- President Trump has halted $2.2 billion of federal funding to Harvard University on the charges that the university is anti-Semitic and biased, particularly due to ideological concerns and recent changes in its academic programs.
- Harvard’s teachings have often been Hinduphobic and antagonistic to Indian civilisation.
- It would be in the interest of Harvard and other Ivy League universities to come to an understanding with the Trump administration and to ensure that their academic systems remain unbiased and focused on genuine scholarship.
Ever since President Trump returned to the White House, he has been bringing remarkable changes both in domestic policy and international policy. This time, he has decided to halt the federal funding to one of the Ivy League universities—that is, Harvard University. President Trump has halted $2.2 billion of federal funding to Harvard University on the charges that the university is anti-Semitic and biased, particularly due to ideological concerns and recent changes in its academic President Trump has even threatened Harvard that foreign students may not be able to enroll to Harvard if it doesn’t comply to current request. One of the key reasons the Trump administration decided to withhold the funds is that President Trump has long been a critic of the communist and Marxist ideologies that have been prevailing across the United States of America.
Even before the presidential campaign, President Trump had strongly criticised federal institutions, including federal academic and government institutions, for being influenced by communist and Marxist ideologies. Recently, we have also witnessed large-scale demonstrations across many Ivy League universities in the United States of America.
Given the United States’ policies and specifically the personal rapport that President Trump shares with Prime Minister Netanyahu, this has influenced President Trump to take a firm decision against universities and institutions that act against the interests of American policies. Harvard University, although historically known for its significant academic contributions, has recently been compromised and appears to have been hijacked by anti-national individuals, not just in the United States, but also by those with certain political interests who are biased against specific countries.
Not only has Harvard been accused of promoting anti-Semitism across its campus, but its academic curriculum is also seen as being highly biased against conservative ideas. Instead, communist and liberal ideologies are being promoted. Wokeism is taught extensively, and topics such as transgender rights and anti-traditional societal norms are given priority. Since President Trump has been a consistent critic of woke ideologies and transgender rights, and has even issued a constitutional order declaring that only two genders exist in the United States, it was evident that Harvard’s curriculum contradicts the values and ideology he supports.
Harvard’s Bias Against India
Moreover, keeping the political aspects aside, it would be correct to state that Harvard and other Ivy League universities have been involved in promoting academic content that is biased and influenced by external ideologies. This impact is not limited to the United States. In India, too, Harvard’s academic influence has been visible. Harvard’s teachings have often been Hinduphobic and antagonistic to Indian civilisation. There are individuals, supported and promoted by Harvard and other Ivy League institutions, who consistently criticise the Indian caste system, Hindu religious beliefs, and India’s historical legacy. The academicians and alumni of such universities often turn out to be sympathisers of past invaders and terrorists who have harmed India.
Prominent individuals like Rajiv Malhotra and Nilesh Oak have spoken extensively about how Harvard and other Ivy League institutions have played a role in crafting and spreading anti-India narratives. They have also published papers that are not only factually incorrect but are driven by political agendas and work against India’s interests.
Therefore, it would be fair to conclude that institutions that should have been the guiding light of society have instead become breeding grounds for anti-social and anti-national elements. The objective behind this ideological propagation seems to be to shape the young generation with a biased worldview, ensuring they stay detached from traditional and national values.
President Trump’s decision requires a broader understanding, not just in the U.S., but also in countries that have suffered due to such academic propaganda. Although Harvard University has stated that it will not comply with President Trump’s directive, the current scenario suggests that it may become increasingly difficult for the university to sustain its operations and ideology. Harvard, like all other institutions in the U.S., relies not just on federal funding but also on administrative and policy support from the government. It would therefore be in the interest of Harvard and other Ivy League universities to come to an understanding with the United States government and to ensure that their academic systems remain unbiased and focused on genuine scholarship, rather than becoming epicentres of ideological indoctrination.
References:
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/trump-vs-harvard-whats-at-stake-and-why-it-could-change-us-forever/articleshow/120333982.cms
- https://rajivmalhotra.com/harvard-is-the-nest-of-snakes-shri-rajiv-malhotra/
Aayush Pal is a freelance writer on contemporary geopolitical developments. The views expressed in his work are entirely his own.
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