SPOTLIGHT | Once bastions of dissent, Indian universities now face a suffocating environment of surveillance and censorship - Frontline

Key Findings

The article details the growing suppression of dissent within Indian universities, citing numerous incidents of violence, censorship, and surveillance targeting students and faculty who express views contrary to the dominant narrative. The crackdown is attributed to a larger political agenda aimed at enforcing a singular ideology.

Impact on Academic Freedom

The V-Dem Institute's 2023 Academic Freedom Index highlights India's significant decline in academic freedom over the past decade. This decline is linked to reduced university autonomy and a sharp downturn in various freedom indicators since 2013. Academics fear expressing dissenting opinions, resulting in self-censorship and a chilling effect on intellectual discourse.

Incidents of Repression

• Increased security presence and monitoring of student activities on campuses like Jamia Millia Islamia and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
• JNU's implementation of fines and expulsion for wall posters and protests deemed “anti-national”.
• Violence against students during protests and events, including the 2016 JNU sedition case, the 2017 Ramjas College clashes, and the 2019 Jamia Millia Islamia police raid.
• The forced removal of certain authors and topics from university syllabi (e.g., removal of Mahasweta Devi's work from Delhi University).
• Resignations of prominent academics from institutions like Ashoka University due to perceived political pressures.

Underlying Causes

The article suggests that the suppression of dissent is part of a broader political agenda to promote Hindu nationalist ideology and control the narrative. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is criticized for its role in centralizing and homogenizing education, further limiting space for diverse perspectives.

Consequences

The consequences include a climate of fear, self-censorship among faculty, and the erosion of academic freedom, which threatens the future of higher education in India. The shrinking space for dissent raises concerns about the ability of universities to cultivate future leaders and critical thinkers. The article concludes with calls for maintaining the sanctity of classrooms and ensuring spaces for the discussion of diverse and even unpopular ideas.