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"हद्द है": Dhananjay Balakrishnan of IIT Madras peddles pro-Palestine propaganda in convocation, exposing Hamas' talking points and igniting fierce debate on the role of academic platforms in global political conflicts, similar to Ashoka Uni and Harvard

Earlier this year, on 24th May, students of Ashoka University displayed pro-Palestine placards during their convocation ceremony.
 |  Satyaagrah  |  Education
IIT Madras Student Peddles Pro-Palestine Propaganda in Convocation: The Weaponisation of Academic Institutions to Promote Hamas’ Talking Points
IIT Madras Student Peddles Pro-Palestine Propaganda in Convocation: The Weaponisation of Academic Institutions to Promote Hamas’ Talking Points

On Friday (19th July), Dhananjay Balakrishnan, a graduating student at IIT Madras, chose the institute’s 61st convocation ceremony as the moment to make a pro-Palestine statement. Awarded for his all-around proficiency in both curricular and extracurricular activities within a dual degree in mechanical engineering, Dhananjay took the stage to accept the Governor’s prize and seized the opportunity to deliver a politically charged speech.

In his speech, now circulating rapidly across various social media platforms, Dhananjay expressed his convictions forcefully. “I feel like I would be doing myself, and everything I believe in, a great injustice if I do not use the stage I am presented with to say something important. This is a call for action. There is a mass genocide going on in Palestine. People are dying in vast numbers, and there is no end in sight,” he stated emphatically.

Dhananjay also discussed the role of the STEM fields—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math—in global politics, suggesting that these disciplines have often been manipulated to serve the broader agendas of imperialistic powers, including Israel. He criticized the involvement of major tech companies in these dynamics, arguing that while they provide attractive opportunities and substantial benefits to diligent engineering graduates, they also contribute to the ongoing conflict in Palestine.

During the convocation at IIT Madras, Dhananjay Balakrishnan addressed the influence of major technology companies on global conflicts, particularly emphasizing their role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He critically noted, “However, these tech giants control various aspects of our lives today, as you know better than anyone. Many of these prestigious companies are also directly and indirectly implicated in the war against Palestine, by providing the state of Israel with technology—technology used to kill.”

Dhananjay confessed his own limitations in addressing these global issues but highlighted the ethical responsibilities of engineers. He articulated that as future professionals, it's crucial to be conscious of the ethical implications of their work. “I don’t have all the answers to these problems but as engineers graduating into the real world, it is our job to be aware of the consequences of the work we do. And, also intricate our position in these complex systems of power imbalance,” he argued.

Emphasizing the importance of social awareness, he concluded his speech on a hopeful note, urging his peers to apply their knowledge and skills toward social justice. “I hope that we can incorporate this awareness more into our daily lives, attempting to understand what we can do to liberate the oppressed, on lines of caste, class, creed, and gender. That is the first step to put an end to the never-ending cycle of suffering,” the graduating IIT-Madras student added.

Dhananjay Balakrishnan concluded his speech at the 61st convocation of IIT Madras with a compelling reference to a historical figure to underscore his message. "Isaac Newton said that he stood on the shoulders of giants to take him where he wanted to go. I want to say this – I am here, we are here by standing on the magnanimous shoulders of the great Indian populace. We owe it to them to lift every single person out of their misery. Inaction is complicity. I hope you and I and all of us can take action to make the right decisions—however hard they may be," he stated, calling on his peers to recognize their responsibilities towards society.

The convocation took place on 19th July 2024, during which IIT Madras celebrated its 61st Convocation. This year, a total of 2,636 students graduated, with 3,016 degrees including Joint and Dual Degrees being awarded. The ceremony featured Dr. Brian K. Kobilka, a Nobel Laureate in Chemistry (2012), who presented the degrees to the graduating students.

Furthermore, the incident of the pro-Palestine speech during the convocation at IIT Madras highlights an ongoing occurrence where students voice their political stances on global issues within academic settings, reflecting a broader engagement with international affairs. 

The speech by Dhananjay Balakrishnan at IIT Madras has drawn attention not just for its content but also for its notable omissions. It fails to address the ongoing Hindu elimination in Pakistan or the persistent proxy war waged by Pakistan that affects countless Indian lives. This oversight could suggest a concerning narrative imbalance, potentially regurgitating Islamist propaganda. By ignoring such significant regional issues, IIT Madras might be seen as lacking direction in its educational ethos. The focus on international conflicts, while neglecting equally pressing local issues, raises questions about the campus potentially serving as a breeding ground for extremist views and anti-Hindu sentiments. This scenario underlines the urgent need for educational institutions to maintain a balanced and inclusive approach to global and local issues, ensuring they do not inadvertently become echo chambers for divisive ideologies.

Past Instances of Students Raising Pro-Palestinian Slogans in Academic Institutions

On 19th July 2024, disciplinary proceedings were initiated by the University of Melbourne against several students who had been involved in a pro-Palestine protest. As reported by The Age, 21 students were facing suspension or expulsion after they occupied the Arts West building during a multi-day sit-in.

Anadolu Agency, a Turkish media outlet, documented that Dana Alshaer, along with hundreds of participants, engaged in pro-Palestine demonstrations at the university. Alshaer is recognized as one of the founders and main organizers of UniMelb for Palestine—a group comprised of students, staff, and alumni. This group, established the previous November, has advocated for the university to cut ties with weapons manufacturers and divest from Israeli firms, demanding an "end to its complicity in the genocide in Gaza."

On a related note, earlier in the year on 24th May, students at Ashoka displayed pro-Palestine placards during their convocation ceremony. Social media platforms circulated a video showing students with placards reading "Free Palestine" and "Stop Genocide" as they received their degrees, marking another instance of student activism at academic events.

Notably, the student union of Ashoka University (Ashoka University Student Government or AUSG) has been involved in contentious activities since May this year, demanding a severance of ties with Israel-based Tel Aviv University. It was reported that the students' body submitted a petition to the university authorities, pressuring them to reconsider their relationship with the Israeli institution. The students insisted that Ashoka University terminate its connections with its Israeli counterpart, which includes a research partnership allowing faculty from Tel Aviv University to lecture in India.

The response from Ashoka University was firm; the petition was rejected, with the administration clarifying that the institution does not engage in political stands, thereby maintaining an apolitical stance amidst rising student activism.

Earlier in April, Harvard University faced similar disruptions. Protests on the campus extended over several weeks, culminating in a protest encampment. The university's administration was compelled to take decisive action, resulting in 13 students being barred from receiving their diplomas with their peers due to their participation in the encampment.

However, the situation escalated the following day. During Harvard's commencement, hundreds of students, donned in graduation robes, exited the ceremony, chanting “Free, Free Palestine.” Amid these chants, some students voiced support for the penalized students with cries of “Let them walk, let them walk,” advocating for their right to graduate alongside the others.

These events at Ashoka and Harvard are reflective of a broader trend seen across universities in the United States, where there have been widespread Pro-Palestine protests earlier this year. Such incidents raise critical questions about the role of academic institutions in political debates and the impact of student activism on campus dynamics and educational policies. The recurring theme of universities being thrust into the forefront of political advocacy through student-led movements poses significant challenges, questioning the balance between educational objectives and political expression.

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