On May 24, students of Ashoka University made headlines by displaying pro-Palestine placards during their convocation ceremony. A video that has since gone viral on social media platforms shows students, dressed in their convocation attire, and holding placards with messages such as “Free Palestine” and “Stop Genocide” above their heads.
This act is part of an ongoing campaign by the Ashoka University Student Government (AUSG), which has been advocating for the university to sever ties with Israel-based Tel Aviv University since May this year.
The AUSG submitted a petition to the university authorities, expressing concerns over the institution’s partnership with Tel Aviv University. This partnership includes collaborative research and lectures by Israeli faculty in India. The petition called for the termination of this relationship, but the university rejected the request, stating that it does not engage in political stances.
Students at Ashoka University raise “Free Palestine”, “Cut off ties with Israel” slogans during convocation pic.twitter.com/w9F9md9a5Z
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) July 1, 2024
This recent incident is not the first time Ashoka University students have attracted controversy.
In March 2024, students were seen in viral videos chanting Hinduphobic slogans such as “Brahmin-Baniyawaad Murdabad” within the university premises. These slogans, which translate to “Down with Brahmin and Baniya Supremacy,” were accompanied by chants like “Jai Bheem-Jai Meem” and “Jai Savitri-Jai Fatima,” along with demands for a caste census and increased reservation at the university.
The March 2024 incident also included chants saluting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a prominent anti-casteist visionary, by shouting “Jai Bhim.” These actions echo historical debates on caste-based reservation quotas in India, such as the case of Champakam Dorairajan, which led to the First Amendment of the Indian Constitution to allow affirmative actions for socially and educationally backward classes. The students body demanded for a caste census in the campus.
In February 2024, the AUSG condemned Israeli military actions in Gaza, labelling them as genocide. Their social media statements referred to the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023, without mentioning the murder, rape, and hostage-taking of over 1,300 Israeli and foreign nationals by Hamas, focusing instead on the broader conflict.
Previously, in November 2021, Ashoka University faced another controversy when Professor Neelanjan Sircar falsely claimed that a portrait of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Rashtrapati Bhavan was actually of actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, who played Bose in a film. Sircar’s tweet, which mocked the BJP and Hindu beliefs, was later deleted but had already sparked significant backlash.
Professors at Ashoka University have also faced backlash for their research work and behaviour.
In August 2023, Professor Sabyasachi Das’s research paper, which claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) engaged in election manipulation, went viral on social media after Congress leader Shashi Tharoor amplified it. The research was widely criticized for its flaws, leading to significant scrutiny. As a result, Das resigned from his position. Despite the controversy, the Ashoka University Student Government (AUSG) defended the faculty, asserting that the research conducted by professors at the university is “cutting-edge.”
The recent display of “Free Palestine” slogans during Ashoka University’s convocation has reignited debates about the role of academic institutions in political discourse. This incident, alongside previous controversies involving both students and professors, highlights a growing trend of activism and contentious engagement within the university. While some view these actions as necessary expressions of social and political awareness, others criticise them as irresponsible and anti-national.
The university’s stance of remaining apolitical, juxtaposed with the outspoken nature of its student body and faculty, underscores the complex dynamics at play. As Ashoka University continues to navigate these challenges, it remains to be seen how it will balance academic freedom, social responsibility, and national sentiment.
