New Delhi (Agency): Following the resignation of Sabyasachi Das, a notable professor at Ashoka University, sparked by controversy over his research, fellow faculty members have taken a bold stance. In an open letter, they’ve communicated their intention not to teach until Das is reinstated.
Sabyasachi Das’s research paper titled, “Democratic Backsliding in the World’s Largest Democracy”, proposed that the BJP, during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, secured an unfair advantage in closely fought parliamentary seats. This was particularly noted in states where BJP held governance. Released on the Social Science Research Network on July 25, the paper further suggested potential “electoral discrimination against Muslims”, which might have been “partly facilitated by weak monitoring by election observers.”
Economics faculty members at Ashoka University openly expressed their discontent. Their letter cautioned that the Governing Body’s “interference” in evaluating the quality of Das’s study might lead to a large number of faculty members leaving the institution. Similarly, the departments of English and Creative Writing voiced their support for Das, emphasizing their commitment to academic freedom and their refusal to teach unless these concerns are addressed before the Monsoon 2023 semester starts.
The faculty members wrote, “The offer of resignation by our colleague Prof Sabyasachi Das and its hasty acceptance by the University has deeply ruptured the faith that we in the faculty of the department of Economics, our colleagues, our students, and well-wishers of Ashoka University everywhere, had reposed in the university’s leadership.” They urged for timely intervention, stating that any delay might jeopardize the university’s vision.
Central to their demands is not only Das’s reinstatement but also an assurance that the governing body will abstain from assessing faculty research. The letter emphasized the need for “basic academic freedoms” to be upheld for a conducive teaching environment rooted in “critical enquiry and the fearless pursuit of truth.”
In response to the uproar over Das’s research, Ashoka University had earlier clarified its position. It stated that any social media activity or public activism by its members, in their “individual capacity”, doesn’t represent the university’s official stance. Following this, Das chose to resign, which the university accepted.
Das’s paper highlighted unusual wins that hadn’t been observed in prior elections, either by the BJP or Congress. The potential reasons, as per his research, could be electoral fraud by the BJP or an efficient strategy to intensify their campaign in specific, closely contested seats.
The faculty’s open letter underscored the adherence to academic standards by Das and criticized the Governing Body for its undue interference. The letter termed this as “institutional harassment”, stating, “We condemn this in the strongest terms and refuse as a collective to cooperate in any future attempt to evaluate the research of individual economics faculty members by the Governing Body.”
The communication also warned of the significant consequences of the Governing Body’s actions, hinting at a potential large-scale faculty exit and the challenge of attracting new faculty members. The Governing Body of Ashoka University includes distinguished names like Chancellor Rudrangshu Mukherjee, Vice Chancellor Somak Raychaudhury, and others. With the Monsoon 2023 semester nearing, all eyes are now on the Governing Body’s next steps.
