Another Harvard Alumni Group Weighs In, This Time In Support Of India’s Institutions

NEW DELHI- 44 alumni from various schools and centers at Harvard University issued a joint statement on October 14, saying they wanted to counter what they described as attempts to distort India’s global image and undermine confidence in its constitutional institutions.

The statement expressed concern over what the signatories called negative public discourse and a concerted campaign against India’s constitutional institutions. It followed an Opposition-led protest in Delhi seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision controversy.

Harvard Kennedy School alumnus Chetan Aggarwal said the statement was intended to challenge claims that, in his view, misrepresented India’s democracy and its institutions.

“The need for this statement arose because we wanted to call out attempts by some people who want to distort the global perception about India,” Aggarwal said.

Aggarwal said democratic debate was taking place in India but alleged that some people were trying to create law-and-order problems and damage the country’s international standing. He also objected to attempts to use Harvard’s name to lend credibility to a political campaign without proper authorization.

“People are attempting to misuse the institutions like Harvard for their political agenda,” he said, adding that professionals like him did not usually get involved in such matters but felt it was important to speak out.

The joint statement followed an earlier open letter signed by 100 Harvard alumni that condemned the handling of protests in New Delhi. The Harvard Club of India subsequently clarified that it had neither endorsed nor issued any statement on behalf of the university regarding the protests.

Harvard Kennedy School alumnus Prateek Som stressed that the new statement represented the views of individual alumni, not an official position of Harvard University or any of its institutions.

While affirming the right to protest, Som said demonstrations should not be used to intimidate constitutional authorities or disregard the rule of law.

“A political difference or a protest can be against the establishment or against the government. That is understandable. But these institutions operate under a framework, which cannot be and should not be allowed to be intimidated,” he said.

Referring to the INDIA bloc’s reported plan to meet Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Som argued that matters before the courts should be handled through the judicial process. He alleged that the protests were putting pressure on the Supreme Court.

Public policy professional and BJP spokesperson Surabhi Hodigere, who signed the statement, said it was necessary to offer a wider range of views after the earlier letter portrayed Delhi as being almost under siege because of the protests.

She said claims about conditions in the capital had been made without sufficient evidence and that the earlier letter risked giving the impression that Harvard alumni shared a single political position.

Hodigere said alumni, like people at universities in India and abroad, held diverse views and that the joint statement was intended to ensure their perspective was also heard. (IANS)