But can you PROVE you aren’t into chemical weapons?

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Brimful points me to the newest issue of the Journal Nature which contains an account (subscription required) of how the U.S. consulate in India “humiliated” one of India’s most prominent scientists (who also serves as an adviser to the prime minister). This is a particularly relevant diplomatic flap given Bush’s impending visit to India:

Scientific cooperation between India and the United States has been dented ahead of US President George Bush’s official visit to New Delhi next month. Bush will find India’s scientific community in a bitter mood following the United States’ failure to give a visa to a leading Indian organic chemist on the suspicion that his work could be related to chemical warfare.

Bush was already preparing to deal with a nuclear establishment unwilling to separate its military and civilian atomic facilities the way Washington wants, a principle at the centre of last July’s historic deal for nuclear cooperation between the two countries (see Nature 436, 446-447; 2005). But the visa issue is creating a new wave of resentment.

Goverdhan Mehta, a former director of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore, had been invited as a visiting professor to the University of Florida at Gainesville, but says he was asked to prove that he was not working on chemical weapons before a visa was issued.

This morning’s Washington Post provides greater detail on the incident (thanks Rekha):

In the face of outrage in India, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi issued a highly unusual statement of regret, and yesterday the State Department said officials are reaching out to the scientist to resolve his case.

“It is very strange logic,” said Mehta, reached at his home in Bangalore early this morning India time. “Someone is insulted and hurt and you ask him to come back a second round…”

The scientist told Indian newspapers that his dealing with the U.S. consulate was “the most degrading experience of my life.” Mehta is president of the International Council for Science, a Paris-based organization comprising the national scientific academies of a number of countries. The council advocates that scientists should have free access to one another.

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p>In his written account, the scientist said that after traveling 200 miles, waiting three hours with his wife for an interview and being accused of deception, he was outraged when his accounts of his research were questioned and he was told he needed to fill out a detailed questionnaire. [Link]

All of this is a result of the the shotgun approach that U.S. consulates have followed due to post-9/11 pressure from the State Department. It’s just easier to harass and deny someone rather than be wrong just once and get blamed for it. Such a policy makes us look even more Draconian in the eyes of the world. If foreign scientists are treated this way, then foreign students will be less inclined to study here. Then we will have real problems since Americans aren’t pursuing science and engineering in the numbers that they once did. It will also cripple important scientific exchange with other countries who are tired of dealing with the U.S.

50 thoughts on “But can you PROVE you aren’t into chemical weapons?”

  1. If foreign scientists are treated this way, then foreign students will be less inclined to study here.

    Has happened already. I had come across many articles about the decline of foreign students after 9/11 especially from Middle east and China. Will look for sum links…

  2. He’s not just a prominent scientist and the president of the International Council for Science. In addition:

    Mehta’s case has especially angered Indians because he was a director of the Indian Institute of Science and is a science adviser to India’s prime minister. He has visited the United States “dozens of times,” he said, and the University of Florida in Gainesville had invited him to lecture at an international conference.

    In other words, it’s especially insulting because of the connection to the PM. On the one hand, the US wants India’s cooperation, on the other hand, they act as if advisors to the Indian government might be working on chemical weapons, in other words, as if India is a pariah nation. Which one is it?

    I’ve never heard of this happening before:

    In the face of outrage in India, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi issued a highly unusual statement of regret, and yesterday the State Department said officials are reaching out to the scientist to resolve his case.

    Still, Mehta is refusing to budge:

    He said that he would provide his passport if a visa were issued, but that he would do nothing further to obtain the document: “If they don’t want to give me a visa, so be it.”

  3. Mr. Mehta’s visa has more to do with the consulate personnel’s mood that day than Bush’s visa policies. Hat’s off for Mehta who, taking advantage of his network, is at least taking a voice against those brats in US embassies in India. Hope they learn to be more polite and reasonable rather than moody.

  4. What peeves me about this situation is that they could take a neutral approach, let the facts point the way. If something seemed out of the ordinary, they could politely broach the subject without insulting anyone. It’s simply unnecessary. Sure, when stress is induced, then you do have people who break down and spout the truth, however it is critical that such measures be applied only to situations that warrant such actions (paperwork out of order, no history, information points they’ll overstay a Visa, etc.)

    If this scientist has been to the United States several times before AND has been invited by a prominent institution, information would point to someone who is just a scientist and not a threat.

    Just as Col John Boyd said (paraphrased) that one must do their homework, no matter what. If you don’t you and make a mistake, people will fry you.

    The ONLY solution for improved relations and security is a competant workforce. If you can’t execute worth shit, don’t even try it, regardless of how grand/great an idea is. The consulate didn’t have their ducks in row, and now something so unnecessary crops up.

  5. Does anybody know if being a science advisor to the PM is a big or small deal? Are there many or is this a handpicked position?

  6. Does anybody know if being a science advisor to the PM is a big or small deal? Are there many or is this a handpicked position?

    I know that being

    Goverdhan Mehta, a former director of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore

    is a huge deal. Comparable to Director of MIT.

  7. that’s sure to leave a bitter taste in the mouth for the scientist…
    ever the optimist… i would like to point out that the article appears in an american magazine… there are illustrious people of influence out there who pushed this through… it is easy to have given this story a less sympathetic spin … let’s try the same, shall we…

    Goverdhan Mehta is a resident of Bangalore, a city that has recently been preyed upon by terrorists and fundamentalists… Mehta is president of a Paris-based organization that brings together a hodge-podge of scientific academies of a number of countries, some of which are not signatories to -insert- treaty, and have active -insert- weapons programs…. In spite of receiving the apology Mehta’s now refusing to return for the visa interview. an impasse seems to have been reached.

    Oh… how I despise spinmeisters … an arched brow, a smirk, a wink … as loathsome in print as in image… report news guys… I will decide what to make of what you report.
    anyhow… i’m off… it’s a balmy 4 degrees out here in TO….oooo… Wave to the bearded guy running in the chaddi on the lakeshore. OK TATA. Thank you Come again.

  8. My point in #7 was that it’s positive that the event seems to have roused outrage all around.

  9. ” a city that has recently been preyed upon by terrorists “

    You mean like NYC, Washington DC, London, Madrid, etc? That’s a bit far to make the spin stretch …

  10. In other words, it’s especially insulting because of the connection to the PM. On the one hand, the US wants India’s cooperation, on the other hand, they act as if advisors to the Indian government might be working on chemical weapons, in other words, as if India is a pariah nation. Which one is it?

    Alright now please don’t jump on the US and try to imply some perverted pleasure that the American government gets out of these visa denials. Cut the guy at the visa window some slack. He is the consular version of the lowly paid and not highly educated security guy at US airports. This was not intentional. After 9/11 these consular types are wary of anyone having anything to do with science and research. Don’t read racism and arrogance into everything. In fact the visa wasn’t even denied more information was sought but the typical Indian babuji’s pride was hurt as usual.

  11. Govardhan Mehta is a very respected scientist.

    The US embassy is often on power trips, notably by their local employees which means an Indian working for US embassy acts most indigant.

    A lot of emabssy processing work is done by local hires.

    Being an advisor to PM is a big deal, they are handpicked same way as here in US. They give briefs and consultations to PMO (Prime Minister’s Office)

  12. “perverted pleasure that the American government gets out of these visa denials. Cut the guy at the visa window some slack. “

    I agree. All these decisions are made at the window by a fairly low-paid person.

    However, they need to be less stand-offish.

  13. Actually, if you read the article, he was denied a visa:

    The consulate told Mehta “you have been denied a visa” and invited him to submit additional information, according to an official at the National Academy of Sciences who saw a copy of the document. The consular official, Mehta added, “stamped the passports to indicate visa refusal and returned them.” [Link]

    It’s true that he was denied a visa after he refused to fill out a long questionnaire, but it was a visa denial nonetheless.

    Is it insulting? Sure – here’s somebody who has been to the US plenty of times, who is President of the pre-eminent international body of scientists, and is even an advisor to the PM. He has been awarded many prizes, including:

    the Humboldt Research Prize of Germany (being the first Indian to receive the award), Mercator Professor, (DFG) Germany, Medal from the Third World Academy of Sciences, Officier dans I’ordre Palmes Academiques by the President of France, and Padma Shri from the President of India. [Link]

    He has already travelled to a different city, and sat around all morning long. After all that, they tell him that they don’t believe who he is, and that the endorsement of the Indian government isn’t good enough for them?

    That’s pretty insulting.

  14. …notably by their local employees which means an Indian working for US embassy acts most indigant.

    Especialy the tilak-waala Hindu fundies. Stalin ki kasam, I feel like going Lavrenty Beria on them.

  15. How did the Hindu-fundies get into this?

    Anyway, to repeat what Ennis has pointed out, he was TOLD he was being denied the visa. I would rather believe that than believe the officialese coming out of the embassy in damage control mode.

  16. this was just bad policy it looks like they know it. diversity makes the country smart. we can’t get away from whats been working for 40 some years now. ironically, most of us desi-diasporites are “here” because are parents came as science and education visas were granted post 1965

  17. After 9/11 these consular types are wary of anyone having anything to do with science and research.

    Why the 9/11 hijackers were scientists?? Did they apply for VISA to do research?? Thats very insightful analysis.

    In fact the visa wasn’t even denied more information was sought but the typical Indian babuji’s pride was hurt as usual.

    I think this represents disgustful attitude of some desis residing in US and feeling entitled just for being in the US (born or otherwise).

    Indian Babuji??? This guy was a distinguished visiting faculty to a University where may be you were denied admission … 🙂

  18. Kush,

    “The US embassy is often on power trips, notably by their local employees which means an Indian working for US embassy acts most indigant.”

    I think visa interviews are always handled by Americans. And Visa is denied at the same time.So I don’t think Indian employees come into the picture. As such it is always difficult to get visa to US (compared to Singapore or Japan), I don’t know about Europe and UK.

    Usually the interviewer are high-handed, and are perfectly capable of doing this.

    Regards

  19. Gaurav,

    You might be right as in currently. I’ll take your word.

    However, back in 80-90s, a lot of interviews/ most of the visa work was done by local Indian hires in US embassies. There were only handful of Americans doing visa work.

    For my student visa, I was interviewed by an American for less than 2 minutes and just one question. It was 2 minutes because I had hard time speaking. This is all in dark ages.

    Since Iran hostage crisis, US embassies usually have bare minimum American staff. Keeping an American for routine work is quite expensive.

  20. Gaurav on February 23, 2006 10:10 PM · Direct link

    Kush,

    “The US embassy is often on power trips, notably by their local employees which means an Indian working for US embassy acts most indigant.”

    I think visa interviews are always handled by Americans.<<

    Actually, it is quite the opposite. The visa interviews are almost always handled by Indians. Ask your friendly neighborhood FOB, visiting uncle/aunt from desh et al.

  21. Why the 9/11 hijackers were scientists?? Did they apply for VISA to do research?? Thats very insightful analysis.

    Dear RC, your analysis of my analysis is pretty dumb. Samajhne wale samajh gaye hum kya kahna chah rahe hai!!

    Indian Babuji??? This guy was a distinguished visiting faculty to a University where may be you were denied admission … 🙂

    Uh oh, one more Indian babuji’s pride is hurt! Are yaar aisi university me admission mil jata to yaha America kya lene ate bhaiyya?.

  22. My mom has been denied a tourist visa twice on the reasoning that she is a potential immigrant. The first denial came in July 2005(after waiting 5 months for an interview date) and the second in December 2005. Not much time was spent by the official(American with an Indian aide for translation) on the paperwork that was provided by us. My mom showed a lot of assets, liquid and fixed, in her name and I provided a sponsorship letter and another letter explaining that my mom had no intention of immigrating even though she is entitled to given that I hold a US passport. Unfortunately after the two denials we are forced to start the green card process for her, which takes about a year. I am extremely upset that we are having to go through this, especially since she does not want a green card but just a tourist visa.

  23. Sam,

    “In fact the visa wasn’t even denied more information was sought but the typical Indian babuji’s pride was hurt as usual.”

    The visa was denied, he was asked to apply again. I think a more sensible way would be to retract your statment after being told this. But you find pleasure in insulting Indians.

    Regards

  24. I think a more sensible way would be to retract your statment after being told this. But you find pleasure in insulting Indians.

    First up please go and check today’s online edition of Washington Post. You’ll get all the facts of this episode in one place. Secondly, I think we should start a new discussion on why Indians in India are supersensitive or to use that crappy Hinglish lingo ” Senti”. This is best exemplified by the latest twist in this saga. Even though Mr Mehta has now been correctly issued a Visa, he has adamantly refused to travel to the US. I know exactly what will make him change his travel plans. A few calls from US officials apologizing to him personally and begging him to come visit America.

    What disturbs me is that this is the story that’s outraging Indians as of now. When what should get young Indians like Gaurav’s and RC’s blood boiling is the acquital of all the nine bastards accused of killing Jessica Lal. Shame on India.

  27. When what should get young Indians like Gaurav’s and RC’s blood boiling is the acquital of all the nine bastards accused of killing Jessica Lal. Shame on India.

    Sam, sorry, but that’s a pretty nasty thing to say, not to mention preachy and condescending. Quite a few Indian bloggers, in addition to the media, have talked about the Jessica Lal case (and others like Manjunath, Satyendra Dubey etc.). Not sure what you want to them to do beyond expressing their sadness and/or outrage? Is the discussion of this issue hostage to the outcome of those cases? What is the point you are trying to make here, unless you just have an axe to grind?

  28. Sam

    This is a non sequitur

    Secondly

    Senti is not “Hinglish”

    Pakao is “Hinglish”

    Mere bhai why are you then ‘pakaoing’ me with your knowledge of some highfalutin language?

  29. Nanda,

    My point is that the mainstream Indian media has made much of this visa denial while giving short shrift to the shocking acquittal of Jessica Lal’s murderers. I might be wrong to assume that it’s reflective of the general Indian mood which usually is fatalistic.

  30. What disturbs me is that this is the story that’s outraging Indians as of now. When what should get young Indians like Gaurav’s and RC’s blood boiling is the acquital of all the nine bastards accused of killing Jessica Lal. Shame on India.

    Sam you may have come to the wrong place to get the general Indian mood on this issue. Please remember that this blog primarily caters to South Asians living in America. Therefore most of the commenters on this site are American or live here. If not for the fact that THIS story involved the AMERICAN consulate in India, I wouldn’t have even blogged it. We usually leave Indian stories for Indian bloggers to tackle. The issue for me is that our consulates are doing a lousy job. I personally could care less that we have offened Mr. Mehta because he is Indian. If he was Sri Lankan I would have been just as upset by the American behavior.

    It isn’t that the Lal issue (which I still don’t even know is about as I haven’t heard of it) isn’t important. It just probably isn’t as relevant to the majority of this audience.

  31. Abhi,

    I am not sure if you looked at the succession of my posts in this thread. I have for the most part responded to three Indians from India who posted on this thread. The visa denial has offended them greatly as has it the rest of India. I see among them in particular and India in general a hypersensitivity towards such relatively trivial issues. Relatively trivial I say, because the country should instead at this moment be mad at the Indian legal & law enforcement systems. I am not taking any issue with your not headlining the Jessica Lal issue. Neither am I distressed at a lack awareness of the Jessica Lal issue among your readers and contributors. I very well know what your blog’s domain is.

  32. Sam,

    This thread is about Visa issue,

    I am speaking about issue, if there was a thread about Jessica Lal case I would have spoken about that too. I do not understand why should one speak about Jessica Lal case on this thread.

    Yes Indians are getting sensitive because for lots of visa applicants being treated like shit is a sensitive issue.I do not understand what is so difficult to understand in this.

    For you dignity might not mean much, for other it does.

    Regards

  33. Gaurav,

    Yes I admit the US consulates are not doing a good job of allotting visas. It hurts when the consulate assumes every Indian has an ulterior motive to visit the US. Ulterior, as in overstaying a tourist visa and eventually immigrating. It implies that most Indians are in dire straits and would lie during the interview just to get in the US. This doubly hurts those Indians who have no intention of staying in America forever and would much rather be happy living in India.

  34. Sam,

    So what exactly are we disagreeing on ??

    By the way if you are peeved about Jessica Lal Case, I think it was headlines in all the major newspapers, and a topic for discussion in many Indian blogs. This is not an isolated case, in India as a rule of thumb one can be assured that mighty will scot free, the earlier cases were when Salman Khan ran over someone in his drunkon rage or grandson of Former President Shankar Lal Sharma ran over four policemen. This is a sign of a deeper malice in Indian judiciary. Indians living in India are not proud of this fact, but there is a helplessness about the rotten state of affairs.

    Regards

  36. This is not the first time this has happened, check this article out.Its ludicrious, and its just going to alienate the scientific community elsewhere.Three Indian scientists have been meted out this special treatment. Such a pity.. Dr mehta has been offered a visa now but has refused to accept it..good for him! I would’nt take this shit either, its not worth it. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/23/AR2006022301994.html

    http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?category=National&slug=Indian+scientist+denied+US+visa&id=85126 http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1633682,0004.htm mrinalini

  37. Mehta was singled out for special scrutiny, and, according to the NYT, has still not been given a visa. The US is saying that they need more information. Again, the point is that they’re acting as if an advisor to the PM would be involved in terrorism. Can you imagine if India was to do this to a member of the White House staff who was travelling on non-official business?

    Dr. Mehta said he went for a routine visa interview at the consulate on Feb. 9, only to be questioned about whether his research could be used for “chemical warfare.” Speaking Thursday from his home in Bangalore, he said it could not. He said he remembered being told he was not being honest. “To tell a scientist of any standing he is deceptive about his research — there cannot be a bigger affront,” Dr. Mehta said. “I certainly felt very humiliated.” He said he refused to fill out a questionnaire on his research. His many peer-reviewed papers, he said, speak for themselves. Dr. Mehta said he had visited the United States about 20 times but would never again apply for an American visa. The embassy said Dr. Mehta’s application would be considered as quickly as he submitted the additional information, which would then be sent to Washington for final approval. Such scrutiny applies to “one-half of 1 percent” of applicants, the embassy noted, adding that it had granted 313,815 visas in 2005. The embassy declined to say how many applications it had rejected. “We are committed to treating each applicant with dignity and respect, but we are also obliged to obtain sufficient information necessary for properly evaluating each application,” the embassy statement said. [Link]

  38. sam said :

    I have for the most part responded to three Indians from India who posted on this thread. The visa denial has offended them greatly as has it the rest of India. I see among them in particular and India in general a hypersensitivity towards such relatively trivial issues.

    I dont know which Indians from India are you talking about. If you mean me, then you are wrong again, as I am Indian but live in the US.

    When what should get young Indians like Gaurav’s and RC’s blood boiling is the acquital of all the nine bastards accused of killing Jessica Lal. Shame on India.

    ??? … anyways I am not interested in aim-less name calling.

    It implies that most Indians are in dire straits and would lie during the interview just to get in the US.
    and thats not true?

    Yes, It is NOT true. I know lots of people who wouldnt lie during the interview to come to US. I DIDNT.

  39. “Can you imagine if India was to do this to a member of the White House staff who was travelling on non-official business?”

    Sam would be the first to holler and hoot about how dare the Indians get too big for their boots. Jessica Lall is sad, but there are even bigger murders for which no one gets punished and no one gets enraged. Those Khasis and other northeastern Indians routinely murdered by U.S. missionary money-fuelled thugs spring to mind.

  40. Here’s the news from the new WaPo article that Sam mentioned. It contradicts the Times story:

    State Department officials said yesterday that the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi has granted a visa to a prominent Indian scientist who said he was accused of deception and potential links to chemical weapons production when he applied to a U.S. consulate. Goverdhan Mehta said he was told two weeks ago that his visa had been “refused” and that his expertise in chemistry could be a threat to U.S. national security. The case caused a furor in India just days before a visit by President Bush next week that is aimed at building warmer ties between the world’s two largest democracies. Reached at his home, however, Mehta said that he had already canceled his travel plans and declined a visiting professorship at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He said the issuance of a visa will not change his decision. State Department officials maintained that although Mehta was given a form letter saying “you have been refused a visa,” it was not a rejection but rather part of a conditional process aimed at obtaining additional information. Mehta declined to provide the additional information, which U.S. officials say is required by law. He said he told consular officials to check his Web site if they wished to learn about his scientific work. [Link]

    The part in bold is very strange. We told you that you were rejected, but we didn’t mean it? We really meant you would be rejected if you didn’t give us more information? Ummmmm … that’s peculiar. Why not say, we cannot approve your application until we have more information. Why give somebody a letter that says “Rejected” and stamp their passport accordingly. Sounds like somebody is still trying to spin furiously.

    It’s lucky that this happened in Florida – I wonder how much attention they would have paid otherwise 😉

  43. Karmacola: apart from using a name that brings to mind a particularly bad Gita Mehta novel, a couple of noteworthy points regarding your email. One, your elegant and casual use of the term ‘FOB’ to refer to all of us desis who come to the U.S. for either work related or educational purposes. Your post brings to mind the depiction of desis from des in generally atrocious, Indian american movies such as “American desi” or “American Chai,” where us ‘FOB’s are portrayed as slovenly, ugly, manipulative and cartoonlike geeks with flatulence problems. How do you define yourself, incidentally?

    Secondly, you are sadly mistaken about the visa handling issue despite the authority present in your post. Being a FOB (although i’ve studied and worked in the U.S. on and off for the last 15 years and hence might not fit the “Fresh” component of your acronym) i can assure you that Visa applications for the past few years have desis screening applications in only the first stage, where they make sure that your papers are in order. The interview conducted is always by an American, a whitie or (using your descriptive tendencies) an ABCB, CBCD, PBCD or all the other variants you would find in an American embassy overseas. The desi who has not yet boarded the boat is never in charge of the interview process — which is essentially where the decision making component of the whole process happens.

  44. The part in bold is very strange. We told you that you were rejected, but we didn’t mean it? We really meant you would be rejected if you didn’t give us more information? Ummmmm … that’s peculiar. Why not say, we cannot approve your application until we have more information.

    What they mean is that it is rejected this time but he can try again – they do not defer decision based on ‘not enough information’; they HAVE to decide on the spot whether to accept or reject, hence stress is placed on having ALL kinds of related documents on hand for visa applicants. That is the general procedure. But this is a special case and the professor couldnt have anticipated these complications. The statement in the news item doesnt make all this clear, though.

  45. Xfile – you said that what the letter means is that you’re rejected this time but feel free to apply again later. According to the NYT, State is claiming that they did not reject him at all, they were just asking for more information. I believe you, but I think that State is trying to spin things in other ways …

  46. State is claiming that they did not reject him at all, they were just asking for more information. I believe you, but I think that State is trying to spin things in other ways …

    They are indulging in word play in the article. The only procedure to ask for more information from visa applicants (for most visa types, afaik) is to reject them THAT time and ask to reapply with those additional docs/ info (they will however CLEARLY state what was missing this time and it is upto you to make sure u got that for next time); no concept of deferring application exists. This is true even for visas which you apply by drop-box (ie not in person). All this is stated in no uncertain terms on web sites of US conslates in India.

  47. Abhi I personally could care less that we have offened Mr. Mehta because he is Indian. If he was Sri Lankan would have been just as upset by the American behavior.

    As an Indian I do feel offended and why shouldnt I? Am not that broad minded that would take up cudgles for the world but yes if it concerns India will do what ever is possible (in this case not much though :)). Indians in the US become neutral and never try to contradict or critisize Americans for there double standards. If we dont stand behind Indians who would?

  48. Indians in the US become neutral and never try to contradict or critisize Americans for there double standards. If we dont stand behind Indians who would?

    Your perspective simply differs from mine. I am not an “Indian in the U.S.” I am an American in the U.S. I didn’t become what you describe as “neutral.” I was born that way.

    and never try to contradict or critisize Americans

    Perhaps you missed the point of the post then? It was a post that was critical of the U.S. consulate.

  49. To Sam: especially comment #10 Surprising you assume Prof. Mehta was wrong in taking offense at this. You wouldnt make the assumption if you ever have visited the consulate in Chennai. Even worse, in China. The interviewers—not all, but a significant majority there are condescending, bordering on being downright racist with people who may not speak English the way the interviewer wants. You may think being an US citizen allows you to push people around, but few others around the world sympathize with your attitude here.

    You are right in that the interviewer probably got pushed into this post. But of course since (s)he is in India, (s)he thinks (s)he is better than anyone who comes for a visa. No matter how accomplished the applicant is. Cut them some slack? Bah. If they cant be courteous they better be doing something else. I know several friends of mine who have written complaints to embassies based on how their parents/siblings were treated, and they are all not just from India. The common thread here is that all of them were in “third world countries”.

    This also has nothing to do with rejecting the visas—believe me, fewer people care about the denial than you would like to imagine. It is the demeaning manner in which it is done. Even if Prof. Mehta took offense at some dolt questioning his research, I would think it is justified. Since when did being a US consular employee give you competance to question scientific work—even veteren professors are very careful when commenting on the work of a colleague.

    On a lighter note, most Indians at least have one consolation—no matter how badly you are treated by consulates, you can rest assured the Indian consulate anywhere is avenging you :).