Syllabus: Effects of globalization on Indian society
Context: India’s deportation of Professor Francesca Orsini highlights conflicting approach toward foreign scholars i.e. welcoming technology and capital while restricting academic exchange due to alleged security concerns. This reflects tension between globalization aspirations and insular policies restricting international intellectual engagement.
Policy Contradictions
- Selective Enforcement: Foreign business leaders routinely make political statements praising government without visa violations cited.
- Arbitrary Decisions: Deportation process shows inconsistency and lack of clear, uniform application standards.
- Double Standards: Capital and technology welcomed while scholars and researchers face restrictions and suspicion.
Ideological Concerns
- Conspiracy Theory: Few dominant groups believe international conspiracy exists to influence Indian thinking negatively.
- Restrictive Measures: Policy actions restrict NGOs and scholars based on perceived security threats.
- Defensive Approach: Government fencing itself against imagined threats rather than engaging constructively with global forces.
Security vs. Openness
- Strategic Balance: India must harness favorable global forces and counter unfavorable ones without isolating itself.
- No Evidence: Beyond visa violation claim, nothing suggests Orsini posed any genuine security threat.
- Liberal Visa Policy: Conditions should welcome scholars, scientists and experts for genuine intellectual exchange.
- Indian Diaspora: Several global leaders in various fields are Indian-origin citizens of other countries.
- Closed Society Risk: Feeling threatened by intellectuals prevents nation from realizing its full potential completely.
- Open Society Reality: Vulnerabilities exist but closing society stunts progress without necessarily enhancing security.
Q- “India’s restrictive visa policies towards foreign scholars contradict its globalization aspirations and hinder intellectual growth.” Critically examine this statement in light of recent deportation cases. (10 Marks)