Dalit Christian professor Lora Shanthakumar dismissed by SRM University over anti-war social media posts during Operation Sindoor amid India–Pakistan tensions, raising concerns about academic freedom and free speech.
By Qalam Times News Network | Chennai | December 7, 2025
Lora Shanthakumar, a Dalit Christian assistant professor at SRM University’s Career Development Centre in Chennai, has been dismissed following an internal inquiry that concluded she committed “grave misconduct” by posting anti-war messages during Operation Sindoor. This decision came after she was suspended in May 2025 when her personal WhatsApp posts criticizing war and highlighting civilian casualties amid India–Pakistan tensions were circulated by right-wing social media groups, triggering severe online harassment and threats.
The internal inquiry, conducted from July to September under the leadership of Dr. Nisha Ashokan, found Lora guilty of five charges including making posts “against national interest” and disturbing the institution’s atmosphere. The university claimed her WhatsApp statuses, despite being private and personal, were unethical and portrayed her as an SRM faculty member, thereby violating institutional rules. Lora denied all allegations, insisting her messages were neither anti-national nor targeted at the armed forces. She emphasized that her personal posts did not identify her as an SRM employee and that WhatsApp statuses are temporary and private, unlike public social media posts.
The termination order cited her May 7 anti-war messages, which included fact-checks on propaganda, criticism of civilian deaths, and alerts about fake accounts impersonating army officers. Only two of these posts were widely shared online. Despite Lora’s defense and claims of procedural irregularities—including the university law officer’s undisclosed involvement—the inquiry upheld the charges, leading to her immediate dismissal with a 30-day window to appeal to the vice-chancellor.
This case highlights a growing pattern in India where academics, especially from marginalized groups, face institutional action or legal consequences for expressing dissent on sensitive issues like the India-Pakistan conflict. Lora’s petition to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Special Cell has prompted police action, including summoning of SRM’s registrar. Earlier in 2025, another academic, Ali Khan Mahmudabad of Ashoka University, was arrested for anti-war social media posts during the same period of heightened tensions.
