Shekhar Gupta sent me word last night that my contract with The Print—where I was a columnist—will not be renewed because I called Narendra Modi a “coward” and a “curse on India”. Gupta was perfectly fine with my calling the Gandhi family “a plague on India”, but Modi apparently is too sacred a cow. It is not clear to me whether Gupta took this call or was instructed to take it. The former would be worse because it would mean that he censors those with whom he disagrees. I obviously do not want anyone else to get into trouble for my posts—which is why my Twitter page carries the disclaimer that “I speak solely for myself here”—and I don’t wish Gupta ill. The Print gives opportunities in journalism to people who wouldn’t otherwise have any. Does sustaining such an enterprise require compromise? I don’t know. What I do know is that I value Gupta’s work as a chronicler of India’s republican vicissitudes. Which is what makes his pitiful conduct rather painful. I’m sufficiently blessed not to be affected by this in any material way. I’m vaguely worried that I’ll be hassled by the authorities, but as far as work is concerned I’ve other avenues in which to publish. I’m just sorry to see a man I mildly respected reduced to cutting ties out of fear. I don’t want anybody to become a martyr—but I’d be dishonest if I didn’t admit that I’m troubled by the knowledge that Gupta is a far smaller man than I had supposed. He didn’t have the courage—or even the decency—to speak directly to me. He delegated that duty to someone else. Sad.