 "The 90-feet-tall bronze statue of Lord Hanuman in Texas which has been criticised by Republican leader Alexander Duncan. File image/PTI")
Here’s another reason that could further push India-America ties. A leader of the Republican party in Texas has made controversial statements about a Hanuman statue in the American state, prompting outrage and dismay.
It all began when Alexander Duncan, the Republican candidate for the Texan senate termed Lord Hanuman as a “false Hindu god” while he was referring to the statue of the Hindu deity erected in Texas, known as the ‘Statue of Union’.
As the row snowballs, here’s a closer look on who is Duncan and what he said about the statue.
Who is Alexander Duncan?
A Republican leader, 35-year-old Duncan is the Republican candidate for Texas Senate in 2026. Prior to entering politics, Duncan was a police officer for 13 years where he “witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of failed leadership, radical policies, and the erosion of law and order,” as mentioned on his website.
Furthermore, Duncan, who was born and raised in southern California, moved to Texas after marrying the love of his life and welcoming two children. His website further mentions that Duncan is “determined to keep Texas true to its roots and ensure it never follows the path of California’s decline. He understands the threats posed by radical leftist agendas and is committed to shielding Texas from government overreach, cultural decay, and attacks on our God-given rights.”
The 35-year-old has now thrown his hat in the ring and hopes to oust Senior Texas Senator John Cornyn, a Texas politician of more than three decades, and defeat Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who also recently announced that he would run against Cornyn in the 2026 primaries.
What did Duncan say about the Hanuman statue?
Duncan attracted attention on September 20 when he responded to a post on X, which showcased the Statue of Union located in Texas. Commenting on the post, he said, “Why are we allowing a false statue of a false Hindu god to be here in Texas? We are a Christian nation!”
He further wrote on X, “I’m just calling it what it is, an idol.” He also quoted the Bible, writing: You must not have any other god but me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. Exodus 20:3-4.”
Soon after he made the initial ‘false Hindu god’ remark, he received criticism from people online as well as the Hindu American Foundation (HAF).
In a post, the HAF said, ““Hello @TexasGOP, will you be disciplining your senate candidate from your party who openly contravenes your own guidelines against discrimination-displaying some pretty sordid anti-Hindu hate — not to mention disrespect for the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.”
Other netizens also criticised Duncan for his comments, with one user noting, “You are free to believe what you want, but calling somebody else’s beliefs ‘false’ isn’t freedom.”
Another X user wrote, “Just because you’re not Hindu, doesn’t make it false. The Vedas were written almost 2000 years before Jesus walked the earth and are extraordinary texts. And there’s obvious influences on Christianity… So it would be wise to honour and research the ‘religion’ that predates and influences yours.”
What’s the statue at the centre of this row?
But what do we know about the statue that has stoked this entire controversy?
The statue in question is referred to as the Statue of Union and is located at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land, roughly 35 km from Houston. Standing tall at 90 feet high, this Hanuman statue boasts of being the tallest Hanuman structure outside India, the tallest statue in Texas, and the third tallest in the United States. Only the Statue of Liberty in New York (151 feet) and the Pegasus and Dragon in Hallandale Beach, Florida (110 feet) surpass it in height.
The Hanuman statue has been named as such because it commemorates Lord Hanuman’s role in reuniting Lord Ram and Sita.
It is reported that the awe-inspiring statue was designed by His Holiness Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, a Padma Bhushan awardee and esteemed Vedic scholar.
Interestingly, it was unveiled just a year ago in August with a grand three-day ceremony that featured a helicopter showering flowers on the statue, sacred water sprinkling, and a 72-foot-long garland draped around Lord Hanuman’s neck, all while thousands of devotees chanted the names of Shri Ram and Hanuman in unison.
The statue is also unique as it sees both of Lord Hanuman’s hands raised at chest level. According to Indian mythologist and writer Devdutt Pattanaik, this is because it is inspired by the Thai Buddha’s gesture of “do not fight.” However, others disagreed with Pattanaik, noting it is the Abhaya mudra, by Buddha, to calm the sea associated with the flooding of Neranyjara River.
Days after the statue was first unveiled, it created quite a ruckus with some even going as far as describing the bronze structure to be “demonic”. One Christian activist wrote on X, “This is a Hindu statue they just built in TX. I rebuke this demonic filth in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.”
Another ‘Christian nationalist’ wrote, “In Texas, there is a 90 ft statue of Hanuman, a Hindu monkey god. What is the United States anymore? A nation with no culture, now that the enrichers are prominent in the census.”
With inputs from agencies