A PhD scholar’s supervisor at the South Asian University (SAU) in New Delhi, Professor Sasanka Perera, has resigned after a controversial research proposal on Kashmir’s ethnography and politics triggered administrative action.
The unnamed scholar was also compelled to apologise for making the submission, which many believe contradicts the official government narrative about the development.
Context of the Controversy
The Indian Express reported that the controversy stemmed from a doctoral research proposal that referenced American linguist Noam Chomsky’s criticisms of the NDA government.
The research reportedly included Chomsky’s comments from a private YouTube video, in which he criticizes Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, claiming it comes from a “radical Hindutva tradition” and is working to “dismantle Indian secular democracy” and “impose Hindu technocracy.”
Administrative Actions
Following the submission of the proposal, SAU issued a show-cause notice to the scholar and initiated a disciplinary inquiry against Professor Perera, who is a founding member of the Sociology department at SAU.
The notice highlighted the aforementioned YouTube video recorded in 2021 and uploaded in 2022 as a significant issue.
Resignation and Apology
Professor Perera resigned in response to the disciplinary proceedings, and the PhD scholar apologized for “hurting sentiments” with the content of the research proposal.
This incident has raised concerns about academic freedom and the pressures faced by scholars and educators when addressing politically sensitive topics.
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