Economist Arvind Subramanian Resigns From Ashoka University Two Days After Pratap Mehta’s Exit

Arvind Subramanian in a letter to Ashoka University Vice Chancellor Malabika Sarkar stated that university’s commitment to fight for and sustain the Ashoka vision is now open to question.

Former Chief Economic Adviser and a noted economist Arvind Subramanian  has reportedly resigned as professor from Ashoka University. Subramanian in his resignation cited the circumstances involving Pratap Bhanu Mehta’s exit and the fact that university despite being a private institution "can no longer protect or give space to academic freedom and expression."

According to the reports, Subramanian's resignation will take effect from the end of this academic year. His decision to tender resignation has come two days after political scientist and commentator Pratap Bhanu Mehta stepped down from his position.

According to national daily The Indian Express, Subramanian in a letter to Ashoka University Vice Chancellor Malabika Sarkar stated that university’s “commitment to fight for and sustain the Ashoka vision is now open to question”.

"The circumstances involving the “resignation” of Professor Pratap Bhanu Mehta, who is not just a dear friend but a truly inspirational national figure, have devastated me. I am acutely aware of the broader context in which Ashoka and its trustees have to operate, and have so far admired the University for having navigated it so well," Arvind Subramanian said, according to The Indian Express.

Referring to Mehta's exit, Subramanian went on to say that, "someone of such integrity and eminence, who embodied the vision underlying Ashoka, felt compelled to leave is troubling. 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. Above all, that the University’s commitment to fight for and sustain the Ashoka vision is now open to question makes it difficult for me to continue being part of Ashoka."

Arvind Subramanian, highly known for bringing rigour in research and flair in writing to the government’s annual Economic Surveys, had stepped down as chief economic adviser (CEA) in 2018. He had quit the job with close to one year of his tenure remaining and returned to academic research and writing in the US. Later in 2020, he joined Ashoka University as a professor in the department of economics.