NEW DELHI: Renowned economist Arvind Subramanian on Thursday quit as professor from the Ashoka University, two days after the resignation of Pratap Bhanu Mehta.
In his resignation letter addressed to vice-chancellor Malabika Sarkar, Subramanian, who served as chief economic adviser in the Narendra Modi government, said that he was acutely devastated by Mehta’s “resignation”.
“…that someone of such integrity and eminence, who embodied the vision underlying Ashoka, felt compelled to leave is troubling,” said the former International Monetary Fund economist.
Mehta, a noted political scientist and commentator, had submitted his papers on March 17, two years after he had stepped down as the university’s vice-chancellor.
Subramanian said that Mehta’s exit reflects the university’s inability to “provide a space for academic expression and freedom” despite being backed by private players.
“That even Ashoka – with its private status and backing by private capital – can no longer provide a space for academic expression and freedom is ominously disturbing,” the letter read.
Subramanian said that the “university’s commitment to fight for and sustain the Ashoka vision is now open to question” and makes it difficult for him to continue to be a part of the institute.