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for all students regardless of national origin.
