Hindu students across the US are pushing schools to distinguish the ancient swastika from the Nazi Hakenkreuz. The swastika is a sacred symbol associated with well-being and good fortune in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The campaign has grown after students faced cases where religious swastikas were mistaken for Nazi symbols. In New Jersey, 15-year-old Mira Trivedi persuaded her school board to educate teachers about the distinction. Two Hindu students in Maryland also helped change their district's policy. Their efforts highlight a wider debate over how schools should teach the history and meaning of a symbol that carries very different meanings across cultures.
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