Ashoka University Faculty Defends Professor Mahmudabad Following Arrest over Operation Sindoor Remarks
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The Ashoka University Faculty Association has issued a strong statement condemning the arrest of Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, who was taken into custody following his remarks concerning Operation Sindoor, India&rsquo;s recent military action targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The faculty body described the charges against Professor Mahmudabad as &ldquo;groundless and untenable,&rdquo; expressing deep concern over the treatment meted out to their colleague. According to their statement, the professor was detained from his residence in Delhi during the early hours, transported to Sonipat, denied access to essential medication, and allegedly kept in transit for several hours without any clear communication about his whereabouts.
Calling the arrest an act of &ldquo;calculated harassment,&rdquo; the association affirmed its full support for Professor Mahmudabad, characterising him as an &ldquo;invaluable member of the academic community,&rdquo; &ldquo;a deeply responsible citizen,&rdquo; and a scholar committed to justice and constitutional values.
&ldquo;Professor Mahmudabad is a respected historian and political scientist with a substantial body of work across South Asia. His public and academic contributions have consistently emphasised pluralism, justice, and democratic accountability,&rdquo; the statement noted.
The development comes days after the Haryana State Commission for Women took suo motu notice of remarks made by Professor Mahmudabad referencing two senior women officers of the Indian armed forces &mdash; Colonel Sofia Qureishi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh &mdash; both prominent figures in Operation Sindoor.
The commission&rsquo;s notice alleged that the professor&rsquo;s comments belittled the role of women in the military and risked stirring communal discord. In one of his posts, Professor Mahmudabad questioned the celebratory tone adopted by certain political factions, urging equal concern for victims of violence and state overreach. The commission has interpreted this as &ldquo;an attempt to vilify national military actions.&rdquo;
While the case has attracted attention within academic circles, it also raises broader questions about the space for critical engagement in public discourse, particularly when it intersects with national security and gender representation in the armed forces.
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Ashoka University Professor Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad (image source social media)

University faculty decries arrest of historian over remarks on Operation Sindoor

Ashoka Faculty Backs Prof Mahmudabad After Arrest

University faculty decries arrest of historian over remarks on Operation Sindoor

May 19, 2025 | 11:06 IST