Ashoka University admits to lapses; Mehta firm on quitting

Ashoka University on Sunday admitted to “some lapses” in the institutional process amid a controversy over the resignations of professors Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Arvind Subramanian and assured corrective measures.

The joint statement by the university, with Mehta and Subramanian, came hours after Mehta urged the students, who had called for a boycott of classes for two days, “not to press the matter further”, suggesting that he was firm on his decision to move on.

"We acknowledge that there have been some lapses in institutional processes which we will work to rectify in consultation with all stakeholders,” said the statement signed by Chancellor Rudrangshu Mukherjee, Vice Chancellor Malabika Sarkar, Chairman of Board of Trustees Ashish Dhawan besides Mehta and Subramanian.

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“The University has been privileged to have been led, guided and counselled by Pratap first as Vice Chancellor and then as senior faculty,” it said adding that Subramanian brought eminence, stature, fresh ideas and energy to the institution.

In a separate letter to students, Mehta said the underlying circumstances that led to his resignation would not change in the foreseeable future and that he “must close this chapter.”

“It is often said that you cannot swim in the same river twice. In the contrarian spirit of Ashoka, I tried by resigning twice!! I hope even you might forgive me for not wanting to tempt fate again,” he said.

“I urge you not to press on this matter. I know you will be disappointed. But if I may exercise one last bit of professorial discretion: your mission is larger than the fate of two Professors,” Mehta said.

Read | Pratap Bhanu Mehta resignation: Academicians from Yale, Harvard write open letter to Ashoka University

Mukherjee, in a separate letter to the students, parents, teachers and alumni, said the founders of the university had never interfered with academic freedom.

“... faculty members have been left free to construct their own courses, follow their own methods of teaching and their own methods of assessment. They have also been left free to carry out their own research and publications,” Mukherjee said.

Dhawan, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, told the students and alumni that the past few days have taught them to build an open line of communication with them.

“We will make ourselves available for meetings with the Students' Government and Alumni Council on a regular basis,” Dhawan said in a separate letter.