British Professor Barred from India Over ‘Anti-National Work’ Vows to Fight Back
A British academic of Indian origin has vowed to challenge the Indian government’s decision to revoke her long-term visa, citing allegations of ‘anti-India activities’ that have barred her from visiting her elderly mother in the country.
Nitasha Kaul, a professor at the University of Westminster in London, said her Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card was cancelled, preventing her from entering India. The OCI card allows foreigners of Indian ancestry to live and work in the country indefinitely. Kaul claims the government’s action is part of a broader crackdown on dissent, particularly targeting academics and journalists who question the government’s policies.
The notice from the Indian government stated that Kaul had ‘indulged in anti-India activities, motivated by malice and complete disregard for facts or history.’ The document did not reference any specific incident but accused her of targeting India and its institutions through her writings, speeches, and social media presence.
Kaul, a Kashmiri Hindu academic based in London, has written extensively on feminism, Hindu nationalism, and democratic backsliding in India. She has authored several books, including ‘Future Tense in 2020,’ which explores the complexities of life in conflict-ridden Kashmir. In 2019, she testified before the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs regarding human rights in Jammu and Kashmir following the revocation of the region’s semi-autonomous status.
Kaul has faced repeated challenges from the Indian government. In 2024, she was barred from entering Bengaluru, India’s southern capital, and deported back to the UK. She had arrived to speak at a two-day Constitution and National Unity Convention, but was denied entry at the airport despite having a valid visa. Kaul submitted a 20,000-word response to the allegations, which were not supported by empirical evidence.
After a year of no response, Kaul received a letter stating that her OCI card had been cancelled. She now plans to challenge the decision in court, saying it is heartbreaking that she cannot visit her mother, who lives in India and is elderly. ‘I cannot be silenced. I will not stop doing what I do in the face of this intimidation and punishment,’ she said.
Kaul accused the Indian government of using intimidation, violence, and silencing to suppress dissent. ‘It is really betokens a kind of insecurity, pettiness, and vindictiveness to do this kind of thing,’ she said. She pointed to the arrest of Ali Khan Mahmudabad, a professor of political science at Ashoka University, as an example of the government’s actions against critics. The arrest of Mahmudabad, over an anti-war social media post, sparked condemnation from activists and academics who called it an attack on free speech.
Kaul said the government’s actions are part of a broader trend of repression against academics, journalists, and researchers who challenge its policies. ‘There’s a clear crackdown. Objective indicators of academic, media, and democratic freedoms show a steady backsliding. This isn’t just opinion – it’s measurable. If this continues, our ability to analyse, question, and hold power accountable will keep shrinking,’ she added.
Amnesty International condemned the Indian government’s actions against Kaul and Mahmudabad, calling it another example of the government ‘crushing dissent in the country.’ The organization urged the authorities to stop punishing dissenting voices and end the campaign of harassment and intimidation. Reporters Without Borders ranked India 151st for press freedoms in 2024, a slight improvement from 159th in 2023, but the watchdog considers the situation for journalists in India ‘very serious,’ citing increasing challenges to press independence and safety.
The Ministry of External Affairs has not yet responded to requests for comment.