India's original data science institute faces crisis

ISI Kolkata community is seeking intervention of MPs, West Bengal government and academics to stop systemic 'dismantling'; 1,800 sign petition to MoSPI

- 

The main gate of the Indian Statistical Institute Kolkata has its name in stone and metal and a cry for help. A banner hangs in front saying, “ISI bachao”, “save ISI”. The last time ISI Kolkata saw a major protest was five years ago, and held in solidarity with Jawaharlal Nehru University students. This time, it faces what the community sees as an existential crisis.

The Indian Statistical Institute Bill 2025 - the ISI Bill - drafted by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation (MoSPI) seeks to undo its very DNA and remake the 93 year-old institute in the image of other centrally-run institutions of national importance.

Academics, students and alumni of this quiet Baranagar campus in North Kolkata are staunchly against it and have been protesting for over a month. They say the bill threatens the institute's autonomy, violates the legal structure under which ISI was founded and has run, and drops a question mark over its free programmes, admission policy and the status of its centres across the country. ISI has teaching centres in Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai.

“The ISI Bill 2025, completely dismantles the structure that we have, replacing the longstanding society model through which the institute has functioned since its inception,” said a senior professor, requesting anonymity.

The community held a public meeting last week. They are rallying support among the elected representatives reaching out to both parliamentarians and their parties - and academics across the world. A global petition addressed to MoSPI has already garnered over 1,800 signatures.

‘Bengal’s heritage’