The head of the international relations department at Jadavpur University has written to vice-chancellor Suranjan Das seeking “action” against an assistant professor of the department who allegedly attacked a PhD student “on the basis of her caste identity by referring to terms like quota”.
The assistant professor was the research superviser of the student, who belongs to the OBC category, said a JU official.
The student had written to the authorities with the plea that her supervisor be replaced because she felt her research was not progressing at a desired pace.
The PhD research committee (PRC), whose members include teachers of the international relations department, met last month to discuss the student’s plea. At the meeting, the assistant professor allegedly attacked the student referring to her caste.
The head of the department, Iman Kalyan Lahiri, later sent a letter to the VC quoting the PRC’s resolution.
“Further, she (the teacher) attacked the candidate on the basis of her caste identity by referring to terms like ‘quota’. This was vehemently opposed by the members of the PRC. The members were shocked by her attitude,” the letter quotes from the resolution.
“Since it is evident from the version of the teacher that she is prejudicial to the candidate based on her caste identity in public, it is now crucial for the higher authority to intervene. The committee recommends that given the sensitivity of the matter and given the candidate’s social background, the matter be placed before the vice-chancellor for his kind perusal and necessary action.”
When contacted, the teacher said the allegations were “baseless and ridiculous”.
“Anyone can make any allegations. But those have to be proved,” she told The Telegraph.
The VC said: “I have sent back the complaint to the departmental research committee because I think the committee has the authority to take steps.”
The student told this newspaper that she sought release from her guide because she was not getting the guidance she was looking for.
“I twice wrote to the authorities concerned seeking a change of my guide. At that point, I did not sense any caste prejudice towards me in the conduct of my teacher. But I came to know after a complaint was lodged with the VC on behalf of my department that I was attacked at a meeting for my caste,” the student said on Monday.
“This amounts to an offence. Although I am from the OBC category, I am pursuing the PhD as a general category student,” said the student, who now has another teacher as a temporary guide.
Lahiri said: “Being the head of the PRC, I could not accept the fact that a student was being attacked because of her caste. The department’s board of studies has unanimously condemned the teacher’s behaviour.”
