Overview
- Harvard’s Department of South Asian Studies said it “deeply regrets” posting the image and reaffirmed its commitment to teaching Sanskrit and its intellectual and cultural traditions.
- The department said it is reviewing its internal social media process to ensure future posts reflect its mission and values.
- It clarified the post had no connection to the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, which separately acknowledged the department’s statement.
- The Coalition of Hindus of North America, which first labeled the post “blatant Hinduphobia,” later welcomed the apology as a rare formal acknowledgment.
- Social media users identified the artwork as “Master of Puppets” by Indian artist Anirudh Sainath, citing themes from the Mahabharata and Krishna’s Ras Leela, with debate continuing over the image’s intent.