Who is Nitasha Kaul? Indian-Origin UK-Based Professor Sent Back to London From Bengaluru Airport

Indian-origin UK-based professor Nitasha Kaul alleged on Sunday that she was refused entry into India and deported from Bengaluru airport to London, citing “orders from Delhi.”

Kaul, whom the Karnataka government reportedly invited to speak at the ‘Constitution and National Unity Convention – 2024,’ claimed her denial was due to her views on “democratic and constitutional values.” She also referenced past criticism of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

“IMPORTANT: Denied entry to #India for speaking on democratic & constitutional values. I was invited to a conference as esteemed delegate by Govt of #Karnataka (Congress-ruled state) but Centre refused me entry,” Nitasha said in a long post on social media platform X.

Who is Nitasha Kaul

She is an academic with expertise in politics, international relations, and critical interdisciplinary studies, and currently holds a position as a professor at the University of Westminster in London.

Her background spans several disciplines and regions. She has diverse scholarly pursuits and contributions to academia.

What’s the Controversy

Nitasha claims to have endured a grueling ordeal, spending approximately 12 hours on a flight from London to Bangalore, followed by an extended period at immigration where she was “shuttled here and there” without receiving any information about the process.

Subsequently, she claims to have spent 24 hours in a holding cell, under constant surveillance with limited movement and insufficient access to food and water. Despite numerous calls to the airport for basic necessities such as a pillow and blanket, her requests were denied, she said.

“I was given no reason by immigration except ‘we cannot do anything, orders from Delhi’. My travel & logistics had been arranged by Karnataka & I had the official letter with me. I received no notice or info in advance from Delhi that I would not be allowed to enter,” she wrote on X.

Background and Academics

Nitasha’s academic journey is marked by a pursuit of interdisciplinary scholarship. Beginning with a BA Honours in economics from SRCC, Delhi University, Kaul subsequently pursued advanced studies, obtaining a Master’s degree in Economics with a specialisation in Public Policy.

Her academic pursuits ended in a Joint Ph.D. program in Economics and Philosophy at the University of Hull, UK, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to scholarly inquiry.

Work

Kaul’s scholarly work is beyond traditional academia’s confines, encompassing theoretical research and practical engagement with pressing socio-political issues.

Her work as an assistant professor of economics at the Bristol Business School and as an associate professor in creative writing at the Royal Thimphu College in Bhutan underscores her versatility as a scholar.

Her literary endeavours, include the publication of “Imagining Economics Otherwise: encounters with identity/difference.”

Activism

Beyond this, Nitasha is engaged in advocacy and activism, particularly in the realm of human rights and social justice.

She is the co-editor of a special volume in the Economic and Political Weekly (EPW) on “Women and Kashmir”. She has also testified at the US Congress on Kashmir and Human Rights.