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A Scholar’s Unwelcome Return
There is a particular kind of bitter irony that accompanies the news of a lifelong scholar of India being turned away from its shores. The recent deportation of Professor Francesca Orsini, a globally respected authority on Hindi literature, from Bengaluru airport is not merely a bureaucratic hiccup. It is a stark, worrying statement about the intellectual climate of a nation that aspires to be a ‘Vishwaguru’—a teacher to the world.
Who is Francesca Orsini?
For those unfamiliar with her work, Professor Orsini is not a political activist or a controversial journalist. She is a Professor Emerita at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. Her decades-long career has been dedicated to celebrating South Asian, particularly Hindi, literary traditions.
Her work illuminates the rich, multilingual tapestry of Indian culture for a global audience. In essence, she is one of the most effective and credible ambassadors of Indian soft power. To deny her entry is akin to a museum barring its most esteemed art historian. The deportation of Francesca Orsini sends a message that contradicts the very culture she has spent a lifetime studying.
Official Silence and Troubling Speculation
The deafening silence from the Ministry of Home Affairs leaves us to speculate on the reasons behind this decision. The most charitable explanation is a case of draconian bureaucracy—perhaps she was on the wrong type of visa to attend a seminar.
Even if true, the summary deportation of a 70-year-old academic of her stature is a disproportionate and shameful response. It speaks of a rigid, unthinking system devoid of common sense and diplomatic grace.
A Chilling Pattern for Academic Freedom
In the current context, it is difficult not to view this event as part of a larger, more troubling pattern. Professor Orsini’s deportation joins a growing list of foreign academics, researchers, and journalists who have been denied visas or entry into India. The unspoken message is clear: only a certain kind of engagement with India is welcome. Praise is accepted, but critical inquiry and independent scholarship are viewed with suspicion.
This approach is the very antithesis of what a free and confident nation should stand for. The concept of a “free world” isn’t just a geopolitical alliance; it is a commitment to values like freedom of thought, expression, and academic inquiry. Great nations are not afraid of scrutiny; they welcome it as a catalyst for growth. When we start barring scholars, we admit to a deep-seated insecurity, signalling that our national narrative is too fragile to withstand an academic lens.
The Self-Goal: What This Means for India and the Free World
The chilling effect of such actions cannot be overstated. It warns the global academic community that studying India can be a perilous exercise. It also encourages self-censorship among Indian institutions, which may now hesitate to invite foreign scholars perceived as ‘problematic’ by the government. In the long run, this intellectual isolationism does not protect India; it impoverishes it.
The deportation of Francesca Orsini is a profound self-goal. It has cost India nothing in terms of national security but has inflicted significant damage on its reputation as an open, democratic society. A truly free world is built on open doors and open minds. By slamming the door on a scholar who has valued our culture, we are not just shutting her out; we are building walls around our own minds.
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