More than 50 Indian string theorists have issued a joint statement condemning attacks on universities in Iran, Palestine and Lebanon and expressing solidarity with affected academics and civilians. Signatories — including Ashoke Sen and Spenta Wadia — named specific institutions and described the Gaza campaign as "genocidal," warning that damage to schools and universities will cause long-term harm to education and research as ceasefires remain fragile.
Over 50 Indian String Theorists Condemn Attacks On Universities, Express Solidarity With Iran, Palestine And Lebanon
People walk through the damaged gate of Al-Aqsa University in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, November 24, 2025 [Haseeb Alwazeer/Reuters]
A group of more than 50 leading Indian physicists who specialise in string theory has published a joint statement condemning attacks on universities and other civilian institutions in Iran, Palestine and Lebanon and expressing "heartfelt solidarity" with the academics and civilians affected by the conflict.
The statement — signed by researchers from India's top science and technology universities and laboratories, including prominent figures such as Ashoke Sen and Spenta Wadia — refers to what the signatories described as "the recent war initiated by the United States and Israel."
"Universities and educational institutes in Iran, as well as Lebanon and Palestine, have been attacked during the war... We unequivocally condemn these crimes against humanity, which will cause long-term harm to the future of education and research in these regions apart from the tragic loss of lives," the statement reads.
The physicists named a number of targeted institutions, including Sharif University of Technology, Shahid Beheshti University, Iran University of Science and Technology, Isfahan University of Technology and the Lebanese University. They said these strikes are "part of a broader assault on civilian sites that has led to the loss of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people," and described the Gaza campaign as "genocidal."
Context And Recent Incidents
The intervention comes as ceasefires across the region remain fragile and violence continues in several areas. The statement was issued amid reports that Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon killed five people, including a journalist, and that an Israeli air strike in Gaza killed at least five Palestinians, including three children.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials have accused the United States of stalling peace efforts by imposing a naval blockade on Iranian ports — allegations that the signatories cited as part of the rising tensions prompting their appeal.
Why This Matters
India is widely recognised as a global leader in string theory — a mathematical framework that models fundamental particles as one-dimensional "strings" rather than point-like particles — and the participation of senior Indian theorists highlights international scientific concern about the attacks. The signatories warned that destruction of educational infrastructure will have long-term consequences for research, collaboration and the futures of students and scholars in the affected regions.
The physicists concluded by calling for the protection of academic institutions and for the international community to address both the humanitarian crisis and the damage to education and research caused by the conflict.
Help us improve.
