Ashoka University: Bowing To Pressure
By A Special Correspondent
First publised on 2021-03-26 03:11:12
About the Author
The Ashoka University case has reaffirmed that there are many unseen ways in which governments can arm twist organizations and bring them in line without their nefarious designs being disclosed. Although no one has directly charged the Centre of having a hand in the resignation of two professors of the university, especially Pratap Bhanu Mehta (who is a trenchant critic of the ruling dispensation at the Centre), the connection is not hard to miss.
It has been speculated that the university needs land to expand. It needs government permissions and help in acquiring the same. It must have been told that such permissions will only be forthcoming if people inimical to the government are not teaching at the university. It has now been alleged that the board made it known to Mehta that he was no longer welcome in the setup. Former chief economic advisor Arvind Subramaniam resigned too after Mehta left.
It is alarming that even a fine organization of higher learning, supported by eminent persons and funded by private capital, not dependent on government largesse, succumbed to pressure and surrendered its academic independence through this kind of arm twisting. It also shows how the government will go to any extreme to silence its critics.
It is extremely important for our students to be aware of, and learn from, various theories in all subjects. Academic independence of any institute, which means having control over hiring of faculty and selecting texts to be taught, is of utmost importance. This can never be compromised. Although the resignation of two professors cannot dent a university, the fear is that Ashoka will now impart âsanskariâ education as decided by the government.
There are many public places, like tea stalls, coffee shops, bars, clubs and other addas where there are more virulent critics of the government. They criticize the government day in and day out in the most colourful language. Will the government go after them next and close down all places where people meet to discuss things?
