Associate Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad of Ashoka University was arrested for a social media post deemed offensive, despite containing no explicitly illegal content. This incident raises concerns about freedom of speech and the role of universities in protecting academic expression.
The university's failure to defend Professor Mahmudabad is a significant issue. Their silence is interpreted as a retreat from their role in mediating between state and society and upholding academic freedom. This inaction is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern.
Similar instances of academic suppression have occurred internationally. American scholar Paul Chambers' arrest in Thailand and Georgetown professor Badar Khan Suri's detention in the US demonstrate a global trend where inconvenient speech faces consequences.
These cases highlight a growing tendency for universities to prioritize reputation and avoid risk, rather than acting as spaces for intellectual debate and dissent.
The silence from Ashoka University is particularly troubling. It signals a weakening of the role of Indian universities in defending academic freedom and fostering intellectual discourse. The university's failure to distinguish between critique and criminality represents a critical turning point.