francesca orsini Following the deportation of an international scholar, Shashi Tharoor has urged India to show greater tolerance toward academic and intellectual criticism. His comment — “India needs to grow a thicker skin” — quickly went viral, drawing attention from both political circles and the academic community.
According to reports, the deported scholar had been researching Indian democracy and development issues, but authorities cited “visa policy violations” as the reason for removal.
Tharoor’s response, however, took a broader view. “The confidence of a great civilization lies in allowing scrutiny, not silencing it,” he noted, stressing that intellectual exchange strengthens rather than weakens a nation.
The comment has triggered a wider debate over how India balances free expression, research freedom, and national security concerns.
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