Ahmedabad: A complaint letter issued by an MPhil student of Gujarat University’s Social Sciences Department against her research guide, came as a shocker at the varsity’s academic council meeting held on Saturday. The student, in her letter, alleged that her MPhil guide, who is an assistant professor in the department, made casteist remarks at her, made her do domestic chores and sought a sum of Rs 50,000 to get MPhil completed in a month.
“I had registered myself in August 2016. This professor was allotted as my guide. She used to insult me by saying I belong to a lower caste and passed casteist remarks at me, in public, using foul language. She used to call me to her place under the pretext of evaluation of my research work and make me do the household chores including cleaning utensils and sweeping and mopping the floors,” stated the complaint letter, a copy of which was also submitted to the Education minister as well as the Minister of Social Welfare.
“I have been made to bring snacks and vegetables for her home, pick up and drop her child from the school and tuition class and also carry out some work at the bank. Even after all this, she threatened me saying she will not let my MPhil research work be completed. Citing serious illness of her son, she also demanded a sum of Rs 50,000 from me and said, she would get my MPhil work completed within a month,” mentioned the letter.
The varsity’s academic council have decided to form an inquiry committee to probe the allegations. “We have received the letter and the issue was represented before the academic council on Saturday. An inquiry committee has been formed in wake of the serious allegations made by the student. Once the committee submits its report, we will take appropriate action,” said Himanshu Pandya, vice- chancellor, GU.
