Every nation has the right ~ and indeed the obligation ~ to ensure that educational institutions do not become platforms for glorifying terrorism, violent extremism or secessionist violence. That principle is neither controversial nor incompatible with democracy. The real test lies elsewhere: whether the process of safeguarding national security also safeguards intellectual freedom.

The latest directive requiring educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir to scrutinise books and academic material brings that delicate balance into sharp focus. Kashmir occupies a unique place in India’s constitutional and  political history. It has endured decades of militancy, cross-border terrorism, political upheaval and competing narratives over identity and sovereignty. The state has a legitimate interest in preventing educational spaces from becoming vehicles for radicalisation or historical distortion. No responsible democracy can ignore the influence that classroom material exerts on young minds. Yet the authority to regulate education carries an equally important responsibility: clarity, transparency and restraint.

A directive that asks institutions to identify “objectionable” material without defining the term with sufficient precision........

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