‘Shocked at the lack of solidarity’: Academics after Ashoka University’s economist resigns

NEW DELHI: After the news of Sabyasachi Das’s resignation broke, academics around the world have been condemning the alleged silence of Das’s colleagues and the state of Indian academia. Das was an assistant professor at Ashoka University and the author of a controversial paper that hinted at voter manipulation in 2019 elections in India. He has resigned from his post at the university, The Wire has reported.

Saying that the Hindutva can bully both private and public institutions, a PhD scholar in the United Kingdom said on X: “Sabyasachi Das being forced out of Ashoka University, with none of his colleagues in the economics department or any other department for that matter, not threatening mass resignations; goes to show that the spines of academics have a price tag, no matter the pretensions.”

It’s just the state of Indian academia now. The Hindutva can bully both private and public institutions. Your colleagues won’t stand in solidarity with you either, because they’re scared of the consequences too. It is what it is.

Again, if you have the option: Leave India.

— Marginal Scribbles ?????? (@MarginalScr) August 14, 2023

If you stay here, prepare for struggle at best and incarceration at worst, and that struggle will be solitary. Do not expect anything from your colleagues. It is rational to stay out/move, return or stay here only after accepting the cost.

— Anupam Guha (@Anupam_Guha) August 14, 2023

Another post on the social media said: “So what more proof do we need about EVM manipulation. If #SabysachiDas was wrong the BJP would've filed a case. Instead they threatened the Ashoka University which in its cowardice forced the brave professor to resign. It's so easy to be a Yes Man & so difficult to be a hero.”

So what more proof do we need about EVM manipulation. If #SabysachiDas was wrong the BJP would've filed a case. Instead they threatened the Ashoka University which in its cowardice forced the brave professor to resign. It's so easy to be an Yes Man & so difficult to be a hero. pic.twitter.com/LP2Rffvlrb

— Suby #ReleaseSanjivBhatt (@Subytweets) August 14, 2023

Ashoka University’s students’ group earlier showed concern over the university’s reaction to the controversy which saw the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members and supporters attacking Das, even accusing him of sedition. The university had quickly distanced itself from the paper, “Democratic Backsliding in the World’s Largest Democracy”, saying that it was not peer-reviewed. The assistant professor in his paper has talked about the irregular patterns followed in elections and alleged manipulation done by the winning BJP.

Also Read | Ashoka University students demand withdrawal of statement on professor's 'controversial' paper

Responding to the news of the professor’s resignation, Yogendra Yadav, a political activist called it an advertisement for academic freedom in India.

An advertisement for academic freedom in India, on the eve of Independence Day! https://t.co/xvQxJRNpb5

— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) August 14, 2023

While another post on X said: “While Pratap Bhanu Mehta's resignation was a result of Ashoka's cowardly backdoor politics, with Das' resignation, it is clear that Ashoka University is now willing to publicly renounce any desire for academic freedom and consequently, its faculty.”

While Pratap Bhanu Mehta's resignation was a result of Ashoka's cowardly backdoor politics, with Das' resignation, it is clear that @AshokaUniv is now willing to publicly renounce any desire for academic freedom and consequently, its faculty. https://t.co/xvTha7rLEc

— Ruhaan Shah (@ruhaanshah_6) August 14, 2023

“You know how this is always a grey area. One is pushed to a point where the only way one can save one’s dignity is by resigning.”

Intellectual freedom & all it entails - debate/disagreement etc - shouldn't be an attempt to walk on quicksand. https://t.co/fXn7UMDYEK

— Narayani Basu (@narayani_basu) August 14, 2023