Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has voiced strong support for journalist and BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta’s recent column, which criticizes the Indian government’s handling of the entry denial to Professor Francesca Orsini, a renowned Hindi scholar based in the UK.
In his article, Swapan Dasgupta argued that while the state must ensure visa compliance, it shouldn’t question the academic credentials of visiting professors. Tharoor echoed this sentiment, criticizing the practice of deporting international academics at Indian airports, describing it as rolling out an “unwelcome mat.” He emphasized that such actions are far more damaging to India’s global image than any critical academic articles.
“Rolling out an ‘unwelcome mat’ at our airport immigration counters to deport foreign scholars and academics because of trivial visa violations is doing us far more damage — as a country, a culture and an internationally-credible nation — than any number of negative articles in foreign academic journals could ever accomplish,” Tharoor stated.
He further added, “Official India needs to grow a thicker skin, a broader mind & a bigger heart.”
What Swapan Dasgupta’s Article Said
Dasgupta’s column, titled ‘Orsini furore shows perils of visa vigilantes’, delves into the controversy surrounding Professor Orsini’s deportation. The UK-based professor, affiliated with the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London, was reportedly sent back from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport for alleged visa violations.
Dasgupta suggests the denial was likely a retaliatory measure against Orsini’s criticism of the government, potentially creating a negative perception of India as a nation closing its doors to global academic collaboration.
Who is Francesca Orsini?
Francesca Orsini is an acclaimed historian and a leading scholar of Hindi and Urdu literature. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Venice and a PhD from London. Currently, she is Professor Emerita of Hindi and South Asian Literature at the School of Languages, Cultures, and Linguistics. Orsini is widely recognized for her book ‘The Hindi Public Sphere 1920-1940: Language and Literature in the Age of Nationalism’ and was last reported to have visited India in October 2024.
