Harvard University has issued an apology after its South Asian Studies department posted artwork related to its Sanskrit program on social media, sparking online accusations of insensitivity and bias.The controversy began when an image of Harvard University’s introductory Sanskrit course drew criticism on social media. The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) accused the university of promoting what it called “blatant Hinduphobia”, claiming the artwork depicts Sanskrit and Hinduism in a dark and negative light.In response, the Department of South Asian Studies issued a formal statement expressing regret. “The Department of South Asian Studies deeply regrets the release of insensitive images related to our Sanskrit program,” the department said in a statement. “As a department, we have a long and distinguished history of teaching Sanskrit, and we remain committed to teaching the language and the great intellectual and cultural traditions it carries.”“The department further added that it is reviewing its internal processes. “We are reviewing our internal social media processes to ensure future posts more accurately reflect the department’s mission and values.” It also clarified that the post was not in any way related to another entity at Harvard University, saying: “We would also like to clarify that the social media post in question is not in any way related to the Lakshmi Mittal and Family Institute for South Asia Studies, which is a separate and distinct entity at Harvard University.”CoHNA welcomed the apology and shared the statement on X. It was “one of the rare moments when a university department formally apologizes for its insensitivity to Hinduphobia,” the group wrote. The organization added that it was happy to see people showing respect for Sanskrit, which it described as an ancient language that has influenced civilizations around the world.“We are pleased to see the department show respect and appreciation for this ancient language that has had such an impact on civilizations around the world,” the group wrote. The controversy erupted after CoHNA criticized artwork for a junior Sanskrit course on the department’s website. The group claims the visual depicts a dark Hindu figure wearing a tilak holding what appears to be a ghost, and claims it frames Sanskrit and Hinduism in an “oppressive” way.Some users pointed out that the artwork, titled “Master of Puppets,” was reportedly created by Indian artist Anirudh Sainath under the brand Molee Art. According to online reviews, the artwork is inspired by themes from the Mahabharata, depicting Krishna’s Ras Leela. Users also highlighted that the artist is known for creating devotional art based on Hindu themes.The group also highlighted concerns about how Sanskrit is introduced to students.“This is how students are introduced to Sanskrit, one of the oldest languages that has given rise to classical literature, art, music and more. It is the mother of many languages in the world,” the organization wrote on X.
