At Harvard University's 2025 convocation ceremony, Dr. Abraham Verghese, a distinguished Indian-origin physician and author, delivered a compelling commencement address emphasizing the vital importance of safeguarding core American principles such as the rule of law and truth. Without directly naming political figures, Verghese critically reflected on the current sociopolitical climate, implicitly addressing challenges posed by recent governmental policies.
Verghese shared his personal journey from Ethiopia, through India—where he earned his medical degree—to the United States, underscoring his immigrant experience. He acknowledged the complexity of rising fears among legal immigrants and international students regarding wrongful detention and deportation, highlighting these concerns as a backdrop for his speech.
He urged graduates to cultivate a renewed respect for due process and legal frameworks, which he stated have long been foundational to America’s identity but are now under threat. Verghese praised the American ideal that enables immigrants to thrive and contribute profoundly in diverse fields, emphasizing that this inclusive environment fuels the nation’s greatness.
Additionally, Verghese lauded the power of truth and intellectual imagination, gently critiquing the current leadership’s disregard for these values. Through subtle humor and poignant reflections, he encouraged graduates to embrace compassion and resilience, characteristics exemplified by the patients he treated during the AIDS crisis. He contrasted genuine manhood, characterized by empathy and strength amid adversity, with more superficial displays of masculinity gaining popularity in recent times.
Throughout his address, the physician-writer interwove his medical expertise with incisive social commentary, captivating the audience with his eloquence and depth. His message resonated as a call to action for the new graduates to uphold and defend the principles that ensure America remains a beacon of hope and opportunity.
