Image Courtesy:tribuneindia.com
While the issue of the proposal of turning Reliance industries’ Nita Ambani into BHU Prof Nita Ambani has now taken a bizarre u-turn, there is much to be read between the lines here. Soon after a group of students on Tuesday staged a protest outside Vice-Chancellor Rakesh Bhatnagar’s residence on the campus, a denial has reportedly come from the Ambanis’ Reliance industries as well.
The students were protesting a ‘proposal’ that Banaras Hindu University’s (BHU) Women studies and Development center had invited Nita Ambani, wife of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, to be a visiting professor. It was being reported that Nita Ambani has given verbal consent to the proposal sent to her on March 12.
Prof. Kaushal Mishra, Dean of Social Sciences Dept was quoted in multiple news reports claiming that Nita Ambani was the best person to teach girl students considering her vast experience in the fields of business as well social activities: “As per the new policy of the Central government, our aim is to link studies with entrepreneurial skills. Neeta Ambani ji fits the slot,” adding that the proposal was sent “because the Reliance Foundation has done a lot of work in the field of women empowerment.”
Then there were quotes from the Women’s center’s coordinator Prof. Nidhi Sharma who claimed that “linking students to employment is also an objective of educational institutions, which can be achieved through Nita Ambani’s business experiences.”
However, as soon as the students’ protest was also reported, a loud denial came from the Reliance Industries Limited spokesperson who called the news reports “fake”. The RIL issued a statement to a news agency which was then reported across the board, it stated: “Reports that Nita Ambani will be a visiting lecturer at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) are fake. She hasn’t received an invitation from BHU.” The BHU itself clarified that it had “not taken any decision” to appoint Nita Ambani as a visiting professor, and that “no such proposal was discussed by the administration.”
Meanwhile, according to Indian Express, the students had protested and opposed the idea of offering the post to Ambani as it would set a “wrong example”. It was also reported that while the proposal has been sent only to Nita Ambani, two more names considered for the remaining two visiting faculty posts were that of Priti Adani, the wife of billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani, and Usha Mittal, the wife of UK-based steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal. The report quoted Research scholar Shubham Tiwari: “Being the wife of a rich person is not an achievement and these people cannot be our icons. If you talk about women empowerment, then invite icons like Arunima Sinha, Bachendri Pal, Mary Kom or Kiran Bedi,” Tiwari said. He said Vice-Chancellor Bhatnagar told them that he had no information about the proposal being sent to Nita Ambani. Sources at the BHU confirm this. For now the news is being closely monitored and no further protests are being planned.
However, some in the university campus are wondering why this controversy has been generated at this time and what is it supposed to divert attention from?
“This dean had leaked the numbers of journalists Ravish Kumar, and Barkha Dutt, he had also had a mud-bath in public to ward of Covid-19. He is known for such things,” said a research scholar at BHU. According to a senior faculty member, this controversy is being seen as an embarrassing joke at the moment, “Now that the denials have come the issue may die down. However, if it is stoked again, and escalates, then even the teachers may protest.”
Meanwhile, the IE reported that the BHU may go ahead with its plans to start a PG course on ‘Kashi Studies’ soon. Once again, Professor Kaushal Kishore Mishra has confirmed that the subject will be a part of the MA History course, as a specialisation. The Social Sciences Faculty will teach students about the political, religious and social history of the holy city of Varanasi reported IE. Prof Mishra was quoted in the report saying that the course is expected to get a go-ahead in the next academic council, “We are preparing a full course on Kashi Studies under the History Department of the Social Sciences Faculty. Our expert committee has approved the course. Under the course, students will study everything about Kashi (Varanasi) in detail, including its history, festivals, fairs, culture, religious significance, way of living, ghaats, temples, political and social journey and importance in freedom struggle. Given the increasing importance of Kashi at the global level, with the city being transformed and developed as a hub of religious tourism, a lot of people will be interested in learning about the city.”
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