Ujjain, MP: Vikram Univ faculty Anis Shaikh accused of propagating Islam & giving low marks to Hindu students; committee formed to investigate the matter

A group of Hindu students from Vikram University in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain has accused their Islamist Chemistry professor, Anis Shaikh, of deliberately awarding them poor grades owing to their religion, encouraging religious conversion, and misbehaving with female students. The students, who are affiliated to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS’s) student wing, had initially made a verbal complaint against their professor Anis Shaikh to the university vice-chancellor. They submitted a written complaint on 21 June 2024.

The university vice-chancellor Akhilesh Kumar Pandey on Monday said that he has received complaints against guest professor Anis Shaikh of Institute of Pharmacy at Vikram University alleging that he propagated Islam in a WhatsApp group which also has members belonging to Hindu community.

Students allege religious conversions encouraged on WhatsApp groups
Representing the students, ABVP Mahamantri Aadarsh Chaudhary reached the university Friday and spoke to the VC, alleging that Shaikh had been deliberately failing the students and promoting religious activity such as namaz (Islamic prayer) in college. He demanded action against the Muslim professor. Speaking to The Print, Ojas Gupta, a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy at the university’s technical wing, alleged that he was deliberately given ‘C’ and ‘D’ grades by the chemistry professor.

Gupta also alleged, “WhatsApp groups with female students had been formed” where religious conversion was being encouraged. “Anis Shaikh also made loose comments about female students but they have refused to file an official complaint as they fear their parents will withdraw them from the institute,” he said. Gupta further accused the professor of “prompting Muslim male students to befriend Hindu girls and encourage their religious conversion”. Gaurav Jatav, a second year Bachelor’s student of pharmacy, told the media in Ujjain Friday that Muslim students “are given higher marks while Hindu boys and girls are given low grades”. He added: “Students are encouraged to convert from their religion and stopped from wearing a kalava (sacred thread tied around the wrist) and tilak, while those coming in a burka are not being stopped. Female students get phone calls harassing them from different numbers.”

Professor denies allegations and claims he is deliberately being targeted
Speaking about the allegations, Shaikh said that 2-3 days ago, one of the complainant students Ojas Gupta had come to him wanting his grades to be improved, saying he needed over 85 percent marks in the exams as he wished to apply for higher education in Australia. “But there is little I could do in the matter,” he told The Print. “Many other students who complained about poor grades have not turned up for most of the practical lessons in the entire year, and some of them have even left their exam answer sheets blank. So how does one give them marks?”

On the allegations of creating WhatsApp groups with female students, Shaikh said these groups were started during the COVID-19 pandemic and had all students as participants, irrespective of their religion. “One of the Muslim girl students had a while ago created a WhatsApp group to sell hijabs and ended up adding all female students irrespective of their religion. The matter was taken up by the administration, she was scolded and the group was deleted,” he explained. Shaikh added that there has never been any complaint against him in his 13 years at Vikram University. “Even now, neither the VC nor anyone else has asked me about my conduct. It is through the media that I learnt of the grievances of the students,” he told The Print. He said that he would present his case before the probe panel.

Univ constitutes a committee to investigate allegations
The University has constituted a committee to probe charges of propagating Islam levelled against professor Shaikh. Besides, the professor has also been accused of discriminating against students in the valuation of exam papers on the basis of religion, the vice-chancellor said. The probe panel will submit its report within 15 days, he said.

The committee investigating the allegations against professor Shaikh is headed by pharmacy department head Kamlesh Dashora and comprises professors Salil Sharma, DD Vaidya, Umesh Singh and Alka Vyas. They have been instructed to submit the report in 15 days, the VC said. “Shaikh has been asked to keep away from the university till the report is submitted”, the VC added.

This is not the first time an Islamist faculty has been caught doing such acts. We compiled a list of incidents of sexual harassment by Muslim academicians.

Courtesy: hindupost.in