India Urged To Show ‘Bigger Heart’ After Scholar’s Deportation
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday criticised the Indian government’s decision to deport eminent Hindi scholar Francesca Orsini, calling for greater openness and tolerance. He said the country needs to “grow a thicker skin, a broader mind and a bigger heart.”
Scholar’s Deportation Background
Francesca Orsini, a professor emerita at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, was reportedly denied entry at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and deported after arriving from Hong Kong on October 21. Officials stated that she was travelling on a tourist visa and had been placed on a “blacklist” since March 2025 for alleged visa violations. The Ministry of Home Affairs has not publicly commented on the details surrounding the blacklist order.
Tharoor’s Response and Wider Concerns
Tharoor’s comments came after former BJP MP Swapan Dasgupta wrote that while the government must enforce visa regulations, it should not assess or censor a scholar’s academic work. Tharoor echoed this sentiment, arguing that deporting a reputed academic like Orsini damages India’s global image and undermines its legacy as a nation of intellectual openness. He urged the government to separate academic discourse from political sensitivity.
Implications For Academic Exchange
The deportation has sparked debate over India’s treatment of foreign scholars and the broader implications for academic freedom. Critics believe rigid enforcement of visa rules without transparency could deter global researchers from visiting India, potentially harming the country’s academic collaborations. Tharoor said India must preserve its reputation as an inclusive, knowledge-driven society if it seeks to remain a hub for international scholarship.
