The Crossbill News Desk
The removal of jailed scholar Umar Khalid’s book from the library of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, has raised questions after the institute’s Board of Governors chairperson, former IAS officer Madabhushi Madan Gopal, announced that action had been initiated against those responsible for approving the title.
The book, Fractured Communities: Adivasi Histories and the Politics of Power, is based on Khalid’s doctoral thesis and was recently published.
Gopal disclosed the action in a post on X on Sunday, October 25, responding to an account operating under the pseudonym “Gems of Indian Academia”. The account had posted on Saturday evening: “Umar Khalid’s thesis is added as a book at IISER, Pune. This is a central government institution for science research.”
Responding about 12 hours later, Gopal wrote that he was “shocked to know this” and that “action is initiated on those who played this mischief”. He also claimed that IISER director Sunil Bhagwat had “taken immediately steps”, without specifying what those steps entailed.
Gopal further stated that the book had been withdrawn “last night”, apparently on the same day the anonymous account posted about its presence in the institute’s library, accompanied by a photograph of the title on the IISER campus.
“I assure such things will not happen again in IISER Pune. We need to be alert,” he wrote in response to the account, which subsequently claimed credit for the decision, describing it as “Gems of Indian Academia impact…”.
The account has around 6,100 followers and describes its purpose as exposing perceived shortcomings in Indian academia. Its post about Khalid’s book had received around 6,000 views and been shared several times by the time this report was published.
The exchange continued throughout Sunday, with Gopal reassuring several users who approached him about the book that action had been taken. His posts subsequently turned to attacks on what he described as “leftist, jihadi elements” and “the menace of anti-national ecosystem”.
Later that evening, Gopal shared a video that appeared to mock historical figures. The video featured an actor portraying Adolf Hitler making a Holocaust-related “joke” in poor taste and also mocked women killed during the Inquisition.
On Monday, October 26, Gopal continued his criticism of media coverage, writing: “nytimes is known for pedaling falsehoods, no credibility whatsoever except from those who relish anti Bharat rants.”
The controversy comes amid wider hostility towards humanities and social science scholarship in some sections of the academic sphere.
On September 20, the “Gems of Indian Academia” account had called for a “ban on humanities”, alleging that some “Marxists” were resisting Hindutva religio-political terminology.
IISER Pune was established as an autonomous research institution under the Union Ministry of Education and was designated an institute of national importance by Parliament in 2012. According to a statement from the institute cited by Deccan Herald, the decision to withdraw Khalid’s book was taken without any public discussion or debate.
The institute reportedly said that “as soon as” it became aware that Khalid's book had been added to its library, it “retracted” the title. The move was described as “a precaution in order to avoid any misunderstanding or unrest”.
The statement also said that IISER would “examine” what further action or steps could be taken, without explaining what rules had allegedly been violated or why the book’s inclusion was considered problematic.
Khalid has been in jail since 2020 in connection with the larger conspiracy case relating to the 2020 Delhi violence. He faces charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and has remained in prolonged pre-trial detention. Events discussing Khalid or his imprisonment have previously faced disruptions by his opponents.
The removal of the book raises concerns about the circumstances in which academic institutions decide which works may be accessed by students and researchers.
The presence of a book in a library does not, in itself, signify institutional endorsement; libraries make texts available for study, discussion and research. Nor is the withdrawal of a work by an imprisoned author an automatic requirement for Indian libraries.
The book, Fractured Communities: Adivasi Histories and the Politics of Power, is based on Khalid’s doctoral thesis and was recently published.
Gopal disclosed the action in a post on X on Sunday, October 25, responding to an account operating under the pseudonym “Gems of Indian Academia”. The account had posted on Saturday evening: “Umar Khalid’s thesis is added as a book at IISER, Pune. This is a central government institution for science research.”
Responding about 12 hours later, Gopal wrote that he was “shocked to know this” and that “action is initiated on those who played this mischief”. He also claimed that IISER director Sunil Bhagwat had “taken immediately steps”, without specifying what those steps entailed.
Gopal further stated that the book had been withdrawn “last night”, apparently on the same day the anonymous account posted about its presence in the institute’s library, accompanied by a photograph of the title on the IISER campus.
“I assure such things will not happen again in IISER Pune. We need to be alert,” he wrote in response to the account, which subsequently claimed credit for the decision, describing it as “Gems of Indian Academia impact…”.
@GemsofAcademia As incharge Chairman,BoG,IISER Pune,I am shocked to know this, this is retracted last night&action is initiated on those who played this mischief,I assure such things will not happen again in IISER Pune,Prof.Sunil Bhagwat,Director has taken immediately steps,we need to be alert
— Madabhushi Madan Gopal (@Madabhushi2) October 25, 2026
The account has around 6,100 followers and describes its purpose as exposing perceived shortcomings in Indian academia. Its post about Khalid’s book had received around 6,000 views and been shared several times by the time this report was published.
The exchange continued throughout Sunday, with Gopal reassuring several users who approached him about the book that action had been taken. His posts subsequently turned to attacks on what he described as “leftist, jihadi elements” and “the menace of anti-national ecosystem”.
Later that evening, Gopal shared a video that appeared to mock historical figures. The video featured an actor portraying Adolf Hitler making a Holocaust-related “joke” in poor taste and also mocked women killed during the Inquisition.
On Monday, October 26, Gopal continued his criticism of media coverage, writing: “nytimes is known for pedaling falsehoods, no credibility whatsoever except from those who relish anti Bharat rants.”
The controversy comes amid wider hostility towards humanities and social science scholarship in some sections of the academic sphere.
On September 20, the “Gems of Indian Academia” account had called for a “ban on humanities”, alleging that some “Marxists” were resisting Hindutva religio-political terminology.
IISER Pune was established as an autonomous research institution under the Union Ministry of Education and was designated an institute of national importance by Parliament in 2012. According to a statement from the institute cited by Deccan Herald, the decision to withdraw Khalid’s book was taken without any public discussion or debate.
The institute reportedly said that “as soon as” it became aware that Khalid's book had been added to its library, it “retracted” the title. The move was described as “a precaution in order to avoid any misunderstanding or unrest”.
The statement also said that IISER would “examine” what further action or steps could be taken, without explaining what rules had allegedly been violated or why the book’s inclusion was considered problematic.
Khalid has been in jail since 2020 in connection with the larger conspiracy case relating to the 2020 Delhi violence. He faces charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and has remained in prolonged pre-trial detention. Events discussing Khalid or his imprisonment have previously faced disruptions by his opponents.
The removal of the book raises concerns about the circumstances in which academic institutions decide which works may be accessed by students and researchers.
The presence of a book in a library does not, in itself, signify institutional endorsement; libraries make texts available for study, discussion and research. Nor is the withdrawal of a work by an imprisoned author an automatic requirement for Indian libraries.
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