Abraham Verghese, the acclaimed doctor and Indian-origin author, was assigned to give the commencement address at Harvard University's latest convocation ceremony. Despite his own belief that the graduates deserved a star, a legend, or even a Nobel laureate, Verghese chose instead to deliver a sharp, heartfelt critique of the current state of America—without explicitly naming the administration, but addressing its policies with surgical precision.
Who Is Abraham Verghese?
Born in Ethiopia to Indian expatriate teachers, Verghese started as a medical student in Addis Ababa. His education was cut short when civil war broke out in 1974. He finished his medical degree at Madras Medical College in India. In the mid-1980s, he relocated to Johnson City, Tennessee, in the United States, where he became an infectious disease specialist in the early days of the AIDS epidemic. Today, Verghese is a respected professor at Stanford University and a celebrated author.
Context of the Speech
Verghese's speech was given during a critical time, as a federal judge in Boston extended an interim restraining order that blocked the Trump administration's move to withdraw Harvard's authorization to host foreign students and scholars. This matter, among other government moves, was at the top of Verghese's mind when he gave a passionate speech about the fate and worth of immigrants and foreign students in the US.
A Personal Journey and a Call for Appreciation
Speaking to the graduates, Verghese recounted his own immigrant history—born in Ethiopia, educated in India, thriving in America. He pondered the authoritarian governments that Ethiopia and India had suffered through, and how they intensified his own admiration for American ideals, which he now feels are endangered.
Verghese appealed to the audience to appreciate the significance of the rule of law and due process, which many Americans long considered their birthright. He was insistent that truth ("veritas") should be upheld in an era where misinformation has become endemic.
Honouring Immigrant Contributions
Verghese pointed out the pivotal position that immigrants have taken in making America great, including himself. Referring to novelist E.L. Doctorow, he noted immigrants' belief in America, often hailed as "kissing the ground" when arriving. He spoke of how America allowed him to discover his voice as a writer and how immigrants' generations allowed the country to become great in every aspect.
Subtle Critiques and Encouragement for the Graduates
Without actually mentioning political leaders, Verghese incorporated veiled criticism into his address. He humorously reminded everyone of the value of reading novels for imagination and for insight—a quality he dryly implied some leaders lacked.
Citing his years of experience working with AIDS patients, Verghese contrasted real courage and "manliness" with the empty posing of modern political life. He extolled the virtues of endurance, empathy, and largesse of those for whom he cared and challenged graduates to embody these qualities as they go out into the world.
