Prominent Hindi scholar Francesca Orsini was denied entry into India on Monday despite having a valid visa. The London University professor was forced to turn back from Delhi airport — with no clear reason given for the denial.
According to a report by The Wire, Orsini was stopped by immigration officials at Delhi airport on Monday evening. She was told that she would be deported immediately — despite holding a valid five-year e-visa — and asked to make relevant travel arrangements. No clear reason was provided for the denial with Orsini telling the publication that she only knew she was “being deported”.
[img=1px,1px]https://data.indianexpress.com/election2019/track_1x1.jpg[/img]Orsini is a London-based literary historian who works primarily with Hindi and Urdu materials. She has spent decades multilingualism within South Asian literary cultures and currently serves as a Professor Emerita with SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies). She has made multiple trips to India in recent years — including a visit in October 2024.
‘Insecure, paranoid’ reaction
The incident has sparked widespread outrage with many Opposition leaders and fellow academics voicing their criticism.
“ rofessor Francesca Orsini is a great scholar of Indian literature, whose work has richly illuminated our understanding of our own cultural heritage. To deport her without reason is the mark of a government that is insecure, paranoid, and even stupid,” historian Ramachandra Guha wrote on X.
Author and TMC leader Sagarika Ghose dubbed it a “shocking and sad” turn of events — accusing the Narendra Modi government of being “narrow-minded and backward-looking”. The Opposition politician also contended that the BJP-led government was “destroying the open-minded scholarship and excellence India has always stood for”. |
