Shashi Tharoor sharply criticised India’s decision to deport Professor Francesca Orsini, stating that the country should respond to academic criticism with confidence rather than insecurity. He argued that removing scholars over technical visa issues damages India’s international reputation far more than critical research or essays ever could.
Orsini, a prominent UK-based academic specialising in Hindi and South Asian literature at SOAS, University of London, was denied entry at Delhi airport despite holding a valid long-term e-visa. Her deportation has drawn widespread concern from writers, historians, and academic groups. Authorities maintain that she has been on a government blacklist since March 2025 due to an alleged violation involving conducting research while travelling on a tourist visa.
Tharoor, sharing an article that urged the government to separate visa enforcement from judgments about scholarship, said India must demonstrate more maturity and openness. He stated that foreign academics should not be turned away for minor procedural issues, stressing that such behaviour gives the impression of intellectual insecurity and a shrinking academic environment.
The Congress party also criticised the deportation, calling it an example of hostility toward independent scholarship. Historian Ramachandra Guha described the move as evidence of a nervous and misguided government, saying that Orsini has significantly contributed to India's understanding of its literary heritage.
