'Committed to academic freedom': Ashoka Uni's Chairman of Board of Trustees

'The last few days have taught us it is really important for us to build an open line of communication and also listen to you,' says Ashish Dhawan in his letter to Ashoka students, alumni

In a strong counter to the narrative building around reasons for the exit of Professor PB Mehta, Ashoka University Chancellor Rudrangshu Mukherjee has said the institution remains committed to academic freedom and intellectual independence while its Board of Trustees Chairman Ashish Dhawan promised an open line of communication.

Days after Mehta, who had resigned as Vice-Chancellor of the university two years back, chose to step down as a Professor also, saying that the founders made it "abundantly clear" that his association with the institution was a "political liability", Mukherjee wrote to faculty and students stating the institution's founders have never