The ₹1.8 Crore Palak Paneer: How a Microwave Incident Led to a Major US Settlement

New Delhi, january 14, 2026: In a landmark case that has sparked a global conversation about cultural sensitivity and “food racism,” two Indian PhD students have secured a $200,000 (approx. ₹1.8 crore) settlement from a top US university.

What started as a simple lunch break in 2023 evolved into a federal civil rights battle that concluded in September 2025, with the students finally returning to India this month.

The Microwave Incident

The dispute began on September 5, 2023, at the University of Colorado Boulder. Aditya Prakash, a doctoral student in the Anthropology Department, was reheating his lunch—Palak Paneer—in a shared departmental microwave.

According to the lawsuit, a staff member approached Prakash and demanded he stop, complaining that the smell of the food was “pungent” and “unpleasant.” Prakash calmly stood his ground, stating it was ordinary food and he had a right to use the common facility. When the staff member argued that even foods like broccoli were discouraged, Prakash pointed out the cultural weight of the remark, later stating:

“My food is my pride. Notions about what smells good or bad are culturally determined.”

Escalation and “Systemic Bias”

The situation quickly spiraled beyond a kitchen disagreement. Prakash and his partner, Urmi Bhattacheryya (also a PhD student), alleged that the university began a pattern of “escalating retaliation” after they raised concerns about discrimination.

The couple detailed several harrowing experiences:

• Targeted Policies: They argued that departmental kitchen rules disproportionately targeted South Asian students, making them feel unwelcome in shared spaces.
• Job Loss: Bhattacheryya claimed she was fired from her Teaching Assistant position without explanation after supporting Prakash.
• Hostile Environment: Prakash was repeatedly summoned to meetings where he was accused of making staff “feel unsafe.”
• Withheld Degrees: The university initially refused to grant the couple their Master’s degrees, which are typically awarded to PhD candidates during their program.

The Settlement and Return to India

After two years of legal proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, the University of Colorado Boulder reached a settlement in September 2025.

The terms of the settlement included:

1. A payout of $200,000 to the couple.
2. The formal conferring of their Master’s degrees.
3. A permanent bar on the couple from future enrollment or employment at the university.

While the university denied any liability, a spokesperson stated they followed established procedures for handling discrimination claims.

A Bitter Victory

Now back in India, the couple reflects on the heavy personal cost of their fight. In a viral Instagram post, Bhattacheryya described the ordeal as a “fight for the freedom to eat what I want” regardless of skin color or accent.

Though their American academic careers have ended, their victory serves as a significant precedent for international students facing cultural bias abroad.