Indian-Origin UK-Based Professor Nitasha Kaul Deported from India; Urges Reflection Beyond Hate

Indian-origin UK-based professor Nitasha Kaul faced deportation from India, highlighting her harrowing experience and advocating for introspection beyond animosity towards differences.

Kaul, a renowned academic at the University of Westminster, was denied entry at Bengaluru‘s Kempegowda International Airport. She was set to participate in a conference organized by the Karnataka government but was barred from entry upon arrival.

The incident stemmed from Kaul’s vocal views on democratic and constitutional principles, which clashed with the authorities’ inclinations.

Kaul swiftly responded to misconceptions about her, refuting claims of being ‘married to a Pakistani,’ a ‘pawn of China,’ ‘anti-India,’ or affiliated with extremist ideologies.

Expressing her ordeal, Kaul shared her journey from London to Bengaluru, narrating hours spent at immigration counters and subsequent deportation to London, painting a distressing picture of the events.

Known for her scholarly works on right-wing politics, postcolonial nationalism, and Kashmiri affairs, Kaul’s advocacy for free speech and critical thinking has often garnered attention.

Kaul took to social media, particularly Twitter, to address the situation, emphasizing the need to transcend hate and engage in thoughtful dialogue before rushing to judgment.

The episode has sparked political controversies, with the BJP accusing the Congress government in Karnataka of affiliating with a figure purportedly sympathetic to separatist causes.

Karnataka Minister H.C. Mahadevappa intervened, expressing deep concerns over the incident and calling for a respect for the essential freedom of expression in a democratic society.

The unfolding narrative underscores the complexities of academic freedom, political affiliations, and the nuances of dissent in contemporary India, shaping a discourse that extends beyond national borders.