Archive · 14 Jan 2026
Indian Students Settle Food Discrimination Case
Two Indian students, Aditya Prakash and Urmi Bhattacheryya, were studying for their PhDs at the University of Colorado Boulder.
One day, Aditya was heating his lunch of palak paneer in the department's microwave when a staff member complained about the smell and told him not to use the microwave.
The students felt they were being treated unfairly because of their food and background.
They filed a lawsuit saying the university was discriminating against them and retaliating when they spoke up.
After a long legal battle, the university agreed to pay them $200,000, give them Master's degrees, but also said they couldn't study or work there anymore.
The students then returned to India.
They hope their case will show that discrimination based on food or culture won't be tolerated.
Aditya Prakash and Urmi Bhattacheryya, Indian PhD students, were allegedly discriminated against for heating Indian food in a shared kitchen at the University of Colorado Boulder.
The university settled the civil rights lawsuit by paying the students $200,000, awarding them Master's degrees, but barring them from future enrollment or employment at the university.
The students claimed the university engaged in a pattern of retaliation after they raised concerns about discriminatory treatment.
The university denied any liability but stated it has processes to address allegations of discrimination and harassment.
The students returned to India after the settlement, citing a hostile environment and visa precarity as reasons for not returning to the US.
- Who
- Aditya Prakash and Urmi Bhattacheryya, Indian PhD students at the University of Colorado Boulder
- What
- A civil rights lawsuit alleging discrimination and retaliation over heating Indian food in a shared kitchen
- When
- Incident on September 5, 2023; settlement reached in September 2025
- Where
- University of Colorado Boulder, USA
- Why
- Alleged discriminatory treatment and retaliation against the students for heating Indian food in a shared kitchen
Students' Perspective
University's Perspective
Discrimination and Retaliation
Students' Perspective
The students alleged systemic racism and discriminatory treatment after heating Indian food, leading to retaliation and emotional distress.
University's Perspective
The university denied any liability and stated it followed established processes to address allegations of discrimination and harassment.
Kitchen Policy Impact
Students' Perspective
The students claimed the kitchen policy disproportionately and discriminatorily impacted ethnic groups like South Asians.
University's Perspective
The university did not explicitly address the policy's impact but asserted its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment.
- Students
- Aditya Prakash and Urmi Bhattacheryya
- University
- University of Colorado Boulder
- Settlement Amount
- $200,000
- Degrees Awarded
- Master's degrees
- Incident Date
- September 5, 2023
- Settlement Date
- September 2025
- Department
- Anthropology Department
- Allegations
- Discrimination and retaliation
- Emotional Distress
- Mental anguish and pain and suffering
- Teaching Assistant Job
- Lost without warning or explanation
Sources
A lunch of palak paneer, and how two Indian students won a $200,000 settlement with US university
How A Palak Paneer Lunch Dispute Ended In Rs 1.65-Crore Settlement For Two Indian Students In US
Palak paneer row at US campus ends in $200k settlement, return ticket home for Indian students: Report
Indian PhD couple win $200,000 after food racism row at US university
‘Heating Palak Paneer’: How Indian students secured $200k settlement from US university after ‘racist’ dispute
