Harvard University is facing mounting criticism online after an image featured on the Department of South Asian Studies website sparked allegations of bias. The controversy centers on a visual used to represent its Elementary Sanskrit course, which some groups say is deeply problematic.
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) brought the issue into the spotlight, accusing the university of promoting what it called “blatant Hinduphobia.” In a post on X, the coalition questioned the choice of artwork and described it as offensive and inappropriate.
https://x.com/CoHNAOfficial/status/2027182386245444052?s=20
Calling out the imagery, the group said the visual appeared “straight out of a horror movie,” and featured a dark Hindu figure with a tilak, holding “some sort of ghostly figurine in his hands.”
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The controversy deepened as more details about the artwork emerged. The image was used for Harvard’s Elementary Sanskrit course, a move that the CoHNA said was troubling in both tone and intent. The organization argued that Sanskrit, described in its post as “Hinduism’s sacred language,” was being presented to students in a “dark, manipulative and oppressive manner,” alleging that the framing mirrored how the religion itself is often introduced in certain academic spaces.
In the same thread, the coalition wrote, “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 struck a chord with many users who echoed concerns about representation and intent.
The group also pointed to a previous controversy, recalling a 2020 episode in which Harvard University Press had used what it described as “another Hinduphobic cartoon” while promoting a book by professor Ajantha Subramanian on caste. According to the coalition, such instances suggest that “Hinduphobia” has had a “long shelf life” at the university.
As the posts gained traction, reactions poured in across social media. Several users accused the institution of bias and demanded accountability. “@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?” one user wrote.
Another added, “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.” Many others called on the university to issue a formal apology, turning what began as a criticism of a single image into a broader debate about academic framing and religious sensitivity.
As the debate gathered momentum, additional context began surfacing online, complicating the narrative. In the comments section, one user claimed that the artwork in question was created by Indian artist Anirudh Sainath, who worked under the name Molee Art. The piece, titled Master of Puppets, portrays elements of the Mahabharata through Krishna’s Ras Leela, a divine play traditionally understood as being orchestrated by the Hindu god.
According to another commenter, the artist was a personal friend who has since passed away and was known for producing devotional artwork centered on Hindu deities. The claim prompted some users to urge caution before drawing conclusions. “I know Harvard’s biased against Hindus—I’m not sure this image is an example,” one user wrote, suggesting that the interpretation of the artwork may not align with its original intent.
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The earlier controversy referenced by the coalition also drew renewed attention. The second artwork mentioned in the posts, titled Millstone of the Caste System, was created around 1917 by the late Indian artist and caricaturist Gaganendranath Tagore.
The lithograph was a satirical commentary on social hypocrisy and caste oppression within the Brahminical order. It depicted an exaggerated and unsettling scene of priests grinding ordinary people beneath a massive millstone, a visual metaphor critiquing entrenched hierarchies of the time.