Abhijit Iyer-Mitra is an Indian defence expert, journalist, and author known for his provocative commentary and unapologetic views. He serves as a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) in New Delhi, where he focuses on nuclear security, defence economics, and procurement.

Background and Education

Born to V.S. Chandralekha, one of Tamil Nadu’s earliest female district collectors, Iyer-Mitra comes from a family with a strong public service background. He completed his Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Madras and later pursued a Master’s degree in International Relations from Monash University in Australia. During his time at Monash, he worked as a research assistant on several projects related to Muslim minorities and policy studies.

Professional Journey

Abhijit has held research positions at globally recognized institutions such as the Stimson Center in Washington, D.C., and Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico. He also coordinated national security initiatives at the Observer Research Foundation. At IPCS, he focuses on issues related to military technology, nuclear strategy, and defence procurement.

Support for LGBTQ+ Rights

Iyer-Mitra is openly gay and an active voice in India’s LGBTQ+ discourse. He is one of the petitioners seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act and the Special Marriage Act. Although the Supreme Court of India heard multiple petitions on this matter, including his, the final verdict in October 2023 concluded that such legal recognition is a matter for Parliament.

Konark Temple Controversy and Imprisonment

In 2018, Iyer-Mitra sparked outrage after posting a satirical video from the Konark Sun Temple, mocking right-wing claims that homosexuality was incompatible with Hinduism. He referenced the temple’s carvings, which depict various sexual acts, including homosexual ones. The video was considered offensive by many, arresting the artist for hurting religious sentiments. He was imprisoned in Odisha for 43 days before he was granted bail after making public apologies to government officials and the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

Legal Disputes and Suspension from Twitter

He filed a defamation suit against lawyer Dushyant Arora and journalist Gargi Rawat in 2019, who were accused of liking a tweet that baselessly accused him of hate speech and misconduct. His Twitter account got suspended in 2022 after he tweeted critically about the bail of journalist Mohammed Zubair. He contested the suspension in Delhi High Court, and the account was reinstated in early 2023, and he consequently withdrew his case.

Meeting with U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna

During a delegation visit to India in August 2023, Iyer-Mitra met with U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna. The meeting was condemned by the Indian American Muslim Council, calling Iyer-Mitra a “far-right Islamophobe” due to allegedly controversial comments he has made concerning Muslims and Muslim politicians.