# Prominent Hindi Scholar Francesca Orsini Deported from Delhi Airport, Denied Entry Despite Valid Visa: Report
In a move that's ignited widespread outrage among academics and critics, renowned Hindi scholar Francesca Orsini was denied entry into India at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on October 20, 2025, despite holding a valid five-year e-visa. The professor emerita at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, was informed she was being deported immediately, with no official reason provided at the time. Orsini, an Italian literary historian specializing in Hindi and Urdu literature, had arrived from Hong Kong after attending a conference in China and planned to visit friends in the country she has studied for decades.
Speaking to The Wire from the airport, Orsini expressed confusion and frustration: "I am being deported. That is all I know." Her husband, Peter Kornicki, emeritus professor at the University of Cambridge, confirmed to The Print that no explanation was given by immigration authorities. She was placed on a return flight to London via Hong Kong, rather than a direct route home.
### Who Is Francesca Orsini? A Pillar of South Asian Literary Scholarship
Francesca Orsini is one of the world's foremost experts on Hindi literature and multilingualism in South Asia. Originally from Italy, she studied Hindi at the University of Venice and pursued advanced research in New Delhi at the Central Institute of Hindi and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Her groundbreaking works include *The Hindi Public Sphere 1920–1940: Language and Literature in the Age of Nationalism* (2002), which explores the role of Hindi in India's nationalist movement, and *East of Delhi: Multilingual Literary Culture and World Literature* (2016), delving into the interplay of languages in colonial North India.
Orsini's scholarship has been published globally in English and Hindi, enriching understandings of India's cultural heritage. She has frequently visited India for research and collaboration, with her last trip in October 2024 passing without issue. Colleagues describe her as a "great scholar of Indian literature whose work has richly illuminated our own cultural heritage."
### The Incident: A Sudden and Unexplained Rejection
Orsini landed in Delhi late on October 20, only to be stopped by immigration officials. Despite her valid visa—intended for tourism and short visits—she was blacklisted and denied entry. Sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs later claimed the deportation stemmed from a visa violation dating back to March 2025, when she allegedly conducted research on a tourist visa, which is prohibited under Indian regulations. Misuse of visa categories can lead to blacklisting, a standard practice globally, but critics argue the lack of transparency and prior notice undermines academic freedom.
This isn't an isolated case. Orsini becomes at least the fourth foreign scholar denied entry despite valid documents in recent years:
- **Filippo Osella** (March 2022): British anthropologist deported from Thiruvananthapuram airport without explanation.
- **Lindsay Bremner** (2022): UK architecture professor barred from entry.
- **Nitasha Kaul** (2024): UK-based Kashmiri academic denied entry at Bengaluru airport for a government-invited conference; her OCI card was later canceled.
These incidents, amid restrictions on foreign scholars during the COVID-19 era and OCI revocations for critics like Sweden's Ashok Swain, have raised alarms about a chilling effect on international research on India.
### Backlash: A 'Direct Attack on Scholarship'
The deportation has drawn sharp condemnation from India's intellectual community. Historian Ramachandra Guha called it "the mark of a government that is insecure, paranoid, and even stupid," emphasizing Orsini's contributions to understanding Indian heritage. Delhi University professor Apoorvanand labeled it a "shocking" and "direct attack on scholarship," noting her visits were purely academic.
TMC MP Sagarika Ghose decried it as "shocking and sad," while historian Mukul Kesavan highlighted the irony: "A government ideologically committed to Hindi has banned Francesca Orsini. You can't make this up." Publisher Permanent Black mourned the loss to Hindi literary studies, and queer activist Mario de Penha blamed RSS-BJP ideology for weaponizing visa regimes. On X, reactions range from solidarity posts to skepticism, with some questioning her importance to opposition figures.
### Broader Implications for Academic Freedom
This episode underscores growing concerns over India's approach to foreign scholars, particularly those engaging with sensitive topics like nationalism, multilingualism, or minority histories. While the government cites visa compliance, the opacity fuels perceptions of targeted exclusions. As one X user noted, it hinders global academic work on India, already strained by domestic curbs under "Hindutva supremacy."
Orsini's case isn't just about one scholar—it's a flashpoint in debates on intellectual openness. Will authorities clarify or appeal to the academic community? For now, it leaves a void in the very cultural dialogues Orsini has championed.
What are your thoughts on balancing security with scholarly access? Share below—knowledge thrives on open exchange.
