I believe the President wasn't given permission to clear my second term: Amartya ... - Economic Times

NEW DELHI: A day after it was made public that Amartya Sen would quit as Nalanda University chancellor, the Nobel Laureate tells Sagarika Ghose that academic freedom is being threatened in India. In May 2007, Sen was appointed chairman of the Nalanda Mentor Group which would govern the establishment of the Nalanda International University. It'd seek to revive the ancient centre of learning -Nalanda the world's first university -which existed from the 5th century to 1197. On July 19, 2012, Sen was named first chancellor of the proposed university for a threeyear term. Edited extracts.

What explains AAP's big win in Delhi?

The mandate partly expresses disappointment with Modi's government. It'd be a mistake to think it had nothing to do with Modi. Though I disagree with Modi on some things, I admired him for generating a sense of hope, particularly since the previous government was ineffective.Modi has a can-do approach. By the time Delhi voted, can-do was not happening. Can-do was in fact not begun to be done. As proud Indians, we care about tolerance and religious freedom. Churches were being attacked.Ghar wapsi isn't a good way to induce people to move from one religion to another. Jhuggiwalas always remained Kejriwal supporters. But New Delhi, Old Delhi, Civil Lines, South Delhi moved to Kejriwal. To them the fact that secularism is in danger is of some importance.

There's disappointment with Modi's government?

Governance isn't the same as driving a bullock cart through everything. The state consists of a government, a judiciary . There are differences within government, the Upper House and the Lower House. The Constituent Assembly had dwelt a lot on if the Lower House goes a certain way in a wave, the security is that the Upper House moves slowly , so a wave doesn't capture both, so much of that wisdom of the Constitution came through. Government is being taken as getting your way beyond the Constitution, not violating it. But there's the intent of the Constitution that you must keep in mind.

Is pro-poor, Left politics re-emerging?

Rhetorically , all Indian parties are pro-poor -question is what they do on the ground. There's a perception that Kejriwal understands difficulties of those excluded socially from the privileges that the middle class and upper class get. That understanding has become bigger. Left parties are in doldrums. There are good theorists among AAP like Yogendra Yadav . AAP has indicated an ability to learn and win.

Has it brought back subsidy politics?

Politics of subsidy is misguided, but you've to see who is benefitting.One argument I've made is that subsidies go to the relatively rich, such as fertilizers, electricity for big establishments, diesel, cooking gas -these go to the wealthier. In Delhi most have electricity of some kind.Where they don't, Kejriwal is promising them a line. Water is a basic necessity, not a subsidy . It's to the credit of Modi's government they've tried to move away from some subsidies. Ke jriwal is talking basic amenities to the very poor. These, if directed to the poor, attract people. Ultimately you want to get out of subsidies. Subsidies for the very poor have to remain.But it's not subsidies when you talk of primary education and healthcare.

Your assessment of Modi's government

Modi has brought a certain hope. Congress and Left have left people feeling hopeless. Modi had an easy field. His big victory is largely a Congress defeat. I don't know whether the wake-up call has gone through to Congress and Left. I'm not a Congress supporter. I won't support a non-secular party . I could vote AAP. I've voted Left. My MP was Somnath Chatterjee.