Controversy Erupts Over TISS Funding of Clergy Training Program

Concerns have surfaced regarding the use of taxpayer money at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in India, as it has been linked to the training of Catholic priests in politically charged discussions. This situation raises significant questions about the institution’s mission and its compliance with public funding guidelines.

At the center of this scrutiny is Brinelle D’Souza, a faculty member from TISS’s School of Social Work, who also serves as the West India Regional Coordinator for the Justice Coalition of Religious (JCR). In November 2024, TISS allegedly hosted a closed-door workshop aimed at Catholic clergy, co-organized with JCR. Reports indicate that the event focused on politically sensitive topics, including the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Population Register (NPR), rather than academic discourse.

The involvement of TISS in such sectarian training prompts critical questions about the institution’s role as a publicly funded academic entity. Why is a university primarily focused on social sciences facilitating workshops that appear to promote specific religious-political agendas?

D’Souza, who joined TISS in 1999, has faced scrutiny for her lack of published academic research, as her profile on platforms such as Google Scholar shows no record of research papers. Observers note that her activities seem more aligned with activism than scholarship, raising concerns about her dual roles as both an educator and a political activist.

In her public engagements, D’Souza has been vocal in opposition to government policies, participating in protests against the CAA and authoring reports that criticize the Indian government’s actions in Kashmir. Her position has often intertwined with narratives that align with certain ideological stances, including allegations of “Hindutva extremism” during anti-CAA protests in 2020.

This pattern of activism, coupled with her role at TISS, creates a potential conflict of interest. The workshops conducted under the pretext of social justice do not align with the institution’s foundational goal of providing secular education. Instead, they suggest a troubling shift towards political mobilization that could undermine the integrity of academic pursuits.

Concerns regarding TISS’s alignment with political activism are not new. Students and alumni have expressed dissatisfaction with perceived ideological bias within the School of Social Work and its related programs. The workshops in question represent a formal collaboration between a public university and a religious-political network, fundamentally challenging the essence of unbiased education funded by public resources.

The ethical implications of D’Souza’s involvement are significant, especially in light of the 2023 Central Service Conduct Rules, which prohibit public-funded academics from engaging in overt political activities that compromise their neutrality. Questions linger about who authorized the workshop and whether proper oversight was exercised regarding the use of TISS resources for these events.

There are no public records available on TISS’s website that detail these workshops, nor do any documents reflect the necessary approvals or oversight committee evaluations. If the TISS Director’s office was not informed about the workshops, it raises concerns over the potential misuse of institutional authority. Conversely, if there was approval from higher administration, it points to a deeper issue within the institution regarding the prioritization of ideological alignment over educational integrity.

TISS relies on significant funding from the University Grants Commission and the Ministry of Education, operating primarily on taxpayer money. This situation raises critical questions about accountability: Are public funds being allocated to support professors, or are they being diverted to further political agendas?

The case of Brinelle D’Souza exemplifies a troubling trend within TISS, once regarded as a leading institution for social sciences in India. Accusations of promoting ideological activism over rigorous research, hosting politically motivated workshops, and allowing faculty to leverage institutional credibility for sectarian agendas all contribute to a growing concern about the erosion of academic integrity within publicly funded institutions.

As the debate continues, the implications for TISS—and for public higher education in India—remain profound. The pursuit of truth must not yield to the pressures of political narratives, and the need for transparency and accountability in the use of public funds has never been more critical.