Ashok Swain Explained

Ashok Swain
Birth Date:1965 2, df=yes
Birth Place:Odisha, India
Nationality:Swedish
Known For:Research on Transboundary Water Sharing, climate change, and population migration, Writing about global politics and contemporary India
Alma Mater:Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Ashok Swain is an Indian-born Swedish academic and public intellectual. He is a professor of peace and conflict research at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden.[1] In 2017, he was appointed as the UNESCO Chair on International Water Cooperation and became the first UNESCO Chair of Uppsala University.[2] [3]

He's also the Head of the Department of Conflict Research at Uppsala University. He's the Director of the Research School for International Water Cooperation of Uppsala University & SIWI. Ashok Swain is also founding editor-in-chief of the journal 'Environment & Security' (Sage).[4]

Swain was an Associate Senior Fellow to the SIPRI Climate Change Risk Program. He was the founding director of Uppsala University's Center for Sustainable Development from 2008 to 2012.[5] He has been a Mac Arthur Fellow at the University of Chicago. Swain has held visiting fellowship at UN Research Institute for Social Development, Geneva. He has held visiting professorships at Stanford University, McGill University, the University of British Columbia, the University of Maryland, Tufts University, and the University of Natural Sciences and Life Sciences, Vienna.[6]

Swain writes a weekly column 'Right is Wrong' for Gulf News.[7] Swain has also written opinion articles in publications including The Daily Mail, Nikkei Asia, Quartz, The Conversation,[8] Business Standard, Outlook (India), Scroll India, The Express Tribune, The Wire (India), The Print, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS),[9] DailyO, National Herald, Down to Earth, The Africa Report, Economic and Political Weekly, East Asia Forum, Fair Observer, Janta Ka Reporter, The Third Pole, and The Kochi Post.[10]

Swain is among the members of the Indian diaspora whose Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card has been canceled by the Government of India.[11]

Swain is a speaker at the World Government Summit 2024 in Dubai.[12]

Swain's Twitter account has been withheld in India since August 2023.[13] [14]

Early life and education

Swain was born in the eastern Indian State of Odisha. After studying in his village school, he completed his Bachelor of Arts from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack under Utkal University, Bhubaneswar.

He received his Master of Arts from the University of Delhi.

Swain received his Ph.D. in 1991 from the School of International Studies of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India with the thesis titled Security of Small States in the International System.[15]

Views and opinions

Swain has expressed his views through interviews with BBC Radio,[16] NBC News,[17] Voice of America,[18] [19] [20] [21] Al Jazeera,[22] [23] [24] [25] and TRT World,[26] as well as through his articles and tweets.

Anti-CAA protests

Writing about the widespread anti-CAA protests in 2019, Swain said the Modi government's legislation such as the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 made India's 200 million Muslims nervous about their status in an "overwhelmingly Hindu-majority country."[27]

Swain wrote that Muslims saw through the Citizenship (Amendment) Act's dangers as that law may lead to millions of Muslims being made stateless though the Act initially only sought to give citizenship to religious minorities from India's neighboring countries who are fleeing those countries and seeking refuge in India. The Act explicitly failed to mention Muslims while mentioning every other religion.[28]

In February 2020, he shared false voter information of jamia shooter on twitter and alleged that he wasn't a minor. He later deleted that tweet claiming 'confusion' over correctness of voter's list entry.[29]

Article 370

Swain was critical of the Modi government's decision to revoke the special status of Jammu & Kashmir. Swain tweeted that liberals who had turned nationalists should be careful about celebrating this decision.[30]

Rahul Gandhi

Swain has commented that Rahul Gandhi is the only serious political challenger to Narendra Modi on a pan-India basis.[31]

OCI Card cancellation

In December 2022, Swain filed a suit in the Delhi High Court in India challenging the cancellation of his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.[32] [33]

In his lawsuit, Swain has said that he received a show cause notice in October 2020 in which Swain was alleged to have indulged in "inflammatory speeches and anti-India activities." The Embassy of India to Sweden and Latvia has cancelled Swain's OCI card in February 2022.[34]

Swain has stated in his legal submission that he has "never engaged in any inflammatory speeches or anti-India activities." He has further stated that as a scholar, it is his role in society to "discuss and critique the policies of the Government." Swain further states that he analyzes and criticizes certain policies of the present India government; however, such criticism of the "current ruling dispensation shall not be tantamount to anti-India activities."[35]

In February 2023, the Delhi High Court granted further time of four weeks to the Government of India to file its response on the suit filed by Swain challenging the basis for the cancellation of his OCI card.[36] [37]

In July 2023, the Delhi High Court set aside the Government of India's order revoking Swain's OCI status.[38] [39] [40] [41]

The Central Government of India through the Ministry of Home Affairs informed the Delhi High Court that Swain was found indulging in ‘illegal activities inimical’ to the interests of India. [42]

Selected publications

Books

Edited books

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ashok Swain - Uppsala University, Sweden. katalog.uu.se. sv. 2018-09-14.
  2. Web site: First UNESCO Chair at Uppsala University - Uppsala University, Sweden. www.uu.se. sv. 2018-09-14.
  3. Web site: Unescoprofessurer i Sverige " Svenska Unescorådet. www.unesco.se. sv. 2018-09-14.
  4. https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/environment-and-security/journal203773#editorial-board
  5. https://pub.epsilon.slu.se/13052/6/eckerberg_k_et_al_161228.pdf
  6. Web site: Professor Ashok Swain. sipri.org. 10 July 2023.
  7. News: UNRWA in crisis: The story behind funding suspension in Gaza. gulfnews.com. Gulf News. Ashok. Swain. 6 February 2024. 7 February 2024.
  8. Web site: How the Grand Renaissance Dam might spark basin-wide water cooperation. theconversation.com. Ashok. Swain. 30 July 2020. 7 February 2024.
  9. News: Water in a Multipolar World: China and the Issue of Water Management. csis.org. Natasha. Hall. Ashok. Swain. 14 August 2023. 7 February 2024.
  10. Web site: Ashok Swain. muckrack.com. 7 February 2024.
  11. Web site: How The Modi Govt Is Trying To Silence Critics In The Diaspora By Banning Them From India. article-14.com. Vijayta. Lalwani. 12 February 2024. 14 February 2024.
  12. Web site: Peace and Resilience: Can the World Be a Haven for All?. worldgovernmentsummit.org. 14 February 2024.
  13. Web site: Post. twitter.com. 20 August 2023. 14 February 2024.
  14. Web site: Post. twitter.com. 8 October 2023. 14 February 2024.
  15. Web site: Ashok Swain. uu.se. 10 July 2023.
  16. Web site: BBCWorld — Ram Temple. soundcloud.com. 22 January 2024. 7 February 2024.
  17. News: In the Israel-Hamas war, China and India walk opposite sides of the same fine line. Jennifer. Jett. nbcnews.com. 22 November 2023. 7 February 2024.
  18. News: India Arrests Media Fact-Checker, Sparks Press Freedom Concerns. voanews.com. Voice of America. Shaikh Azizur. Rahman. 29 June 2022. 7 February 2024.
  19. News: India's Media Face Increasing Hostility, Experts Say. voanews.com. Voice of America. Bilal. Hussain. 5 May 2021. 7 February 2024.
  20. News: Coronavirus Spread in India Sparks Intolerance Toward Minority Muslims. voanews.com. Voice of America. Niala. Mohammad. 17 April 2020. 7 February 2024.
  21. News: Kashmir Internet Shutdown Takes Toll on Economy. voanews.com. Voice of America. Niala. Mohammad. 21 December 2019. 7 February 2024.
  22. News: Shifting politics make India a hotbed for Israel-Hamas war misinformation . aljazeera.com . Al Jazeera. Megha. Bahree. 27 October 2023. 7 February 2024.
  23. News: Where do China, Russia and India stand on the Gaza war?. aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera. 13 October 2023. 7 February 2024.
  24. News: Russian mercenaries in Sudan: What is the Wagner Group’s role?. aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera. 17 April 2023. 7 February 2024.
  25. News: India: Can Congress party under Rahul Gandhi defeat Modi?website=aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera. Zeenat. Saberin. 21 March 2018. 7 February 2024.
  26. News: Experts warn climate crisis could exacerbate Nile dam tensions. trtworld.com. TRT World. Noureldein . Ghanem. 6 June 2023. 7 February 2024.
  27. Web site: Raging resistance against India's anti-Muslim citizenship law. Ashok. Swain. 16 December 2019. 13 February 2023. theasiadialogue.com.
  28. Web site: CAA-NRC protests: India must collectively rise to thwart Modi and Man Friday Shah. Ashok. Swain. 22 December 2019. 13 February 2023. gulfnews.com.
  29. Web site: 2020-02-03 . Incorrect voter information of Jamia shooter circulated to suggest he's not a minor . 2023-08-10 . Alt News . en-GB.
  30. Web site: The world reacts to India's "illegal annexation" of Kashmir. 5 August 2019. 13 February 2023. trtworld.com.
  31. Web site: Why this is Rahul Gandhi’s crowning political moment in India. Ashok. Swain. 3 April 2023. 5 August 2023 . gulfnews.com.
  32. Web site: Delhi High Court Seeks Centre's Response On Ashok Swain's Petition Challenging Cancellation Of OCI Card. Nupur. Thapliyal. 8 December 2022. 13 February 2023. livelaw.in.
  33. Web site: Professor Ashok Swain moves Delhi High Court against cancellation of his Overseas Citizen of India card by Central government. Prashant. Jha. 8 December 2022. 13 February 2023. barandbench.com.
  34. Web site: Delhi HC seeks Centre's response to Sweden-based professor Ashok Swain's plea against cancellation of OCI card. Malavika. Prasad. 9 December 2022. 13 February 2023. Indian Express.
  35. Web site: Delhi HC Seeks Report From Govt Over Academic Ashok Swain's OCI Card Cancellation. PTI. 8 December 2022. 13 February 2023. outlookindia.com.
  36. Web site: Delhi High Court Grants Further Time To Centre For Filing Response On Ashok Swain's Plea Against Cancellation Of OCI Card. Nupur. Thapliyal. 7 February 2023. 13 February 2023. livelaw.in.
  37. Web site: HC grants 4 more weeks to Centre to file response on plea by Ashok Swain against cancellation of OCI card. 7 February 2023. 13 February 2023. PTI. deccanherald.com. Deccan Herald.
  38. Web site: Delhi High Court sets aside Centre’s order revoking academic Ashok Swain’s OCI status. 10 July 2023. Scroll Staff. 10 July 2023. scroll.in. Scroll India.
  39. Web site: Delhi HC sets aside cancellation of Sweden-based academic Ashok Swain’s OCI card. 10 July 2023. 10 July 2023. hindustantimes.com. Hindustan Times.
  40. Web site: Delhi High Court Sets Aside Order Cancelling Academic Ashok Swain's OCI Card, Asks Centre To Pass Fresh Order. Nupur. Thapliyal. 10 July 2023. 10 July 2023. livelaw.in.
  41. Web site: Delhi High Court sets aside Central government order cancelling OCI card of Professor Ashok Swain. Prashant. Jha. 10 July 2023. 10 July 2023. barandbench.com.
  42. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/illegal-activities-ashok-swain-high-court-9151612/
  43. Book: Swain . Ashok . Jägerskog . Anders . Emerging Security Threats in the Middle East: The Impact of Climate Change and Globalization . 2016 . Rowman & Littlefield . 9781442247659 . 28 May 2019 . en.
  44. Book: Earle . Anton . Cascao . Ana Elisa . Hansson . Stina . Jägerskog . Anders . Swain . Ashok . Öjendal . Joakim . Transboundary Water Management and the Climate Change Debate . 2015 . Routledge . 9781136228360 . 28 May 2019 . en.
  45. Book: Swain . Ashok . Understanding Emerging Security Challenges: Threats and Opportunities . 2013 . Routledge . 9780415523301 . 28 May 2019 . en.
  46. Book: Swain . Ashok . Struggle Against the State: Social Network and Protest Mobilization in India . 2016 . Routledge . 9781317049050 . en.
  47. Book: Swain . Ashok . Managing Water Conflict: Asia, Africa and the Middle East . 2004 . Routledge . 9781135768836 . 28 May 2019 . en.
  48. Book: Swain . Ashok . The Environmental Trap: The Ganges River Diversion, Bangladeshi Migration, and Conflicts in India . 1996 . Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University . 9789150611458 . 28 May 2019 . en.
  49. Book: Swain . Ashok . Environment and Conflict: Analysing the Developing World . 1993 . Uppsala University . 9789150609905 . 28 May 2019 . en.
  50. https://www.routledge.com/Routledge-Handbook-of-Water-Development/Hellberg-Soderbaum-Swain-Ojendal/p/book/9780367558765
  51. Book: Swain . A. . Öjendal . J. . Jägerskog . A. . Handbook of Security and the Environment . Edward Elgar Publishing Limited . Elgar Handbooks in Energy, the Environment and Climate Change . 2021 . 978-1-78990-066-8 . 9 March 2022.
  52. Book: Jägerskog . Anders . Schulz . Michael . Swain . Ashok . Routledge Handbook on Middle East Security . 2019 . Routledge . 9781351718363 . 28 May 2019 . en.
  53. Book: Swain . Ashok . Öjendal . Joakim . Routledge Handbook of Environmental Conflict and Peacebuilding . 2018 . Routledge . 9781315473758 . 28 May 2019 . en.
  54. Book: Jägerskog . Anders . Swain . Ashok . Öjendal . Joakim . Water Security . 2014 . SAGE Publications . 9781446293928 . 28 May 2019 . en.
  55. Book: Amer . Ramses . Swain . Ashok . Öjendal . Joakim . The Security-Development Nexus: Peace, Conflict and Development . 2013 . Anthem Press . 9781783080656 . 28 May 2019 . en.
  56. Book: Swain . Ashok . Amer . Ramses . Öjendal . Joakim . The Democratization Project: Opportunities and Challenges . 2011 . Anthem Press . 9780857283993 . en.
  57. Book: Swain . Ashok . Amer . Ramses . Öjendal . Joakim . Globalization and Challenges to Building Peace . 2008 . Anthem Press . 9781843312871 . en.
  58. Book: Swain . Ashok . Islam And Violent Separatism . 2014 . Routledge . 9781135024420 . en.
  59. Book: Bush . Kenneth D. . Diasporas, Armed Conflicts and Peacebuilding in Their Homelands . 2007 . Uppsala Universitet . 9789150619638 . en.
  60. Book: Swain . Ashok . Natural Resources Scarcity in South Asia: Nepal's Water (Stockholm: Institute for Security and Development Policy, 2007). Editor with Fiona Rotberg. . 2007 . Stockholm: Institute for Security and Development Policy . 28 May 2019 . en.
  61. Book: Swain . A. . Education as Social Action: Knowledge, Identity and Power . 2005 . Springer . 9780230505605 . en.

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