Who is Indian-American Megha Vemuri? Meet pro-Palestine MIT student calling out Israel's 'genocide'

Time of India

2 days ago

Indian-American student Megha Vemuri Israel's 'genocide' in commencement speech (Pic credit: @KassyAkiva)
If you haven't heard the name Megha Vemuri yet, you're about to. This 2025 MIT graduate has quickly become a lightning rod for attention, not because of a new tech invention or start-up, but because of a powerful, controversial commencement speech that's got people talking across the country.
Megha, the president of MIT's Class of 2025, used her big moment on stage to do something most students wouldn't dare, call out her own university's connections to the Israeli military and express loud, clear support for the people of Palestine. It all happened on May 29 during MIT's graduation ceremony, and let's just say, it wasn't your typical feel-good, thank-your-parents kind of speech.
Wearing a red keffiyeh, a traditional scarf that's come to symbolize Palestine, Megha stepped up to the mic and delivered some serious truth bombs.
'You showed the world that MIT wants a free Palestine,' she told her classmates, giving a nod to the student votes calling for MIT to cut research ties with the Israeli military. And she wasn't shy about calling out the administration either, saying students had faced 'threats, intimidation, and suppression' from the very institution they were graduating from.
She is currently pursuing Bachelor's degree, Computer Science + Neuroscience, Linguistics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Prior to this, she studied at Alpharetta High School.
The most powerful part
When she contrasted their celebration with the current devastation in Gaza. 'Right now, while we prepare to graduate and move forward with our lives, there are no universities left in Gaza,' she said. Megha wasn't just speaking in theory, she laid out real concerns about MIT's active research connections with Israeli forces, saying they're 'the only foreign military that MIT has research ties with.'
And she made it clear: graduates should take that activism beyond campus, push for an arms embargo, and keep the pressure on institutions that prop up injustice.
The room's reaction?
A mix of support and discomfort. Some grads broke out in chants of 'Free, Free Palestine!' and waved flags. Others looked uneasy, clearly not expecting a commencement address to veer into global politics. As for MIT's president, Sally Kornbluth, she followed Megha at the podium, kept things neutral, and stuck to defending free speech, without directly addressing what was said.
Now, if you're wondering whether this was a one-off moment for Megha, it absolutely wasn't. She's been involved in activism and advocacy throughout her time at MIT. She led a project called 'Written Revolution,' worked as a research assistant at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research, and has always been one of those students pushing for deeper conversations around justice, identity, and global responsibility.
Her speech isn't just making waves because it was fiery, it's part of a larger trend. More and more, students like Megha are using traditional academic spaces to take a stand on major global issues. Whether it's climate change, racial justice, or war and occupation, today's students aren't afraid to speak their minds, even in the most formal of settings.
Of course, all this hasn't come without backlash. Some critics say a graduation ceremony isn't the place for political statements.
Others argue that pointing fingers at institutions like MIT without considering the complexities of global politics is irresponsible.
Love her speech or not, Megha Vemuri made sure people paid attention. In a cap, gown, and keffiyeh, she turned a graduation stage into a platform for truth-telling, and reminded everyone that even the most prestigious institutions aren't above criticism.
So, who is Megha Vemuri? She's a student, a scientist, a writer, and now, an outspoken activist.