The Delhi University administration last week ordered the cancellation of an academic seminar scheduled as part of the Friday research colloquium series at the Delhi School of Economics (DSE). https://thewire.in/education/state-against-seminars-administrative-siege-on-academic-freedom-and-critical-dialogu
However, this uninvited intervention from the administration, by censoring critical dialogue and discussion, appears to be an impediment in student engagements with academics and theory beyond the classroom.
Besides compromising with autonomy and integrity of DSE, it is a serious attempt to raise a meek and compliant institution void of critical thought and inquiry. It is a normalisation of the national and global trend of state interference in research and academic practice.
Instances ranging from warning notices to a PhD scholar at the South Asian University and their supervisor for citing an interview of Noam Chomsky to prohibition of “political” events in IIT Bombay have been noted in the past.
by Jatin Mathur
06/11/2025