Francesca Orsini, a London-based scholar of Hindi and South Asian literature, was deported from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on Monday. Immigration officials stopped Orsini, who is Professor Emerita at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, upon her arrival from Hong Kong.
According to government sources, the deportation was due to Orsini's violation of visa conditions. She had been placed on a blacklist in March 2025 for allegedly misusing her tourist visa by engaging in research activities. Indian regulations stipulate that foreign nationals must possess an 'R' visa to conduct research in India. A government official stated that Orsini was "regularly violating" visa conditions and that blacklisting individuals for such violations is standard global practice.
Orsini, who is believed to be an Italian national, held a valid five-year tourist e-visa at the time of her deportation. She had last visited India in October 2024. Prior to arriving in Delhi, she attended an academic conference in China. Orsini was reportedly en route to meet a Hindi novelist and conduct research, though she did not plan to attend any academic events.
The deportation has sparked criticism from various quarters. Historian Ramachandra Guha described the government's action as "insecure, paranoid, and even stupid". He argued that Orsini is a distinguished scholar whose work has significantly enriched the understanding of India's cultural heritage. Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose called the deportation "shocking," stating that the government is undermining India's tradition of open-minded scholarship. Other critics have echoed these sentiments, viewing the incident as an attack on scholarship and cultural exchange.
Francesca Orsini has a long-standing connection with India, having studied at the Central Institute of Hindi and Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. Her academic work focuses on South Asian literature, particularly Hindi and Urdu, and she has authored several books on the subject, including "The Hindi Public Sphere 1920-1940: Language and Literature in the Age of Nationalism". The SOAS website notes that she is currently completing a book on the multilingual literary history of Awadh.
The Italian Embassy in Delhi has not yet released an official statement regarding the incident. Diplomatic sources indicate that Orsini did not contact the embassy after being informed of her deportation order. While officials maintain that Orsini's deportation was in line with visa regulations, the incident has raised concerns about academic freedom and the treatment of foreign scholars in India.
