Rs 89 lakh scholarship, but no visa: Did Kaushik Raj’s social media posts cost him his US dream?

For years, studying in the United States has been the ultimate academic dream for Indian students. But that dream is rapidly turning into a nightmare for many. Despite stellar grades, scholarships worth lakhs, and acceptance letters from prestigious universities, a growing number of Indian students are being denied US student visas. The reasons often go beyond academics or finances; many now suspect their social media activity is being used to judge their eligibility. Recent cases suggest that a climate of online surveillance and political sensitivity is quietly shaping who gets to enter America’s classrooms.

The journalist who couldn’t go to Columbia

For 27-year-old journalist Kaushik Raj, admission to Columbia University’s master’s program in data journalism should have marked the begi