KARACHI:
A recent development that has surfaced in India has rung alarm bells regarding freedom of expression under the ultra-right hyper nationalist Narendra Modi led BJP government. The resignation of one of India’s respected intellectual scholar, Pratap Bhanu Mehta, as Vice Chancellor from Ashoka University under political pressure has drawn worldwide attention. Mehta, an alumnus of Oxford and Princeton, is a fierce critic of the BJP government. His outspoken views expressed through fiery newspaper columns and speeches have irked the government to no end. The University Board, which considered Mehta a political liability, accepted his resignation.
The basic contention was his demand for the constitutional right of liberty, equality, justice and respect for all citizens irrespective of caste, creed or religion. India’s shallow claim of being a liberal democracy has now become a major moot point within the country itself with the BJP government rejecting pluralism and inclusion altogether. Mehta’s departure stirred up a debate which escalated into a controversy when a fellow colleague at Ashoka University, Arvind Subramanium, and a former chief government economic adviser also resigned in a solidarity move. This is reflective of the disturbing trend of how the university as per government orders is no longer an institution that encourages freedom of expression — academic or otherwise. Mehta’s resignation has distressed scholars all across the globe from Ivy League universities such as Columbia, Yale and Oxford etc. Be they activists, journalists, lawyers or academics, all forward-thinking Indians are perturbed to witness the death of liberalism. It is shameful how Modi has not been able to rein in religious hardliners who have been granted a licence under his watch to oppress, maim, curtail, and subdue any opposing opinion and dissenting view.
The international community ought to play their role to ensure that India adopts a tolerant approach, accepting differences with a spirit of peace and harmony. In case of Indo-Pak relations, India should refrain from aggression and provocation so that it remains on the right side of human dignity and universal values.
Salma Tahir
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2021.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
