- By Deeksha Gour
- Wed, 17 Sep 2025 04:18 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Delhi News: A lecture by retired Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Deepak Vohra at Lady Shri Ram (LSR) College, Delhi University, has led to sharp criticism after students alleged that his comments were sexist and communal. The Students’ Union has demanded a public apology, saying his words were “misogynistic, derogatory, Islamophobic, queerphobic and offensive.”
The event, organised on September 11 by the Department of BA Programme, was the first major speaker session of the new academic year. Vohra, who has earlier served as India’s ambassador to Armenia, Poland and Sudan, was invited to speak on the theme "Unstoppable India 2047". The auditorium was filled with over 700 students, many of them aspiring civil servants and policy enthusiasts, expecting a serious academic discussion.
Deepak Vohra Controversial Statements During LSR Lecture
However, according to students present, the lecture moved away from its subject and instead included comments that caused discomfort. One remark suggesting conversion to Islam for marrying multiple times drew particular criticism. Students also pointed to remarks about women’s roles being limited to mothers and wives, flirtatious comments directed at the college principal and jokes about “four wives.”
Linking Ram Temple With ‘Independence of Soul’
Vohra also divided India’s history after independence into four eras, describing the most recent phase as the “independence of the soul” linked to the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Students argued that such references undermined India’s cultural and religious diversity.
Alumni Petition For Accountability
Videos from the session and reports by student publication DU Beat highlight the nature of the remarks, which many attendees said were exclusionary and disrespectful. Alumni also expressed concern, with more than 300 former students signing a petition demanding accountability from the college.
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Department Issues Clarification
In response, the BA Programme Department issued a statement distancing itself from Vohra’s views. It said his remarks were his “personal viewpoints exclusively” and did not represent the department. The statement added that enhanced vetting processes would be put in place for future events and apologised for the “hurt caused.”
The Students’ Union stressed that the event should have been a space for learning but instead became an occasion where several communities felt demeaned. “We emphasise that no community within any spectrum should feel discriminated against or marginalised on campus,” the union said in its statement.