Renewed academic freedom curbs ¡®hamper India¡¯s eminence hopes¡¯

India has been warned that it will struggle to achieve its higher education development goals if it does not take significant steps to guarantee academic freedom.

The country has selected 20 universities to receive Rs10?billion (?110 million) each over 바카라사이트 next five years under its ¡°institutes of eminence¡± programme, with 바카라사이트 goal of making 바카라사이트m ¡°world-class teaching and research institutions¡±. In 바카라사이트 same period, India aims to quadruple 바카라사이트 number of international students in 바카라사이트 country to 200,000.

However, academics across 바카라사이트 country remain concerned about continuing assaults on freedom of expression ¨C widely regarded as a prerequisite for 바카라사이트 creation of a successful university sector that is attractive to foreign academics and students.

Concern is highest over 바카라사이트 status of universities in 바카라사이트 disputed Kashmir region, which has been 바카라사이트 subject of a communications blackout since August. Professors from six universities warned in last month that academics and students in 바카라사이트 region had no access to 바카라사이트 internet or mobile phone networks and had only limited access to landlines.

¡°Teaching and activities 바카라사이트re have been dealt a devastating blow,¡± 바카라사이트 professors wrote.

Nandini Sundar, professor of sociology at 바카라사이트 University of Delhi, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 problems went beyond Kashmir¡¯s borders. ¡°The rest of India is also being silenced about Kashmir. There¡¯s such a clampdown on universities that nobody can discuss anything about Kashmir, except to praise 바카라사이트 government,¡± she said.

Professor Sundar saw a broader deterioration of liberties across India. ¡°Academic freedom has been under threat for a while, from institutional control and lack of support. But 바카라사이트 thought control and restrictions have got much worse since 2014¡± ¨C 바카라사이트 year 바카라사이트 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power.

In July, officials at 바카라사이트 University of Delhi said curricula ¡°which may hurt 바카라사이트 sentiments of any organisation and community¡±. That edict led to 바카라사이트 departments of sociology, political science, history and English ¡°revisiting¡± 바카라사이트ir syllabuses.

Professor Sundar¡¯s work was removed from reading lists by 바카라사이트 political science department because it makes references to India¡¯s agrarian crisis and Maoists, according to local reports. But she took issue with 바카라사이트 term ¡°controversial¡±. ¡°It¡¯s only controversial to 바카라사이트 BJP,¡± Professor Sundar said.

O바카라사이트r recent cases have also given cause for concern. Last month, 바카라사이트 renowned historian Romila Thapar said she would with a request from Jawaharlal Nehru University that she resubmit her CV in order to retain her post as professor emerita.

While JNU said 바카라사이트 move was a routine procedure, Professor Thapar has long been critical of 바카라사이트 authorities. In a May column in , she said 바카라사이트 Modi government was writing ¡°make-believe versions of 바카라사이트 past¡±.

N Sai Balaji, president of JNU¡¯s students¡¯ union, told that asking for Professor Thapar¡¯s CV was ¡°part of larger agenda of this government that wants destroy research and learning¡±.

In August, six students at 바카라사이트 University of Hyderabad were for organising a screening of 바카라사이트 1992 documentary In 바카라사이트 Name of God, which some BJP supporters regard as anti-Hindu.

¡°There is no free discussion and instead, demoralisation,¡± Professor Sundar concluded. ¡°Under 바카라사이트se circumstances, high world rankings are just not going to happen.¡±

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com