In a recent unsettling development at Vikram University, located in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, a controversy has emerged involving Anis Shaikh, a guest professor in the Institute of Pharmacy. Shaikh is facing serious allegations from a group of Hindu students, who claim that he has been biased in grading, favoring religious propagation over educational integrity.

These students, associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)—a student organization linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)—have brought forward accusations that Shaikh has not only been unfair in his academic evaluations but also involved in promoting Islam actively within academic settings. The complaints detail that Shaikh has used a WhatsApp group, which includes members from both Hindu and Muslim communities, as a platform to propagate Islamic teachings, which they found inappropriate and unrelated to their academic pursuits.

The matter escalated when the affected students approached the university's vice-chancellor, Akhilesh Kumar Pandey, with their concerns. Initially raised verbally, these concerns were formally documented in a written complaint submitted on 21 June 2024. The students' complaints also include troubling allegations of Shaikh's inappropriate behavior towards female students, adding a layer of severity to the ongoing investigation.

In response to these grave accusations, Vice-Chancellor Pandey has confirmed the receipt of these complaints and expressed the university's commitment to thoroughly investigate these allegations. The seriousness of the accusations has led to the formation of a committee tasked with investigating the claims made against Professor Anis Shaikh. This committee aims to delve into the details of the accusations, ensuring a fair and transparent process to uphold the academic integrity and inclusive environment of Vikram University.

Students allege religious conversions encouraged on WhatsApp groups

The situation at Vikram University is escalating as more details come to light regarding the conduct of Anis Shaikh, a chemistry professor at the university’s Institute of Pharmacy. On a recent Friday, Aadarsh Chaudhary, the ABVP Mahamantri, made a significant move by directly addressing these concerns with the Vice-Chancellor of the university. Chaudhary's accusations are severe; he claims that Shaikh has been intentionally failing Hindu students and promoting Islamic practices such as namaz within the college environment. This alarming allegation has stirred considerable unrest within the student community, prompting urgent calls for the administration to take decisive action against the professor.

In an interview with The Print, Ojas Gupta, a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, expressed his grievances regarding his academic evaluations. According to Gupta, there is a deliberate bias in grading, where he consistently received 'C' and 'D' grades from Professor Shaikh. Gupta's concerns extend beyond just academic unfairness. He highlighted troubling activities within WhatsApp groups created for class communications. Allegedly, these groups have become platforms for promoting religious conversions, particularly targeting female students. Gupta revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior from Shaikh, including inappropriate comments directed at female students. This behavior has reportedly led to a reluctance among female students to come forward with formal complaints, as they fear the repercussions that might include being withdrawn from the institution by their parents.

Heading: Students raise the issue with the VC to take action against professor Anish Shaikh

Gaurav Jatav, another student from the second year of the Bachelor’s pharmacy program, also spoke out. In a statement to the media in Ujjain, he corroborated Gupta's allegations, adding that there is a noticeable disparity in how students are graded based on their religion. Jatav pointed out that Muslim students generally receive higher marks compared to their Hindu counterparts, who are allegedly marked down. Furthermore, Jatav accused the professor of discouraging Hindu religious expressions such as wearing a kalava or tilak, while seemingly permitting Muslim students to wear burkas without objection. He also mentioned that female students have been subjected to harassment through persistent phone calls from various numbers, escalating the gravity of the situation.

These allegations have created a charged atmosphere at Vikram University, compelling the administration to scrutinize the actions of Professor Anis Shaikh closely. 

Professor denies allegations and claims he is deliberately being targeted

Professor Anis Shaikh, the center of a growing controversy at Vikram University, has strongly refuted the allegations made against him, describing them as a targeted campaign to tarnish his reputation. In a detailed conversation with The Print, Shaikh provided his version of the events that have led to the student complaints. He recounted an incident that occurred just a few days prior, involving one of the complainants, Ojas Gupta. According to Shaikh, Gupta had approached him with a request to improve his grades, citing a desire to pursue higher education in Australia and the need for a grade average of over 85 percent. Shaikh expressed his inability to fulfill this request, stating, “But there is little I could do in the matter.”

Shaikh also addressed the broader accusations regarding his grading practices. He noted that many of the students who had lodged complaints about poor grades had frequently missed practical lessons throughout the year. Some, he claimed, had even left their exam answer sheets blank. “So how does one give them marks?” Shaikh questioned, highlighting the academic negligence on the part of some students as a possible explanation for their low grades.

Regarding the specific allegations about the creation of WhatsApp groups with female students, Shaikh clarified that these groups were established during the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate communication among all students, irrespective of their religious affiliations. He recounted an incident where a Muslim female student had created a group for selling hijabs and inadvertently added all female students. The administration addressed this issue, reprimanding the student involved, and the group was subsequently deleted.

Shaikh emphasized his long-standing record of professionalism and integrity at Vikram University, where he has been a faculty member for 13 years. He pointed out that there have never been any formal complaints against him until now. “Even now, neither the VC nor anyone else has asked me about my conduct. It is through the media that I learnt of the grievances of the students,” he lamented. Shaikh expressed his intention to fully cooperate with the investigative panel and is prepared to present his case, confident in the transparency and fairness of the university’s procedures.

Univ constitutes committee to investigate allegations

Vikram University has taken a decisive step in response to the allegations against Professor Anis Shaikh by forming a committee dedicated to thoroughly investigating these claims. The allegations, which include promoting Islam and discriminating against students based on their religion in the evaluation of exam papers, have prompted the university to act swiftly to maintain its integrity and fairness.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university has announced that this committee is tasked with investigating not only the accusations of religious propagation but also the claims of biased grading practices. He emphasized the urgency and seriousness with which the university is treating these allegations, stating that the probe panel is expected to deliver its findings within 15 days.

Leading the committee is Kamlesh Dashora, the head of the pharmacy department, accompanied by a team of esteemed professors: Salil Sharma, DD Vaidya, Umesh Singh, and Alka Vyas. This panel of academics brings a diverse range of expertise and experience to the table, ensuring a comprehensive and fair investigation. The Vice-Chancellor has issued clear instructions to the committee members to finalize and submit their report within the stipulated 15-day period.

Further emphasizing the gravity of the situation, the Vice-Chancellor mentioned that Professor Shaikh has been asked to refrain from engaging in university activities and to stay away from the campus until the conclusion of the investigation. This measure is seen as a necessary step to ensure that the investigative process remains unbiased and is not influenced by any ongoing interactions that might occur on campus.