How are Indian Billionaires Funding Anti-India Elements? by Rajiv Malhotra | Snakes in the Ganga

Summary

The speaker discusses the challenges of publishing a book that implicates Indian billionaires in supporting controversial narratives abroad, particularly at Harvard. Despite attempts to censor the book, the author insists on naming these figures, arguing for the importance of transparency and accountability. He recounts his efforts to privately warn some billionaires about the potential harm of their philanthropy, which were ignored, leading him to publicly expose the issue. The summary also touches on his concerns about Harvard's influence on social sciences and its support for movements against the Indian state.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker discusses a book that was supposed to be published but was canceled due to its content naming big names and criticizing them.
• 🤝 The speaker had a contract with a major Indian publisher, but the publisher backed out, fearing backlash from the criticized billionaires.
• 🚫 The publisher asked for over 1,000 changes to avoid naming specific individuals and organizations, which the speaker refused to do.
• 🏛️ The speaker mentions the Ananda Mahindra Center and Lakshmi Mittal Center as examples of places named after these billionaires, arguing that they are proud of their contributions.
• 🐍 The speaker accuses these philanthropists of indirectly supporting harmful narratives by funding certain institutions and individuals.
• 💼 The speaker believes that the billionaires have the right to spend their money as they wish, but also feels the need to expose the potential negative impacts of their funding choices.
• 📊 The speaker compares their role to that of a financial auditor, providing an 'audit' of the billionaires' philanthropic activities and their effects on India.
• 🏫 The speaker criticizes Harvard for its stance on certain social justice issues, accusing it of supporting separatist movements and individuals against the Indian state.
• 🤔 The speaker questions why they were not approached privately by the billionaires before making their funding decisions, given their expertise and previous attempts to communicate their concerns.
• 🗣️ The speaker asserts their intention to speak out publicly because private attempts to address the issue were unsuccessful.
• 🇮🇳 The speaker emphasizes their good intentions and lack of ill will towards the billionaires, expressing a desire for them to be successful but also to be aware of the implications of their actions.

Q & A

What was the main reason the book was initially not published by the Indian publisher?

The main reason was that the book named big Indian billionaires and criticized certain aspects of their philanthropy, which the publisher feared would be bad for business and could lead to them being blacklisted by these influential figures.

What was the publisher's request regarding the content of the book?

The publisher requested more than 1,000 changes, including dropping specific names and not mentioning certain centers, to avoid potential backlash from the named individuals.

How did the author respond to the publisher's request for changes?

The author offered to make changes if there were inaccuracies or unsubstantiated claims, but stood firm on naming the individuals and places as they were proud of their work and the author was not blaming them but rather critiquing the broader implications.

What is the author's stance on the Indian industrialists mentioned in the book?

The author does not view the Indian industrialists as inherently negative; instead, he suggests that they may be unknowingly contributing to problematic narratives and practices related to their philanthropic activities.

What does the author mean by 'feeding the snakes'?

The phrase 'feeding the snakes' metaphorically refers to the idea that these billionaires, through their philanthropy, might be inadvertently supporting or enabling negative influences or practices that could harm India's cultural and social fabric.

What is the author's view on the role of financial auditors, and how does he relate it to his own work?

The author sees financial auditors as providing an essential service by identifying potential issues within a company so that they can be addressed. He likens his work to a 'civilizational audit,' evaluating the impact of philanthropic activities on India's social and cultural landscape.

What are the author's criticisms of Harvard's approach to certain academic fields, particularly as they relate to India?

The author criticizes Harvard for supporting narratives and individuals that he believes are detrimental to India's unity and civilization, such as those supporting separatist movements or individuals with grievances against the Indian state.

Why did the author choose to publicly expose the issues with Harvard and the Indian billionaires?

The author chose to go public because his private attempts to address the issues with the concerned parties were unsuccessful, and he felt it was necessary to bring attention to the matter for the sake of India's cultural integrity.

What was the author's experience when he tried to warn Anand Mahindra about his concerns?

The author had a cordial meeting with Anand Mahindra, during which he shared his concerns and provided a hard copy of his presentation. However, despite this, Anand Mahindra proceeded with his philanthropic activities as he saw fit.

What is the author's opinion on the role of Indian billionaires in India's economy and society?

The author acknowledges the positive contributions of Indian billionaires, such as job creation and economic growth, but also emphasizes the need for responsible philanthropy that does not harm India's cultural and social interests.

How does the author justify his decision to critique the portrayal of India in foreign institutions?

The author justifies his decision by stating his expertise and lifelong investment in understanding and promoting the accurate portrayal of India. He believes it is his duty to speak out against narratives that he sees as damaging to India's image and interests.