Snakes in the Ganga by Rajiv Malhotra and Vijaya Viswanathan is a critical examination of how Western ideologies, particularly Critical Race Theory and Wokeism, are influencing India’s academic and cultural institutions. The authors argue that these imported frameworks are being used to reinterpret India’s social structures, equating caste with race and
positioning Brahmins as oppressors, akin to ‘whites’ in American racial discourse.​

The book highlights Harvard University as a central hub for developing these theories, which are then disseminated through collaborations with Indian scholars and institutions. It warns that such narratives, if uncritically adopted, could undermine India’s sovereignty and cultural integrity by fostering internal divisions.​

With extensive research and documentation, Snakes in the Ganga serves as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of unexamined adoption of foreign academic paradigms on India’s societal fabric.