Pune: Servants of India Society Withdraws Objection Letter, Reaffirms Support for GIPE Chancellor Sanjeev Sanyal
Pune, 5th April 2025: In a significant development concerning the administration of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE), Damodar Sahoo, President of the Servants of India Society, has officially withdrawn his earlier letter raising concerns about the chancellorship of noted economist and historian Sanjeev Sanyal.
In a fresh letter addressed to Sanyal, Sahoo wrote, “I have received your letter, sent by email on 4 April 2025. I am thankful to you that you have very graciously furnished a detailed explanation to all my concerns.”
Referring to his earlier objections, Sahoo added, “It gives me great satisfaction and relief to convey to you that the trustees are of the unanimous opinion that the letter given to you by me ought to be withdrawn with immediate effect.”
The withdrawal marks a resolution to what Sahoo described as a misunderstanding stemming from “lack of communication between you and the Servants of India Society.”
Sahoo, 82, reaffirmed his trust in Sanjeev Sanyal’s commitment to the institute, stating, “From the content of your letter, I came to know and became satisfied that, as the Chancellor of our Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, you have decided to take suitable steps in enhancing and protecting the glory of Gokhale Institute.”
In a gesture of goodwill, Sahoo invited Sanyal for an in-person dialogue to further discuss GIPE’s future. “I am much interested to have a face-to-face discussion with you on various issues of GIPE,” he wrote.
Acknowledging his health limitations, Sahoo requested Sanyal to consider visiting Bhubaneswar for the meeting.
The Gokhale Institute, founded in 1930 by the Servants of India Society, has been a premier institution for research and higher education in economics. Sanjeev Sanyal was appointed Chancellor in October 2024.
