Scholar faces UK deportation for extensive research in India

In the UK, Manikarnika Dutta, an assistant professor of history at University College Dublin, is grappling with the threat of deportation. This situation arose after the Home Office determined that she surpassed the permitted number of days outside the country while conducting vital research in India. Dutta has been collecting data on gender and class issues in urban India, emphasized by the cultural significance of her work. She initially migrated to the UK in September 2012 on a student visa and has spent considerable time in India for her research, which she believes is essential for her academic obligations. Dutta and her husband, Souvik Naha, a senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow, applied for indefinite leave to remain in the UK due to long-term residency aspirations in October. The Home Office's ruling came as a shock, leaving Dutta fearful of the consequences if she leaves the UK, including the possibility of not being allowed to re-enter. Dutta has launched a legal challenge against the Home Office's decision, which has prompted the agency to reconsider its ruling within a three-month timeframe, although the outcome remains uncertain. The emotional strain of this situation extends beyond Dutta and Naha to their families in India, who remain unaware of the severe implications of their predicament. Further complicating matters is the broader context of immigration enforcement in the UK, where academics have increasingly faced scrutiny for similar reasons, leading to concerns about the impact on academic freedom and mobility. Dutta articulates the distress of being perceived as unwelcome, noting how her status complicates her ability to travel and conduct her research effectively. The Home Office’s decision has resulted in a feeling of insecurity and instability, significantly impacting Dutta's professional and personal life. Also observed in other parts of the world, particularly under the Trump administration in the US, there have been numerous instances where accomplished academics, especially those engaged in political activism or work contrary to government policies, faced immigration challenges. The parallels between cases like Dutta's and those affected by stricter immigration policies highlight the vulnerability of international scholars amid evolving immigration laws. As Dutta awaits the Home Office's ruling, her situation underscores the need for clearer communication between scholars and immigration authorities and argues for more humane treatment of scholars in academia.