Indians have donated billions to Harvard and other American universities, yet the Trump administration ordered 7,000 international students to transfer or leave, disproportionately affecting Indian students.
Indian Donations to US Universities: Over the past few decades, Indian industrialists, scientists, and businesspeople have made substantial donations to top American universities. Institutions like Harvard, MIT, UCLA, and NYU have received millions of dollars in contributions from Indians. These donations aimed to strengthen education, research, and global solutions. However, the Trump administration's new policy has created difficulties for international students, particularly those from India.
The Trump Administration's Strict Stance on International Students
The Trump administration was displeased by the consistent pro-Palestine and anti-Israel protests at Harvard University. Following these protests and the university's independent stance, the White House initially withheld funding and is now preparing to expel international students.
Approximately 7,000 international students, a significant number of whom are Indian, have been ordered to either transfer to another school or leave the United States. This order effectively revokes their valid stay permits.
How Much Have Indians Donated to American Educational Institutions?
Anand Mahindra – The chairman of the Mahindra Group donated $10 million (₹83 crore) to Harvard's Mahindra Humanities Center.
Ratan Tata – The former chairman of the Tata Group donated $50 million (₹415 crore) in 2010 for the construction of Tata Hall at Harvard Business School.
Dr. Kiran and Dr. Pallavi Patel – Donated over ₹1300 crore, including $50 million to Nova Southeastern University in Florida and $30.5 million to the University of South Florida. This funding also supported the establishment of medical colleges in Florida and India.
Gururaj Deshpande – Donated $20 million (₹166 crore) to MIT's Technology Innovation Center and $2.5 million (₹20 crore) to the University of New Brunswick (Canada) in 2011.
Mani L. Bhaumik – Donated $11 million (₹91 crore) and later an additional $3 million to UCLA, totaling ₹127 crore.
Chandrika Tandon – Donated $100 million (₹830 crore) to NYU's engineering school, now known as the NYU Tandon School of Engineering.
Mukund Padmanabhan – Donated $2.5 million (₹20 crore) to UCLA for its Microsystems Lab, along with three additional contributions of $500,000 (₹4 crore) each.
Vinod Gupta – Donated over ₹50 crore to the University of Nebraska, GWU, and other institutions.
While Indian donors have strengthened the American education system, their own children are being expelled from that same system.
Impact on Indian Students
These policies will directly affect the thousands of Indian students pursuing higher education at American universities. F1 visa holders whose studies are now disrupted are uncertain about their future.
Is Politics Behind This Decision?
The Trump administration's policy is being linked to American politics and Middle Eastern issues. Pro-Palestine protests at institutions like Harvard angered the administration. This move is seen as an attempt to punish institutions that have voiced opposition to the administration's policies.
