Academics' exit from Ashoka University kicks off row

Days after Pratap Bhanu Mehta quit Ashoka University, former chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian followed suit claiming that the varsity can “no longer provide space for academic expression and freedom”.

The exit of two academics in quick succession sparked off protests by students on the university campus and Opposition parties accused the Modi government of trying to curb academic freedom and free speech.

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Mehta had quit as vice-chancellor of the private university in July 2019 but continued to teach there as a professor of political science.

Subramanian, who had joined last year as a professor in the department of economics and founding director of the Ashoka Centre for Economic Policy, in a letter to varsity Vice-Chancellor Malabika Sarkar said the “resignation” of Mehta had “devastated” him.

Students of the university staged protests at the varsity campus near Sonepat in Haryana expressing solidarity with Mehta and Subramanian and demanding that they be reinstated.

“We strongly condemn the conditions that led to these resignations and the lack of transparency from the university administration about the same. Professor Mehta and Professor Subramanian are invaluable members of the Ashokan community and we are extremely saddened that they have submitted their resignations under these conditions,” a statement by the Ashoka University Student Government and Alumni Council said.

“Ashokans don't sit behind a screen and shout. We stand in solidarity, and protest against the wrongs,” Gaurav Nandan Tripathi, a student of political science and history at the University, said on Twitter posting photographs of the protests.

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Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit out at the Modi government for stifling freedom of speech. “The aim of the BJP is to tie knowledge into fetters, to instill fear in the minds of the people,” she said referring to the resignations of Mehta and Subramanian.

“They go to Bengal and say that they will turn the state into 'Sonar Bangla' but are attacking Gurudev's original spirit. Gurudev Tagore had said, 'Where the mind is without fear ... where knowledge is free',” Priyanka said referring to the BJP's campaign in the West Bengal elections.

The resignations also came days after Rahul Gandhi questioned academic freedom in universities in the country and claimed that he was not allowed to interact with students as he does with foreign varsities.

“Yesterday Rahul Gandhi claimed at Brown (University) that he is not allowed to speak at Indian universities. This morning, Pratap Bhanu Mehta resigned from Ashoka. It should be clear what the regime wants: crush dissent in universities and generate ideological conformity,” Ashutosh Varshney, Professor at US-based Brown University said.

Gandhi had an interaction with students and faculty of Brown University on Tuesday which was moderated by Varshney.