A Manipal University professor in the coastal Karnataka region has been suspended after a video went viral on social media where a student is seen to be arguing with him for allegedly calling him a ‘terrorist’.
Twitter hailed the young student’s courage for standing up against the casual Islamophobia. It has also been reported that the professor has now been suspended from the university. In the video, the student in the classroom asks the professor: “How can you pass such statements?” The teacher responds by saying that “you are like my son…and it was said in a funny manner.”
“Will you talk to your son like that? Will you call him by the name of a terrorist? How can you call me that in front of so many people in the class? Your sorry doesn’t change how you think or how you portray yourself here,” the student can be heard saying.
Manipal University has suspended the Professor after the video went viral on social media. “College administration has taken suitable action against the Professor and suspended him,” University’s PRO head SP Kar said.
Popular Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai tweeted, “Breaking: Manipal University has reportedly suspended the professor who called a Muslim student a ‘terrorist’: this is what ‘normalisation’ of awful bigotry does for which public figures, civil society and media too need to introspect. “
A netizen said, “#Manipal University professor called a Muslim student a ‘terrorist’ .. when student protested, the professor not even bothered… This is how a normal day looks like in Manuwadi aatankwadi balatkari sada hua samaj. “
Another netizen added, “When Professor wanted to ask a question to the student, Student told his name, After hearing his name “XYX ” clearly, he was like ‘ooh you are kasaab?’. This wasn’t just a coincidence as it happened on 26/11. Professor is Rabindranatha and University is Manipal Institute of Technology
In an interview with India Today, Director of Public Relations, Manipal University, said, “We condemn such kind of incidents as we are an institute that believes in sarwa dharma (equal respect to all religions) and vasudhaiva kutumbkam (one world, one family). Appropriate action is being taken on this issue and we are doing the needful. Counselling is being given to the student, and the professor has been suspended from the college.”