Scholarly Clashes: Francesca Orsini's Deportation Sparks Outcry

In a recent episode at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Francesca Orsini, a distinguished scholar from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, found herself deported. This action stemmed from alleged violations of her tourist visa, according to sources within the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Orsini, notable for her critical work on Hindi literature, including 'The Hindi Public Sphere 1920-1940,' has been on India's blacklist since March 2025, purportedly due to visa infractions. Despite these claims, her expulsion has drawn sharp criticism from fellow historians like Ramachandra Guha and Mukul Kesavan, who view it as an unwarranted attack on academic freedom.

Historian Ramachandra Guha condemned the act as a display of government insecurity, while Mukul Kesavan questioned the banning of a scholar by an administration allegedly committed to promoting Hindi. Their reactions highlight the broader tensions between state policies and scholarly pursuits in the cultural domain.