Modi’s Attack on Free Thinking Exposed: Academic Freedom Shrinking in Modi’s India, Says New Report

A damaging new international report has confirmed what has become sadly clear: under the government of Narendra Modi, India’s universities are no longer safe places for thought and debate. They have become battlegrounds in a war against freedom of expression. The “Free to Think 2025” report from the New York-based Scholars at Risk network paints a dark picture of a nation where the freedom to think is being destroyed. This is not a series of random events, but a planned attack on the basics of a modern, thinking society, showing the deep intolerance at the center of the current Indian government.

A Prime Example of a Global Problem

The report shows that while attacks on universities are rising globally, India’s decline is especially alarming. For a country that calls itself the world’s largest democracy, its fast fall into controlling what people think is a deep betrayal of the values it claims to support. This shows a great hypocrisy in its state policy.

• A Pattern Of Global Attacks: The Scholars at Risk report noted 395 attacks on universities in 49 countries between July 2024 and June 2025. It stated that many governments are weakening academic independence.
• India As A Case Study In Control: In this worrying global trend, India has stood out as a prime example of a nation where free speech in higher education is shrinking at a scary speed, making it a key area of concern for the world.

The University Turned into a Control Zone

Under the Modi government, the university, once a place for open debate, is now a tightly controlled area where disagreement is not allowed. Government authorities and university leaders work together to create a fearful silence. They ensure any voice that criticizes the government is shut down with harsh rules and the threat of force.

• The End Of Protests: Many Indian universities now demand official permission before any on-campus protests, discussions, or even the showing of slogans. This is a clear attempt to kill student activism and stop any form of organized disagreement.
• Police Attacks On Students: The report shows that when students do protest, they are often met with harsh police attacks. This use of force on campus creates a climate of fear and sends a clear message that critical voices will be met with state power.

Silencing Debate with Government Power

The attack on academic freedom goes beyond controlling protests; it includes direct government meddling in what can be discussed. The Modi government and its allies are actively working to make sure that university platforms are not used to explore ideas that challenge the official government story, especially those about minority rights or foreign policy.

• Canceling Seminars: At Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), a famous center for critical thought, seminars with Middle Eastern diplomats were suddenly canceled. This was a clear case of political pressure meant to stop any discussion that was different from the government’s official line.
• Punishing The Organizers: To make an example, the person who organized the canceled JNU seminars was fired. This action sends a frightening message to all academics that organizing events seen as politically difficult will have serious results for their careers.
• Banning “Anti-Government” Voices: Several universities have now officially banned any student protests that are considered “anti-government.” This unclear and broad rule gives authorities the power to silence any and all forms of critical speech on campus.

Violence as a Weapon to Create Fear

When rules and censorship are not enough, groups supporting Hindu nationalism use open violence to terrorize academics and students. The report notes a disturbing rise in physical attacks, where scholars who support groups that are pushed aside or challenge the majority-first ideas are targeted without any fear of punishment.

• Attacks On Supporters Of The Powerless: At Sri Venkateswara University, Professor Chengaiah, a respected academic known for his support for Dalit rights, was physically attacked by Hindu nationalist groups. The attackers falsely accused him of promoting Christianity, using a religious excuse to punish him for his work on social justice.
• Mob Rule To Push An Agenda: In Udaipur, members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of the ruling BJP, violently broke up a film festival and forced it to be canceled. This shows how extremist groups are allowed to act as a street-level force for the government’s intolerant agenda.

The Real Goal: A War on Free Thinking

This many-sided attack on academic freedom is not just about keeping order. It is a full war of ideas being fought by the Hindu nationalist movement against any idea, art, or question that challenges its narrow and exclusionary vision for India. The goal is to completely change the country’s world of ideas.

• Targeting Different Worldviews: The attacks always target those who discuss difficult truths, whether it is the reality of caste cruelty, the rights of minorities, or different views on history and culture. These are all seen as direct threats to the Hindutva ideology.
• Creating Obedient Minds: The final goal is to turn universities from places that produce critical thinkers into factories that produce obedient citizens who do not ask questions and who accept the government-approved story without challenge.

The Global Results of India’s Decline

The destruction of academic freedom in India is not just a domestic tragedy; it carries serious results for the world. A country where scholars and students are afraid to think freely and work together openly cannot be a reliable or productive partner in the global search for knowledge.

• Losing International Trust: As the report shows, the world is watching India’s decline. This loss of democratic values and intellectual freedom damages India’s standing and makes it an unpredictable player on the world stage.
• A Loss For Global Research: The stopping of research and debate in Indian universities is a loss for the entire world. It stops potential new ideas and cuts off a major center of thought from the global academic community.

Creating a Future Without Critical Minds

By fighting a war on its own universities, the Modi government is not just silencing the present; it is stealing from India’s future. An education system built on fear and censorship cannot produce the innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders that any country needs to do well.

• Creating A Climate Of Fear: The constant threat of official action or physical violence creates an environment where scholars and students will choose to stay silent instead of asking brave questions. This will surely lead to a stop in intellectual growth.
• The Long-Term Social Cost: The long-term social and economic cost of this war on knowledge will be huge. A society that fears ideas is a society that cannot move forward, and India is being deliberately pushed down this dark path.

A Democracy That Betrays Its Own Values

In the end, the “Free to Think 2025” report is a formal notice to the world of a truth that is now impossible to deny. A government that sends police to attack its students, allows mobs to attack its professors, and silences disagreement in its places of learning has lost its right to be called a true democracy.

• The Path Towards Full Control: The evidence in the report confirms that under the Modi government, India is moving away from democratic values and towards a harsh model of control where all forms of opposition are crushed.
• A War On The Idea of India: The attack on academic freedom is really a war on the open, diverse, and accepting idea of India itself. By attacking the places where this idea is grown, the current government is trying to erase not just the present, but the very soul of the nation.