KOLKATA: Unlike his Banaras Hindu University brethren, Belur college on the outskirts of Bengal capital sets an example by appointing a Muslim as a faculty member in Sanskrit department.
Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira at Belur Math in Howrah has appointed Ramzan Ali as Sanskrit professor following nine years of experience.
The appointment has been made at a time when Feroz Khan faced discrimination as Sanskrit faculty member in Uttar Pradesh’s Benaras Hindu University (BHU).
Ali, who is in his early 40s, when was asked to comment on the BHU agitation, he says, “Sanskrit reflects India’s culture. BHU incident is an exception, but our country is huge. So, such incidents don’t speak for the whole country.”
Unlike BHU, Ali was warmly welcomed by the students and faculty members.
“Principal Swami Shastranandaji Maharaj and everyone welcomed me … Maharaj told me that my religious identity was not important here, what is important was my grasp over the language, my in depth knowledge,” Ali was quoted as saying to a leading news agency.
Noteworthy, Belur College comes under the Ramkrishna Mission trust and the administration is conducted by completely Hindu body.
Even as students continue to protest, the BHU administration remained adamant on their decision and backed him, Prof. Khan has not been able to take classes since his appointment due to the ongoing protests.