Subbarao and Priyamvada Natarajan are NOT small fries by any means - If there is an injustice we need to point out - not that past mistakes can be corrected - but future mistakes can be avoided (as much as possible). Let us look what Chronicle of Higher Education talks about the mishandling of Marc Hauser by Harvard.
One Bad Apple, and the Threat to Science - The Chronicle Review - The Chronicle of Higher Education
I can add to the treatment meted out to Alan Turing (because he was gay) and that ended his life at the age of 41 Now UK government has publicly apologized for it behavior - But the life of a true genius is cut short for ever.
It is easy to brush off what one does not like with a mental illness "Paranoia" -
That is an enlightened intellectual discussion!
I am not saying they are small fries. Subbarao lived in a time when there was separate treatments of colored and white folks. Even now it persists in a covert fashion. Don't tell me such discrimination does not occur in independent India. the brown babus who are at the top echelons are worse than white babus of the past.
Natarajan had a forum available to her and there she can publish her opinion. I can do that too if I have one. For several years I have had one and I published my views without fear or favor. One such issue concerned the national anthem of India (going against the grain).
There are always two sides to any given story. Even during a face-to-face debate it may not be settled. I am reminded years ago of a debate between Russel Doolittle of UCLA(?) and a creationist on evolution vs creation. Doolittle was out-manoeuvred by the more eloquent creationist. That does not mean evolution is wrong. Just circumstantial coincidence. Creation anchors on faith, while science does on reason and exploration. Why am I saying this? Because, we elaborate on our side of the story but we don't take into consideration the facts on the other side. They may have had justifications for their actions.