Academics across the globe have recently condemned India for what they perceive as a lack of academic freedom, following an incident involving an economist at Ashoka University. It all started when the economist was targeted by social media trolls for a research paper that suggested electoral manipulation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This incident has sparked a debate on the freedom to publish research in India and the implications it has on the country’s democracy.
In the research paper published by the Social Science Research Network, Sabyasachi Das, an assistant professor of economics at Ashoka University, pointed out that the BJP’s overwhelming victory in the 2019 elections seemed to have a disproportionate impact on closely contested seats. Das highlighted alleged instances of electoral manipulation, including the deletion of Muslim names from voter lists. Unsurprisingly, this paper ignited controversy and drew attention from various quarters.
However, Ashoka University, where Das is affiliated, seemed to distance itself from the research. In a public statement, the university clarified that the paper had not yet completed a critical review process and had not been published in any academic journal. It also emphasized that individual social media activities or public activism by its faculty, students, or staff did not reflect the official stance of the institution. Despite attempts to seek clarifications from the university’s chancellor, no response was received.
On the other hand, the BJP chose not to respond to requests for comment regarding the research. Nonetheless, party member Nishikant Dubey criticized Ashoka University’s statement, claiming that the “half-baked research” discredited India’s electoral process. Additionally, commentators who are perceived to have affiliations with the BJP also directed criticism towards Das in what appears to be an attempt to discredit his findings.
The internet trolling incident targeting Das and Ashoka University’s disavowal of the research have prompted sharp criticism from academia worldwide. Many academics view this incident as a disturbing example of academic freedom coming under threat in India. This controversy arises at a time when Prime Minister Modi is grappling with religious violence in states governed by his own party and widespread allegations of the BJP muzzling its critics.
Modi’s government has faced criticism for its crackdown on hundreds of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), leading to their financial strangulation. This move has forced influential international charities such as Amnesty India and Greenpeace India to shut down their operations within the country. Moreover, the government’s actions have resulted in the arrest of activists, lawyers, and journalists across the nation. As a consequence, India’s standing on the World Press Freedom Rankings has declined, coupled with an increase in internet shutdowns.
Market Capital Research 