An inquiry has been started against a professor at Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, after he called a Muslim student 'terrorist' during a class. The action against the professor came after a video of the incident went viral on social media. The professor was later seen apologising to the student in the video.
According to the ABP News sources, a departmental inquiry has been ordered and the professor has been asked to not take any further classes till the investigation is over. The student has decided not to lodge any complaint against him, the sources said.
The incident took place on Friday. In the viral video, the student is seen confronting the professor after the latter called him a 'terrorist' during the class.
In the video, the student asks, "How can you pass such statements?" The professor replied, "You are just like my kid." In reply, the student says, "If a father says this, I will disown him."
The professor, however, clarified that it was said in a funny manner. Taking the argument further, the student said, “26/11 is not funny, being Muslim and facing such things in this country is not funny.”
Apologising to the student, the professor told him that he is like his son. The student replied, “Will you treat your son like this? Will you label him as a terrorist, in front of everyone in the class? Sorry alone will not help, sir. It doesn’t change how you portray yourself here.”
The clip has garnered strong reactions from Twitter users.
Professor Ashok Swain, chairperson of UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) shared the video and wrote, “A Professor in a class room in India calling a Muslim student ‘terrorist’ - This is what it has been to be a minority in India!”
"So happy to see him stand up for himself!! For too long people have been taught to tolerate. But no one should tolerate discrimination, prejudice esp from a teacher; a figure who is supposed to set the right example for his students & above all be unbiased," tweeted actress Sophie Choudry.