Academic Freedom

We the undersigned sociologists, including serving and retired teachers, and researchers from universities and institutes across India, are deeply disturbed by the ongoing events in the country and feel the urgent need to make the following public statement:

The Constitution of India guarantees to all citizens the right to their beliefs and to the peaceful expression of these beliefs. We strongly affirm the autonomy of the university and the academy asvitally important places for the exercise of this right. We are therefore deeply concerned at the growing attacks on students, faculty and staff of various universities by organisations which seem to have the backing of the authorities and the police. Students and faculty are being abused, attacked and threatened for their ideas and positions while the attackers appear to enjoy immunity from the law.