India Deports Hindi Scholar Orsini

Francesca Orsini, a distinguished Hindi scholar and Professor Emerita at the SOAS University of London, was deported from India on October 21 for alleged visa violations, having been blacklisted since March 2025. This action has drawn significant criticism from academics and politicians. Shashi Tharoor, a senior leader of the India — Indian National Congress, publicly criticized the government's decision, agreeing with former BJP MP Swapan Dasgupta's sentiment that while visa rules must be followed, India should not assess a professor's scholarship. Tharoor stated that such actions damage India's international credibility more than any negative academic articles. Historian M. G. Ramachandran also condemned the deportation, calling it a sign of an insecure government. The controversy highlights concerns about India's approach to foreign academics and its reputation as an open intellectual society.