‘Wrong Report’: BHU Prof Firoze Khan on Applying to Other Depts

Khan had applied in May to three departments and did not apply in light of the ongoing protests.

Khan had applied in May at BHU’s Ayurveda department, Sankrit department at the Arts faculty as well as the department of Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Sankay. 

(Photo: Aishwarya S Iyer/The Quint)

Denying media reports that he applied for a job in other faculties of BHU with the hope of ending the standoff regarding his appointment, BHU Sanskrit professor Firoze Khan told The Quint he has not sent any such applications.

“I had applied way back in May for three separate departments. These were BHU’s Ayurveda department, Sankrit department at the Arts faculty as well as the department of Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Sankay. I have made no such applications in the light of the ongoing protests. This report is wrong,” Khan told this reporter.

Prof Manu Lata Sharma who teaches Sanskrit Literature and Poetics at the Arts faculty of Sanskrit department confirmed the same.

“Way back in May there was an advertisement published for posts at BHU where Khan was an applicant at the Ayurveda department, Arts faculty at the Sankrit department as well as the department of Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Sankay.”

Sharma added that while the Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Sankay was first in shortlisting candidates for the interview in which Khan was selected, the Arts faculty of Sanskrit department is yet to shortlist candidates. “The interviews are yet to happen. Khan has applied here as well.”

Khan too is thinking if he should sit for the interview in case he is shortlisted. “The ongoing protests do not seem to end. I would like nothing but to teach where I have been appointed. Let’s see,” he says.

Prof Gopa Bandha Mishra, a former BHU professor from the Arts faculty of Sanskrit department, also confirmed that applications are only called in when an advertisement is published in newspapers. “It is only after the advertisement that applications are called in and then interviews happen. Which happen at one time. No one can apply otherwise,” he said.

Over the weekend on 23 and 24 November RSS’ Kashi unit had come out in support of Firoze. However, this has not been able to get the students to stop their protest.