400+ Indian-Origin Students, Alumni Sign ‘Spare India from Anarchy’ Appeal, Cite Ambedkar

More than 400+ Indian-origin students, researchers and alumni associated with universities across 27 countries have signed a statement titled “Spare India from Anarchy”, expressing concern over what they describe as attempts to undermine public confidence in India’s constitutional institutions. Released through a press note on October 19, 2026, the appeal carries 400+ names and urges political and social groups to resolve disagreements through constitutional methods. However, the statement does not identify a lead organiser or name an organisation responsible for launching the campaign.

Signatories Include Students and Alumni From Global Universities

The signatories are based in or have studied across countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Japan, Singapore and Russia. Their listed institutional affiliations include the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton and the London School of Economics. 

Among the individuals named in media reports are Surabhi Hodigere of Harvard University, Devansh Sharma and Samyukta Shrivatsa of Stanford University, and Ashik Mayakonda of the University of Cambridge. The statement clarifies that institutional affiliations do not imply endorsement by the respective universities. 

WhatsApp Circulation and Google Form Used to Collect Names

The appeal began circulating in Indian diaspora WhatsApp groups on October 14. A Google Form was used to collect names and information, including university email addresses, institutions attended and graduation years. However, neither the statement nor the available reporting identifies who created the form, drafted the original appeal or coordinated the signature collection. 

The statement invokes Dr BR Ambedkar’s address to the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949, a day before the Constitution was adopted. Referring to his warning against abandoning constitutional methods in favour of what he called the “grammar of anarchy”, the signatories argue that disagreements should be resolved through debate, discussion and dialogue within established constitutional institutions.

Concerns Over Elections and Judicial Independence

The appeal raises concerns about questions surrounding electoral integrity, criticism of judicial decisions and the involvement of the Armed Forces in partisan political discourse. The signatories allege that pending court matters are being used to cast doubt on Indian democracy and that street protests amplify such concerns. They describe these developments as a threat to constitutional governance but do not identify specific individuals as organisers of the alleged effort. The statement also describes the Armed Forces as an institution that should remain outside partisan politics. These are the signatories’ claims and assessments, rather than independently established findings.