Watch: Well- Rounded World View: Finding a Place for Liberal Education
The second session on Day 1 of The Huddle 2025 had Dr. Bhavani S. from Christ University, Dr. Jonathan Gil Harris from Ashoka University and Sudheesh Venkatesh from Azim Premji Foundation speak with Srinath Raghavan from Ashoka University.
Dr. Bhavani while speaking about liberal education, said, 'Liberal education is that which doesn't have indocrination and encourages free thinking. Learners presume that an education will get them a degree and then a job, but education should be for the purpose of making social meaning. It is more about culture, refinement of the individual and how they perceive the world around them.'
Read more: 'Inter disciplinary liberal education is the way forward'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Seriously discussed walking away, Ashoka University co-founder says amid row
Addressing the row over Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad's controversial social media post on Operation Sindoor, Sanjeev Bikhchandani, co-founder of the institute, in an email to alumnus stated that he and his fellow co-founders had 'seriously discussed' the option of walking away from it. He was responding to an email from an anonymous alumnus, who had questioned the co-founder's stand on the row triggered by Mr. Mahmudabad's post and his subsequent arrest. Referring to the university's co-founders Pramath Raj Sinha and Ashish Dhawan in an internal email, Mr. Bhikchandani stated, 'Why don't you and other alumni offer to step in and take over? Pramath, Ashish, and I have seriously discussed the option of walking away. Ashoka is too much of a headache. Is it worth the effort? And you may not believe this, but money, even in this day and age, does not grow on trees but it still makes the world go round. Every rupee has to be sweated for.' Mr. Bhikchandani stated he was down with COVID-19 and further wrote, 'A political opinion expressed on Facebook or Twitter (X) or Instagram is not academic scholarship. Consequently, any public outcry about a political opinion an academic may express on social media is not an attack on academic freedom, even if the person expressing that opinion has a day job as an academic.' Had been feeling out of sorts for the last three days. Tested positive for Covid last evening. Went into isolation. A Sindhi friend in Mumbai had sent some Lolas. Feeling peckish at 5am I had half a Lola. I could not taste anything. Key learning - you know it is Covid when a… — Sanjeev Bikhchandani (@sbikh) June 1, 2025 Mr. Bhikchandani stated that the university is not obliged to support a person for the political opinions they express in their personal capacity.
News18
17 hours ago
- News18
Ashoka Co-Founder Reacts To Mahmudabad Row: 'Activism, Liberal Arts University Not Joined At The Hip'
Sanjeev Bikhchandani pointed out that while the founders are criticised as "dirty filthy capitalists," they are the ones funding the institution. Sanjeev Bikhchandani, co-founder and trustee of Ashoka University, has expressed concerns over growing 'activism" within the institution, suggesting it has become a 'headache" and hinting at the possibility of distancing himself from the university. His remarks came in an email response to an alumnus's criticism regarding the university's handling of Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad's arrest. In a candid email shared on an internal mailing list, Bikhchandani emphasised that activism is not an inherent component of a liberal arts education. He stated, 'Activism and a Liberal Arts University are not joined at the hip. Ashoka is a Liberal Arts and Sciences University. Whether to be activists or not is a conscious choice people make." He further noted that his previous attempts to question the extent of activism at Ashoka were met with hostility, suggesting that some individuals have 'captured the institution" and resist any challenge to their views. Bikhchandani also highlighted the financial contributions of the university's founders, pointing out that while they are often criticised as 'dirty filthy capitalists," they are the ones funding the institution. He questioned the assumption that liberal arts education must be synonymous with activism, citing his own experience at a liberal arts and sciences college where activism was minimal, yet students thrived. 'In the past I have questioned the activism at Ashoka—each time, I have been pounced upon by the activists and their supporters, both within and outside Ashoka: students, faculty, activists, etc., saying that 'if you are running a liberal arts university, then activism goes with the territory', that 'I am an arrogant owner', that 'dirty filthy capitalists don't understand how a university runs' (they somehow forget that the same capitalists are paying their salaries)," Bikchandani wrote. Mentioning how he asked Google AI if all liberal arts universities are activist in nature, he wrote, 'The fundamental point I am making is that activism at Ashoka is a choice and it does not go with the territory. You can be a great liberal arts university and not be activist. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar." Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, head of the Political Science Department at Ashoka University, was arrested on May 18, 2025, by Haryana Police over a social media post related to Operation Sindoor, India's percision strike against terrorist bases in Pakistan and PoK. Mahmudabad had in his social media post praised India's strategic doctrine and the outcome of Operation Sindoor, but criticised 'symbolic optics' and the treatment of minorities. His arrest followed complaints alleging that his post was inflammatory and disrespectful to women in the armed forces. However, colleagues have defended Mahmudabad, asserting that his post supported the Indian government's stance and praised the strategic restraint of the armed forces. The Supreme Court granted Mahmudabad interim bail, extending it until the third week of July. The court has directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to limit its probe to the two FIRs filed in relation to Mahmudabad's Facebook post and has restrained him from posting any content online related to the ongoing case.
News18
17 hours ago
- News18
'You're A Grown-Up Adult': Ashoka Co-Founder Slams Mahmudabad In Letter To Alumnus
Last Updated: Sanjeev Bikhchandani said since the professor 'did not seek Ashoka's consent before posting on social media, you cannot now present Ashoka with a fait accompli and expect support' 'You are a grown-up adult… responsible for your actions" is how Sanjeev Bikhchandani, trustee and co-founder of Ashoka University summed up the recent controversy around the institution, calling out its professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad whose views on India's Operation Sindoor opened up a Pandora's Box on free speech. Mahmudabad hit headlines on May 9 when he trained guns on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh—the two women who emerged as India's face at a press briefing during Operation Sindoor—in a social media post, saying he was 'very happy to see so many right-wing commentators applauding" the Indian Army officers, but 'perhaps they can equally loudly demand that victims of mob lynchings, arbitrary bulldozing… are protected as Indian citizens". He added: 'The optics of two women soldiers presenting their findings is important, but optics must translate to reality on the ground, otherwise it's just hypocrisy." The posts triggered a massive row, with many calling out Mahmudabad for disrespecting the women. As the professor was arrested, and subsequently granted interim bail, his university found itself struggling to defend its stand on the issue. Now, in an internal e-mail to a former student, Bikhchandani said it is 'important to understand what is and what is not academic scholarship". 'You are a grown-up adult. You are responsible for your actions and any consequences thereof. Ashoka is not obliged to support you for political opinions you express in your personal capacity. You did not seek Ashoka's consent before posting on social media, you cannot now present Ashoka with a fait accompli and expect support. Cruel as it may sound, you make your choices—and you live with the outcome." First Published: June 04, 2025, 10:14 IST
