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Two Professors Resign at Ashoka University Following Academic Freedom Infringement

August 19, 2023

Professors Sabyasachi Das and Pulapre Balakrishnan have resigned following criticism of Das’ research paper by the Governing Body of Ashoka University. Additionally, 87 faculty members have expressed their support by signing a ‘Letter of Academic Freedom’.

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/professor-resignation-ashoka-faculty-governing-council-academic-freedom-8895051/?emci=56aebe24-163d-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&emdi=82aa2055-383d-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&ceid=1661962

August 18, 2023

Prof. Rudrangshu Mukherjee
Chancellor, Ashoka University
Rajiv Gandhi Educational City
National Capital Region P.O. Rai
Sonepat, Haryana-131029, INDIA
chancellor@ashoka.edu.in

Dear Chancellor Mukherjee,

The Committee of Concerned Scientists is a fifty-year-old independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.

We are writing to express our concern about the resignation of Professors Sabyasachi Das and Pulapre Balakrishnan, reportedly triggered by the criticism of Das’ research paper by the Governing Body of Ashoka University. It was also reported that this action of the Governing Body was widely protested by the faculty.

Infringement by the university administration upon the right of the faculty to freely publish their research is considered unacceptable by the world scientific community. It should not occur in a democratic country like India. Academic research is evaluated through the process of peer review. Research findings should be debated in open scientific literature, not behind closed doors of the Chancellor’s office.

We trust that you, a renowned historian, and author who held appointments at the most reputed research centers in the world, will side with the faculty of Ashoka University. We urge you to adhere to the principles of academic freedom and reinstate Professors Das and Balakrishnan in their positions.

Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer

Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists

Filed Under: CCS Cases, India Tagged With: Ashoka University

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Co-chairs

Joel L. Lebowitz, Rutgers University

Walter Reich, George Washington University

Eugene Chudnovsky, Lehman College

Alexander Greer, Brooklyn College

Vice-chairs

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Myles Axton, Chief Editor, Genetics and Genomics Next

David Baltimore, California Institute of Technology*

Alan J. Bard, University of Texas

David Gross, University of California, Santa Barbara*

James Langer, University of California, Santa Barbara

Peter Lax, New York University

Giorgio Parisi, Roma I University La Sapienza

John C. Polanyi, University of Toronto*

Stuart Rice, University of Chicago

Sir Richard J. Roberts, New England Biolabs*

Maxine Singer, Carnegie Institution of Washington

Alfred I. Tauber, Boston University

Myrna Weissman, Columbia University

Former Honorary Board Members

Jacob Bigeleisen (deceased), SUNY, Stony Brook

Raoul Bott (deseased) Harvard University

Owen Chamberlain (deceased), University of California, Berkeley

Stanley Deser (deceased), Brandeis University

Edward Gerjuoy (deceased), University of Pittsburgh

Pierre Hohenberg (deceased), New York University

Walter Kohn (deceased), University of California, Santa Barbara*

Louis Nirenberg (deceased), New York University

Marshall Nirenberg (deceased), National Institutes of Health*

Myriam Sarachick (deceased), City College of New York

Harold Scheraga (deceased), Cornell University

Sylvan Schweber (deceased), Brandeis University

Steven Weinberg (deceased), University of Texas, Austin*

Rosalyn S. Yalow (deceased), Mount Sinai School of Medicine*

* Nobel laureate

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