Editorial Note, May-Jun, 2014

Since our last issue there has been a major change in the politics of the country with the BJP-led NDA obtaining a comfortable majority of seats in the Lok Sabha and forming a new government, and the BJP alone crossing the half way mark. To what extent this entails an enduring shift in the political centre of gravity of the country, and what the implications of such a shift are likely to be, are matters that are being intensely discussed at present. But one thing is clear: irrespective of whether the ascendancy of the Hindu Right involves a long stint in office, it certainly poses a serious threat to freedom of expression in general, and to academic freedom in particular.