Public Intellectual Award
In recognition of the effective, far-reaching, and timely use of scholarly expertise to address issues of major public concern in a way that promotes reasoned analysis and humane understanding.
Rohit Chopra received the College’s Public Intellectual Award for bringing scholarly expertise to public debates and advocating for people whose voices are at risk.
Chopra has spoken out against Hindu extremism in India and the diaspora. He advocates for freedom of speech, arguing society needs diverse viewpoints. Through his work tracking hate speech at the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, he emphasizes that free expression carries responsibility toward persecuted and marginalized communities.
Chopra has written three books and has been published in The Conversation, BBC, South China Morning Post, and Scroll India. Additionally, Al Jazeera, The Atlantic, Wired, and the Guardian have featured him or cited his work.
His engagement extends to the classroom. He treats students as intellectual equals, fosters critical thinking, and brings in guests from industry and nonprofit organizations. He hosts speakers at SCU with Stanford’s Center for South Asia, where he has been a visiting scholar.
This work has not been without risk—it has drawn trolling in India and the United States, and his social media accounts have faced suspensions. However, he continues to speak out, advancing reasoned analysis and humane understanding.
Congratulations to Rohit Chopra, recipient of the 2026 Public Intellectual Award!