Debating Academic Freedom in India

By William Tierney and Nidhi S. Sabharwal

Abstract:

The authors of this article put forward what academic freedom is not and then argue how academic freedom gets defined in the context of twenty-first-century India. The role of universities in Indian society, in general, and the ability of academic staff (faculty) to speak out on an array of issues, in particular, has become a central concern in India. The authors’ purpose is not to side with one or another interpretation of academic freedom but instead to delineate a way to think about academic freedom that enables individuals to engage in scholarly debate without either threatening their physical safety or shutting down conversation.

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