The TLDR: The resignation of two of its most prominent faculty members—Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Arvind Subramanian—has raised red flags about one of the nation’s most prestigious universities. And it reveals how even private funding can’t save an institution from political pressure. 

What exactly happened here?

On Tuesday, Pratap Bhanu Mehta resigned from his faculty position at Ashoka University. Two days later, Arvind Subramanian also quit in solidarity. And there are rumours of at least two other professors who plan to leave soon. 

Remind me, who are these people?

Pratap Bhanu Mehta: is one of the country’s leading public intellectuals—and writes a highly influential column in the Indian Express. 

• He was first appointed as Vice Chancellor of the university in 2017—but stepped down in 2019 citing personal reasons. He continued to teach a couple of courses. 
• In the lead up to the 2014 election, Mehta was seen as being ‘soft’ on then candidate Modi. 
• The Caravan later scathingly listed all the ways in which Mehta’s columns let him off the hook for the Gujarat riots—writing that “those worried about Modi need to set their own house in order.” 
• But in the years since, Mehta has emerged as an unflinching critic of both the BJP and the Prime Minister. And those very same Indian Express columns have become progressively more unforgiving.
• In 2019, the Intelligence Bureau described Mehta as an “unrelenting critic” of the government in a report. 

Arvind Subramanian: is the former chief economic advisor to the government—appointed by PM Modi in 2014 to replace Raghuram Rajan. 

• The Oxford-educated star economist abruptly resigned in 2018 citing personal reasons while making the right noises, saying “This is the best job I have ever had and probably ever will.” 
• But most political observers felt Subramanian was mostly tired of having his advice ignored—especially on key matters like GST implementation. 
• Since 2019, he has challenged the government’s GDP figures, sharply criticised its implementation of demonetisation, and questioned the wisdom of the atmanirbhar strategy of economic growth. 
• In 2020, he returned to India as a professor in the economics department and was appointed as the founding director of the new Ashoka Centre for economic policy.

Okay, so why did they resign?

Mehta’s exit: was sparked by a conversation with several Ashoka founders—including private equity guru Ashish Dhawan and the founding dean of the Indian School of Business Pramath Raj Sinha. In his resignation letter, Mehta wrote:

“After a meeting with Founders it has become abundantly clear to me that my association with the University may be considered a political liability. My public writing in support of a politics that tries to honour constitutional values of freedom and equal respect for all citizens, is perceived to carry risks for the university. In the interests of the University I resign.”

Subramanian’s exit: was prompted by the circumstances surrounding Mehta’s resignation. In his letter to the Vice Chancellor, Subramanian wrote: 

“However, the circumstances involving the ‘resignation’ of Professor Pratap Bhanu Mehta, who is not just a dear friend but a truly inspirational national figure, have devastated me… That even Ashoka—with its private status and backing by private capital—can no longer provide a space for academic expression and freedom is ominously disturbing. Above all, that the University’s commitment to fight for and sustain the Ashoka vision is now open to question makes it difficult for me to continue being part of Ashoka.”

The student newspaper: on campus also published an explosive story drawing a direct line between Mehta’s resignation and the university’s financial interests:

"A source, who wishes to remain anonymous, told The Edict that the resignation of Professor Pratap Bhanu Mehta was endorsed by the Founders of the University. This endorsement, according to a senior faculty member with whom our source spoke, was motivated by an understanding that if Prof. Mehta resigned, the University’s efforts to acquire a new plot of land to expand the campus would get much smoother. Additionally, formal recognition for the fourth-year post-graduate diploma, Ashoka Scholars’ Program, was also hinted at being part of the deal."

Vineet Gupta, a trustee and co-founder of Ashoka University, said the article was “factually inaccurate.”

Point to note: In a virtual town hall meeting with students, the VC denied that the trustees had asked Mehta to leave, and insisted she was not aware of the conversation cited by Mehta in his letter.

Is this true, the land bit?

We don’t have much to go on other than claims by unnamed faculty members. But a 2016 Caravan story points to a close relationship between the Haryana government and the university—which even invited Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to be the chief guest at an event on campus, despite protests from faculty. At the time, a faculty member told the magazine: “Everyone is aware that the founders are well connected to people in political power.” And the university worked as a “knowledge partner” with the government on at least one of its key programmes. 

But does any of that add up to a direct quid pro quo? Nope.

Surely, others at the university must be outraged!

Yes. Ninety members of the faculty have written a letter to the Vice Chancellor expressing “great anguish” over Mehta’s resignation, saying, “It also raises urgent questions about the university’s commitment to academic freedom as well as its internal processes.” And students have staged sit-in protests asking for his return. Also see: The Student Government’s statement of solidarity.

Point to note: One unnamed member of Ashoka’s faculty bluntly summed up the prevailing sentiment to Indian Express:

“If the founders think that Mehta’s exit is the way they will placate the powers that be, they are mistaken. This dents the university’s integrity, pushes it down a slippery slope. Many of the top faculty came here because Mehta and, to be fair, the founders, too, had worked hard to build this space. This sends a chilling signal to everyone in higher education that if private founders, with significant financial resources, can’t stand up for Mehta in the face of political pressure, then who can?”

Shocking that it’s happening in Ashoka!

Yes, but there were key red flags before these high profile departures:

One: In 2016, two senior members of the administrative staff and one professor (Rajendran Narayanan) abruptly resigned after they signed a petition speaking out against the violence in Kashmir, and calling for a plebiscite. While the university insisted they left of their own volition, the Faculty Council’s internal emails indicated otherwise: 

“The two employees who had signed the petition—Adil and Saurav, from the YIF (Young India Fellowship) team—have already been asked to resign by the founders. The Council learned of this only last week after the fact. This has supported our belief that there is a high probability of the Governing Body carrying out Rajendran’s dismissal as well.”

The professor resigned soon after citing “ethical reasons.”

Two: In 2019, economist Mihir Shah—a former member of the Planning Commission during the UPA government and Modi critic—was abruptly asked to leave Ashoka University after a seven year tenure. The VC at the time: Pratap Bhanu Mehta. Journalist Rupa Subramanya noted: “Third such termination. If folks who rail on about the importance of institutions can’t protect their own when push comes to shove, what’s the point?”

The bottomline: Our universities are only as free as permitted by those who fund them—be it private individuals or the government. And when it comes to citizens, ironically, it is the wealthiest among us who are most vulnerable to pressure. Governments typically find it far harder to bully the less privileged. Example: farmers.

Reading list

Indian Express has the letters written by Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Arvind Subramanian. It also has an excellent report on the 2016 ‘resignations’. Also read: The eye opening story published in the student newspaper The Edict. The Caravan (paywall) has an older piece on the hidden limits on free speech within the university—and a takedown of liberals who supported Modi in 2014. Financial Times reports on the grand vision behind Ashoka. For a non-paywall read, check out Economic Times and Hindu Business Line on the very wealthy funders who made it possible.