Anupam Kumar, a PhD scholar in the Department of Philosophy at the Banaras Hindu University has alleged that the administration has revoked his registration on grounds that are baseless. The university said, in a letter to Anupam, that his selection from admission has been withdrawn because he was one of the 11 students who were debarred in November 2018 for protesting the previous year.
But Anupam and his fellow students claim that even though 11 names were reported by the media, only 9 students had got the notice — the other two never received any correspondence from the administration neither did their departments. "I have applied and was selected to pursue my PhD at the Philosophy Department in January and it has been over six months since then. Suddenly, on August 6, I was handed out a letter saying that my name has been struck off the list in relation to Notification 01 which I never received," said the scholar. "I have spoken to the VC briefly and he asked me to submit an application which I did. But whatever be it, I am not leaving this university. I will start a hunger strike if need be but I will not be defeated," said the young scholar.
Students alleged that a local goon was behind all this conundrum and had sent a letter to the organisation to revoke Anupam's admission. This, they claim, is a result of the protest that Anupam has been involved in. "The thug has also threatened us in the past," said one of the students. "What is sad is that some teachers also joined in and agreed that students who protest should be beaten up," the student added.
Eleven students were reportedly disbarred last November for protesting against the molestion of a fellow female student in 2017. The university has not yet commented on the issue.
