Academic spaces in danger: Outrage is brewing at LSR after ex-diplomat Deepak Vohra’s speech

It was an ordinary Thursday morning on September 11, 2025 Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR) until students streaming out of crowded lecture halls after a lecture session were equally torn between horror and confusion. Known for its focus on liberal education and women’s emancipation, DU’s Lady Shri Ram College for Women recently found itself in controversy after a speaker session by Retd. IFS officer Deepak Vohra received massive backlash for spreading hate and misogyny.

Organized by the BA program department of LSR as part of its annual Sangam festival, the section distanced itself from the content of his speech and reiterated that it was his personal views. However, the incident represents a black mark on institutional prestige and raises a question mark over how easily communal speech and sexism go unchecked on campus.

Islamophobic, misogynistic, casteist and anti-queer: Deepak Vohra’s statements have met with criticism from the LSR community

Deepak Vohra’s speech on the LSR campus, which apparently drew criticism for having a penchant for “misogyny, queerphobia, Islamophobia and hatred,” was clearly divisive and offensive in nature and has since caused significant tension on campus, with students demanding greater accountability as well as a public apology from Vohra.

Source: The Diplomatic Club

The session, titled ‘Unstoppable India 2047′, was intended to be a positive discussion that would stimulate dialogue on India’s growth strategies, policy reforms and similar efforts that pave the way for national development. However, to the students’ surprise, the seminar took a “demeaning and exclusionary” turn with offensive comments on his part. His speech was peppered throughout the session with vulgar musical bytes in which he flirtatiously referred to the headmaster, which obviously caused considerable discomfort.

He proudly called himself “Modi ka chamcha, Maha Chamcha” and made vicious remarks about the Muslim community. He explained that if his name was Muhammad, he would have four wives, one of whom would be the principal of the college. He also urged the student community of LSR to understand their obligatory role in society as “good wives and mothers who would bear good sons.” He affirmed his desire to be “reborn as a man in every life.” What stood out most, however, was the fact that his speech drew applause and forced laughter tinged with discomfort from the students as he urged them to hoot and clap as he spoke.

Ayesha (name changed to protect identity) says, “It is surprising how easily the crowd cheered him even when he made comments that were clearly misogynistic and full of hatred and communal nature.” It is still hard to believe that he had the audacity to say all that in such a prestigious institution as the LSR. We are obviously hurt and shocked. What happened should never have happened and the least he owes us is an apology.”

He affirmed his desire to be “reborn as a man in every life.” What stood out most, however, was the fact that his speech drew applause and forced laughter tinged with discomfort from the students as he urged them to hoot and clap as he spoke.

In his presentation titled ‘Bharat’s Four Azaadis’, he described 1947 as ‘Freedom of our Body’, 2022 as ‘Freedom of our Mind’ (Netaji Statue), 2023 as ‘Freedom of our Faith’ (Chandrayaan-3) and 2024 as ‘Freedom of our Souls’ (Construction of Ram Mandir), thus expressing his affiliation with the aggressive Hindu nationalism and similar ideologies.

His words, laced with caste prejudice and queerphobia, clearly did not go down well with the college’s student body, which prides itself on a liberating pedagogy that celebrates diversity by combining academics with rigorous ethical commitment and open-mindedness. Referring to his vulgar comments aimed at marginalizing the queer community, Arna (name changed to protect identity) says: “It’s hardly surprising that most people wouldn’t even notice that his comments were also queerphobic in nature, and even if they did, it wouldn’t come to light as often because he was also misogynistic, Islamophobic and made casteist comments which appear to be the “bigger” problems in India.” So while feminism should and should extend to queer people in India, there are many other issues that we need to address before we even start holding people accountable for queerphobic comments.”

Source: ILEAD

It’s shameful how, even seven years after the decriminalization of Article 377 According to the Supreme Court of India ruling, the LGBTQ community still struggles with prejudice, with queerphobic jokes drawing cackling laughter, indicating a complete lack of gender sensitivity. In a country still struggling to get rid of misogyny, demanding equal accountability for queerphobic speech in social spaces is still a distant dream.

Institutional accountability and the need for reform

Although the institution is focused on zealously elevating educational standards by creating a holistic learning space for women that emancipates the intellect and spirit, the fact that such extremist and derogatory viewpoints were given a platform for amplification within the college campus raises deeper questions among the student body. How could LSR have such a serious failure to background check guests that he was allowed on campus despite the nature of his ideology?

Despite the hostile religio-political rhetoric in Vohra’s speech, why did no one stand up to him? Students also doubt that this is the same institution that has refused to allow its graduates to study. Nivedita Menoncurrently a professor at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, gave a lecture on campus because of his “non-political inclinations” and later had to settle for the national park near the college.

It is high time that propaganda and hatred disguised as cultural nationalism were exposed for what they are. His speech as a former Indian ambassador to Poland sparked a debate about the impact of such extremist rhetoric on institutional health, especially when uttered by someone in a respectable position. Vohra was not available for comment when contacted. However, he has “unconditionally” supported LSR director Dr. Kanika Ahuja apologized for his comments during the interaction which “upset the student and staff”.

Vohra was not available for comment when contacted. However, he has “unconditionally” supported LSR director Dr. Kanika Ahuja apologized for his comments during the interaction which “upset the student and staff”.

Yogita Mishra, a student at Lady Shri Ram College For Women, said, “What’s more important is where he made the remark.” Institutional spaces are definitely not a space for casteist, communal and misogynistic expressions that spread malice as they brainwash the minds of students, especially as they are very vulnerable at the moment. “It’s okay to have a political narrative, but proclaiming it loudly in educational spaces in the name of patriotism is unacceptable.”

Source: LSR

Since the incident, LSR faculty have repeatedly stressed the need for a serious verification mechanism to prevent such incidents in the future, claiming that they weaken the institutional foundations and turn them into a breeding ground for political tensions and divisions. The LSR Student AssociationLSR also issued a statement of condemnation, emphasizing that “making such statements is a direct violation of our values ​​and intellectual standards” and that “inviting external speakers to enrich the student body with their words, speaking with the sense of sensitivity, responsibility and appropriateness required by the platform, the body seriously jeopardizes trust.” The situation is similar with LSR Women’s Development Cell They also issued a statement reaffirming their commitment to “stand with the student body in its efforts to express anger, disappointment and resistance.”

The incident has resonated deeper on college campuses as the remarks were directed not only at women but also at marginalized groups based on caste, sexuality and religion, raising significant concerns about their safety and representation as the incident hurt the sentiments of all alike. In addition, the lack of immunity of academic spaces to external attacks became much more visible. Since institutions are meant to train students in civility by raising the standards of academic excellence, it is extremely important that institutions address such events effectively and with a firm hand to maintain their purpose in society as nurturing building blocks.

Since institutions are meant to train students in civility by raising the standards of academic excellence, it is extremely important that institutions address such events effectively and with a firm hand to maintain their purpose in society as nurturing building blocks.

More important, however, is to resist such direct violations of trust and prevent aggressive conservatism and bigotry from perpetuating in any way to ensure that everyone is given equal opportunities and dignity in the nation’s social architecture.

Nausheen is currently studying journalism at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi. With a keen interest in feminism, geopolitics and social issues, her passions lie in research, writing and public speaking. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, drinking coffee and playing chess.