Kamal Ghorui
Harvard University has found itself at the centre of a growing online storm after an artwork featured on its Department of South Asian Studies website drew sharp criticism and allegations of bias. The Coalition of Hindus of North America ignited the debate after calling out the university for what it described as “blatant Hinduphobia” in the visual used to represent its Elementary Sanskrit course.Taking to X, the coalition accused the university of bigotry for adding an image that feels “straight out of a horror movie,” starring a dark Hindu figure with a tilak, dangling “some sort of ghostly figurine in his hands.”The art was allocated for its course on Elementary Sanskrit, and the organisation blamed the university for introducing Sanskrit, “Hinduism’s sacred language,” in a “dark, manipulative and oppressive manner” to students, much like it introduces the religion itself.”“This is how students are introduced to Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages that has given birth to classic literature, arts, music, and so much more. The mother of many languages around the world,” the post added.In a follow-up post, the coalition also referenced a 2020 incident when Harvard University Press had featured “another Hinduphobic cartoon” to promote a book by university professor Ajantha Subramanian on caste. It claimed Hinduphobia had a “long shelf life” at the university.The post sparked an intense debate online, with numerous users accusing the university of being biased against Hindus.“@Harvard how much do you get paid for anti-Hindu attitude? What’s the price you need paid to treat Hindus and Hinduism at par with other faiths?” asked one user.“Obviously intended to cast Sanskrit in a darksome, suspicious & sinister way. The art itself is not the issue. It’s the blatantly Hindu-hating framing of it here by an institution of learning,” added another, while many called for the university to apologise.However, as the conversation evolved, new context began to emerge. Interestingly, one of the comments under the post claimed that the art was made by Indian artist Anirudh Sainath, who created his artwork under the brand name Molee Art. Titled Master of Puppets, it depicted the Indian epic Mahabharata as Krishna’s Ras Leela, a story orchestrated by the Hindu god. Moreover, the artist, who according to a user was their friend and is no more, was known for creating devotional pieces of art on Hindu gods.“I know Harvard’s biased against Hindus—I’m not sure this image is an example,” added one user.The second artwork referenced in the post is titled ‘Millstone of the Caste System’ and was created by late Indian artist and caricaturist Gaganendranath Tagore around 1917. A satirical lithograph, it was aimed at social hypocrisy and perceived oppression within the Brahminical hierarchy. It depicted a grotesque scene where priests were grinding and crushing ordinary people under a massive millstone.
