Shruthi Kumar, a 22-year-old Indian-American student at Harvard University, delivered a powerful speech during her commencement ceremony in support of 13 pro-Palestine protesters who had been barred from graduating. Her impromptu address garnered thunderous applause from both students and faculty, with around a thousand students leaving the ceremony in protest against Harvard's decision.
In an exclusive interview, Shruthi shared her motivation behind the speech and reflected on her family background. Born in Nebraska to Indian parents from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Shruthi's family migrated to the US in the 1990s. Raised in a household with two daughters and a supportive environment, Shruthi embarked on a journey marked by questioning norms and advocating for change.
Her path to delivering the commencement speech began with winning a competition and subsequently being asked to incorporate current campus tensions into her address. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Harvard's response to the demands for the 13 students' graduation, Shruthi meticulously crafted her speech through numerous revisions, preparing for various eventualities.
When Harvard ultimately denied the 13 students the opportunity to graduate, Shruthi felt compelled to stand in solidarity with them. She decided to deviate from the prepared script and address the issue head-on during the ceremony, expressing her discontent with Harvard's decision and emphasizing the importance of supporting her peers.
Shruthi's decision to go off-script was met with overwhelming support from faculty and students, although her parents expressed concern about potential repercussions. Nonetheless, Shruthi remains undeterred, continuing to advocate for the rights and freedom of others and maintaining contact with the affected students to offer support and hope for their future endeavors.
