Sir — The resignation of the eminent academic, political commentator and vocal critic of the Narendra Modi-led government, Pratap Bhanu Mehta, as professor of Ashoka University is a worrying development (“‘Political liability’ upheaval in Ashoka”, March 19). This is widely believed to be the result of the exertion of political pressure on the university’s administration. The event is disheartening as it has happened in an institution held in great esteem for its intellectual output. The university, set up in 2014, has employed some of the most brilliant minds in the country. But its administration has fallen in the estimation of citizens for its perceived lack of courage in standing up to a political regime intolerant of criticism and its inability to put up a spirited defence of free-thinking public intellectuals.

It is deeply troubling that the university felt it had to placate the powers that be. The economist, Arvind Subramanian, who also quit soon after his illustrious colleague did, has described the institute’s inability to “provide a space for academic expression and freedom” as “ominously disturbing”. Of what use is a university if it is unable to protect its autonomy and academic freedom? That a private university could not rally around a faculty member such as Mehta says a lot about the times we live in. A university is a centre for critical thinking, creativity and originality; it is not supposed to be an arm of the government of the day. As such, the reason cited by Mehta for his exit — he stated that the university’s founders made it “abundantly clear” that his association with the institution was a “political liability” — is a clear sign that academic freedom was encroached upon.

Mehta has never been afraid to say what he thinks. He cannot be expected to sing from the ruling dispensation’s hymn book. He has shown great strength of character by speaking truth to power. The shrinking space for public intellectuals renders democracy poorer. It is time we guarded our hard-won rights and freedoms.

G. David Milton,
Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

Sir — The resignation of two eminent professors from Ashoka University has caused massive outrage. Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Arvind Subramanian resigned from an institution hitherto perceived to be truly free from political interference. Most disturbing is the fact that even private institutions are succumbing to political pressure in an environment where free speech and tolerance towards criticism have already taken a back seat.

Bhaskar Roy,
New Delhi

Sir — Ashoka University, a liberal arts institute, has found itself at the centre of a furore following the resignation of Pratap Bhanu Mehta and the subsequent departure of Arvind Subramanian. In his resignation letter, Mehta said that the founders made it clear that his association with the institute was a “political liability”. The resignations have led academics, students and faculty members to question the idea of academic freedom at the university, which claims to encourage its students to think and question freely.

Mehta has never minced his words about the current regime. He had also been critical of the erstwhile United Progressive Alliance government. But the Bharatiya Janata Party is ready to brook no criticism, especially given the brute majority it was awarded in its second term in spite of its disastrous policymaking in its first term. Mehta’s colleagues should resign en masse in support of him.

Kakoli Das,
Calcutta

Happy people

Sir — It is unsurprising that Finland has been found to be the happiest country in the world in spite of the pandemic. Researchers have indicated that its performance can be attributed to the mutual trust between citizens and the administration, which helped protect lives and livelihoods during the pandemic. The nation even reported some of Europe’s lowest cases of Covid-19 infection. It is telling that Finland’s head of government is a woman; research has already shown that countries led by women, such as New Zealand, had “systematically and significantly better” Covid-19 outcomes.

Umair Ali,
Calcutta