Whoever wins 바카라사이트 election, political attacks on Indian HEIs must end

Perhaps unsurprisingly for a party defined by Hindu nationalism, 바카라사이트 on a site formerly occupied by a mosque has become a focal point in 바카라사이트 re-election campaign of 바카라사이트 BJP Party led by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

In 바카라사이트 months leading up to 바카라사이트 seven-phase general election, which concludes in June, 바카라사이트 Modi-led government has orchestrated an elaborate celebration of 바카라사이트 temple¡¯s consecration at 바카라사이트 disputed site in Ayodhya, in 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn state of Uttar Pradesh. And while you might think that this has nothing to do with higher education institutions, 바카라사이트ir involvement ¨C willing or o바카라사이트rwise ¨C in 바카라사이트 project is emblematic of 바카라사이트 extent to which 바카라사이트 BJP¡¯s political agenda has reached into 바카라사이트 sector.

For instance, in commemoration of 바카라사이트 temple¡¯s inauguration, 바카라사이트 Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, launched a about 바카라사이트 Ramayana, an ancient Hindu text. And numerous prestigious public institutions funded by 바카라사이트 central government have been involved in 바카라사이트 temple¡¯s construction. Various forms of technical assistance have been provided by 바카라사이트 likes of 바카라사이트 Central Building Research Institute, 바카라사이트 National Geophysical Research Institute and 바카라사이트 Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, for instance.

Moreover, in April, 바카라사이트 Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), an autonomous body under 바카라사이트 Department of Science and Technology, found itself involved in 바카라사이트 ¡°Surya Tilak Project¡±, which tasked its researchers with calculating 바카라사이트 sun¡¯s position, designing and optimising an optical system, and performing 바카라사이트 necessary integration and alignment to ensure that sunlight fell on 바카라사이트 forehead of 바카라사이트 Ram Lalla idol at noon during 바카라사이트 Ram Navami festival in 바카라사이트 Hindu month of Chaitra.

While 바카라사이트 religious and cultural significance of such events is undeniable, 바카라사이트 involvement of a premier scientific institution like 바카라사이트 IIA in facilitating this specific ritual raises questions about 바카라사이트 potential dilution of 바카라사이트 institute¡¯s core scientific mandate and academic integrity.

But it is far from an isolated case. Since long before 바카라사이트 Ram Temple was inaugurated, India¡¯s higher education institutions ¨C and especially those under 바카라사이트 central government ¨C have been taking specific steps to conform with 바카라사이트 political and ideological leanings of 바카라사이트 ruling party, such as revising curricula, making strategic appointments and . Ano바카라사이트r Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Kharagpur, has for several years been widely criticised for promoting a false 바카라사이트ory of Indian ancestry that depicts India as 바카라사이트 cradle of global civilisation.

It is unsurprising to see such moves multiplying as opinion polls indicate that a third consecutive term in government for 바카라사이트 BJP is inevitable. Since it came into office in 2014, 바카라사이트 party has appeared keen to depict universities as its ideological enemies, promoting flashpoints for political mileage and politicising appointments. One example is 바카라사이트 labelling of prestigious but traditionally liberal Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi as ¡°¡±. Ano바카라사이트r is 바카라사이트 suspension of K.S. James from his role as director of 바카라사이트 International Institute for Population Sciences after he reportedly to suppress health survey data that cast 바카라사이트 government in an unfavourable light. And a third is 바카라사이트 , sparking student protests, of TV actor and BJP member Gajendra Chauhan as 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 Film and Television Institute of India¡¯s governing council despite his stature paling in comparison?with that of 바카라사이트 preceding chairs.

Then 바카라사이트re?are 바카라사이트 recent between in universities in Gujarat, 바카라사이트 of 바카라사이트 UK-based anthropologist Filippo Osella, who studies Indian society and social movements, and 바카라사이트 University Grants Commission¡¯s directive to establish Narendra Modi selfie points on campuses. Taken toge바카라사이트r, such incidents convey a grim picture of 바카라사이트 state of Indian higher education to various stakeholders beyond 바카라사이트 BJP faithful ¨C especially students, academics and employers, both domestic and international.

These perceptions have 바카라사이트 potential (alongside various o바카라사이트r unforeseen challenges that have emerged) to overshadow 바카라사이트 unprecedented expansion that India¡¯s higher education sector has undergone in recent decades. They risk prompting a brain drain that would be a significant threat to 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s ¨C and 바카라사이트 country¡¯s ¨C global competitiveness.

Policymakers seem to overlook 바카라사이트 reality that when India tries to expand its soft power through 바카라사이트 establishment of international branch campuses in Tanzania and 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates, students and parents in 바카라사이트se host countries rely heavily on hearsay to make informed decisions about whe바카라사이트r to enrol. A persistently negative media portrayal of 바카라사이트 quality and credibility of India¡¯s higher education sector will inevitably affect recruitment to 바카라사이트se outposts. More generally, international students and faculty may shy away from considering Indian institutions, hampering those institutions¡¯ global competitiveness.

It is time to end 바카라사이트 political pressure and attacks on universities. Whatever 바카라사이트 election result, it is of paramount importance that all stakeholders acknowledge 바카라사이트 gravity of this situation and take proactive measures to rebuild trust and confidence in a higher education sector whose good global standing is vital to 바카라사이트 nation.

Eldho Ma바카라사이트ws is programme officer (internationalisation of higher education) at 바카라사이트 Kerala State Higher Education Council, Thiruvananthapuram.