The Haryana State Commission for Women has issued a notice to Ali Khan Mahmudabad, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science at Ashoka University in Sonipat, citing remarks that “disparaged women officers in the Indian Armed Forces and promoted communal disharmony.” The commission took suo motu cognisance of a series of statements made by Mahmudabad on social media and digital platforms following India’s Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, a military operation that drew attention for the prominent roles of women officers like Colonel Sofia Qureshi of the Indian Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force.
Background of the Controversy
The controversy stems from Mahmudabad’s comments, particularly a Facebook post, which the commission claims undermined the contributions of Qureshi and Singh while attributing communal motives to the government and armed forces.
In the post, Mahmudabad wrote, “I am very happy to see so many right-wing commentators applauding Colonel Sophia Qureishi, but perhaps they could also equally loudly demand that the victims of mob lynchings, arbitrary bulldozing, and others who are victims of the BJP’s hate mongering be protected as Indian citizens.”
He described the media briefings by the women officers as “optics” that must translate into tangible change, warning that without grassroots reform, such efforts risked being “just hypocrisy.”
Mahmudabad further questioned the rhetoric of war and phrases like “wipe them out” or “destroy them,” arguing that such language dehumanises entire communities and fuels destructive ideologies. He acknowledged the strategic shift in India’s response to terrorism through Operation Sindoor, which aimed to blur the distinction between military and non-state actors in Pakistan, but cautioned against “mindless calls for war.” He wrote, “War is brutal. The poor suffer disproportionately and the only people who benefit are politicians and defence companies.”
The commission, chaired by Renu Bhatia, interpreted these remarks as disparaging to the women officers and an attempt to vilify national military actions. The notice, issued on May 12, 2025, lists six prima facie concerns:
1) Disparagement of women in uniform, specifically Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh.
2) Misrepresentation of facts through terms like “genocide” and “dehumanisation.”
3) Vilification of military actions against cross-border terrorism.
4) Potential incitement to communal unrest.
5) Violation of women’s dignity under the Constitution and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
6) Breach of the University Grants Commission (UGC) ethical conduct regulations for faculty.
Mahmudabad has been summoned to appear before the commission on May 14, 2025, with a warning that failure to comply without sufficient cause will attract action under relevant statutes.
Who is Ali Khan Mahmudabad?
An academic, historian, political scientist, poet, and columnist, Mahmudabad holds a PhD and MPhil from the University of Cambridge, along with an undergraduate degree in History and Political Science from Amherst College. He also studied Arabic at the University of Damascus.
Despite his academic credentials, Mahmudabad’s ideological leanings and public statements have raised eyebrows. As an Associate Professor and Head of Political Science at Ashoka University, he uses his platform to voice opinions that often clash with national sentiment. Through columns in The Indian Express and Inqilab, and his book Poetry of Belonging: Muslim Imaginings of India 1850-1950, he consistently presents a narrative that challenges mainstream perspectives on nationalism and secularism.
What makes Mahmudabad’s position particularly controversial is his family’s historical link to Pakistan’s creation. As the grandson of Mohammad Amir Ahmad Khan, the last Raja of Mahmudabad and a key financier of the Muslim League before Partition, his privileged position in a democratic India is often seen as hypocritical. Critics argue that while he comfortably thrives within India’s liberal academic circles, he continues to echo ideas rooted in the very ideology that fueled Pakistan’s creation.
Where are the folks who bankrolled Pakistan’s creation? Right here in India—citizens lapping up the comfort and safety of a tolerant democracy, all while peddling the very idea of Pakistan they refuse to live in.
One even moonlights as a part-time teacher at Ashoka University,… pic.twitter.com/tf2JCtkaU2
— Rashmi Samant (@RashmiDVS) May 11, 2025
Adding to the controversy is his close association with the Samajwadi Party, where his intellectual influence aligns with political rhetoric that many view as sympathetic to causes perceived as anti-national. On social media, particularly X, he frequently critiques Indian policies while appearing to downplay or justify narratives that align with Pakistan and Palestine.
Mahmudabad’s ability to thrive in a tolerant democracy while vocally supporting ideas that contradict the Indian ethos has sparked a heated debate. Many question whether an academic holding such views should occupy a position in an institution that prides itself on liberal and democratic values.
Commission’s Response and Legal Basis
Renu Bhatia, chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women, told the media that the commission invoked its powers under Section 10(1)(f) and 10(1)(a) of the Haryana State Commission for Women Act, 2012, to address Mahmudabad’s statements. The notice accuses him of undermining the dignity of women in uniform, inciting communal distress, and violating ethical standards expected of university faculty.
Mahmudabad’s social media posts sparked debates on platforms like X, with some accusing him of undermining military efforts while others defended his right to question the government’s approach.
Ashoka University has yet to issue an official statement regarding the controversy. The Commission has cautioned Mahmudabad that failure to comply with the notice may result in legal consequences under relevant statutes.
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