Banaras Hindu University (BHU) students protested against the appointment of an assistant professor in the Sanskrit faculty due to his Muslim identity. Despite the protests, the university clarified it’s objective, that is, ‘equal opportunity would be provided to all to study and teach’. The purpose is to rise “above discrimination’ on the basis of religion, caste, sect, and gender.

The appointment of a young Muslim Sanskrit scholar, Feroz Khan, as an assistant professor in the literature department of the Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vijnan at Banaras Hindu University has brought forth protests not only from the students but also from his to-be colleagues as well as the department’s Ph.D. students. They demanded a cancellation of the appointment.

The vice-chancellor of BHU clarified that the appointment was made by a duly-appointed selection committee in accordance with applicable rules and regulations. Born in Rajasthan, Khan studied at Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, which is a deemed university under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). After completing his studies, he served here as guest faculty for three years. He has also been awarded the Sanskrit Yuva Pratibha Samman by Rajasthan government this year.

Source: The Indian Express