280 economists in 78 institutions extend solidarity to Sabyasachi Das; support grows

NEW DELHI: 280 economists at over 78 institutions across the country have issued a statement in solidarity with assistant professor Sabyasachi Das, who resigned following a controversy over his research paper suggesting electoral manipulation by the BJP in the 2019 general elections.

“We, economists working in India, strongly believe that academic freedom is the cornerstone of the vibrant educational and research community, and that everyone must have the right to pursue knowledge, share their findings, and engage in open dialogue without the fear of censorship and retribution,” the statement read.

“We stand in solidarity with Sabyasachi Das and extend our support for the demands of the economics department of Ashoka University,” it said. Further, the economists also urged the governing body of Ashoka University to immediately reinstate Das.

The economics department faculty of Ashoka University wrote an open letter to the governing body days after the institute accepted the resignation of Das. The faculty demanded the university to immediately revoke the acceptance of resignation and also to affirm that the governing body will “play no role in evaluating faculty research”. They also warned to not carry forward with their teaching obligations if the university fails to address the matter before August 23.

Also read | ‘Existential threat’: Ashoka University faculty demand revoking resignation of Sabyasachi Das

Pulapre Balakrishnan, another professor in the economics department, has put in his papers days after the resignation of Das. The departments of English and Creative Writing have also extended support to the demands put forward to reinstate Das.

The solidarity statement was signed by professors, economists from central universities, Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), University of Calcutta, and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Ahmedabad, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Guwahati and several other academics from public and private universities.