By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has sacked Prof. Prahlad K Basu, one of its visiting faculties at the Centre for Management Studies (CMS) over his “communal” remarks. Prof. Basu, on his part, has outright rejected the allegation and regarded himself as a victim of the internal politics of the department.
According to few students of CMS, who complained to the director of the department against Prof. Basu, during a lecture on September 9, Basu, who is a well known management academician of the country, singled out a burqa (veil) clad student and criticized veil as something which has been banned in several countries. He also reportedly called JMI as a third rate minority institution.
JMI sacked Prof. Basu on September 12, without issuing him a show cause notice thereby without giving him an opportunity to explain his stand and also without doing an internal inquiry to verify the alleged “communal” remarks.
The step by the university is being seen as coming out of pressure from the campaign against Basu by a section of students including Student Islamic Organization (SIO), the student body of Jamaat-e-Islami. SIO termed Prof. Basu’s comments as signs of “Islamophobia” and demanded his immediate dismissal from the university.
The university “has taken serious note of inflammatory comments and unacceptable remarks” which were “personal and communal against students and the University causing deep anguish among students and faculty,” says a statement from the university media coordinator.
JMI is also proceeding to file an FIR against Basu, prosecuting Mr Basu for libel.
Even though a section of students of the CMS was against Prof. Basu after his alleged remarks, he is not without support from a section of the Muslim community, including intellectuals and his former students who regard him as a person with “impeccable secular credentials.”
Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, one of the leading Muslim intellectuals and editor of Milli Gazette, criticized the “witch hunting” and attempts to hound and demonize Prof. Basu who is, anyways known for his anti-Burqa stand.
Regarding the entire controversy as “exaggerated and disproportionate protest and hysteria” Khan said that a mole has been unnecessarily turned into a mountain.
“If you behave like this in a university where, you are in a majority, be ready to face the music in India’s hundreds of other universities,” Khan further added.
Referring to the reported plans of the university to prosecute Prof. Basu, Dr. Khan also said that it will indeed a black day for the university.
“Its a dangerous precedent. If the VC of Jamia, Mr. Najeeb Jung continues to take decisions under pressure of few students, who are not concerned about studies, soon he may have to go, just because there will be few students protesting against him,” Khan further added.
While several former students of CMS and JMI have come out in Basu’s support, criticizing JMI for sacking the well known management faculty, some have also demanded for an independent enquiry into the entire controversy.
Asad Zaidi, an alumnus of CMS (batch-09), JMI, defended Prof. Basu saying, “He has never differentiated between his students based on religion. He is one of the best teachers at CMS, if he is asked to leave, I would suggest close the department as well. That would save a lot of money for students, who would be otherwise wasting their money here. Don’t make me come out with the gory details of what else goes on there.”
“I will urge the people not to do any dirty politics on this issue but demand a proper inquiry,” said Shahbaz, a former JMI student.
While the student community in JMI regards Basu’s comments as wrong and completely uncalled for, after his “witch hunting” they are also apprehensive about the negative impact on the image of the university as a secular academic campus which encourages debate.