The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday sought answers from Sharda University over an “objectionable” question asked in an examination on similarities between Hindutva and fascism. At the same time, the assistant professor of the university, who prepared the question paper, has resigned. The higher education regulator has asked the Greater Noida-based private university to state in a detailed action taken report what steps it has taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future. However, the university’s assistant professor in the matter, Waqas Farooq, resigned on Monday. In a letter sent to Sharda University, the UGC said, “It has come to notice that the students objected to the question and lodged a complaint with the university.
Needless to say that asking such question to students is against the spirit and ethos of our country which is known for inclusiveness and uniformity and such question should not have been asked.” BA 1st year examination In the question paper of Political Science (Hons) students were asked about “Hinduism-Fascism”. The seven-point question asked, “Do you find any similarities between Fascism/Nazism and the Hindu Right (Hindutva)? Explain with arguments.” After the question paper went viral on social media, the university constituted a three-member committee to “look into the possibility of bias in the questions”. The committee will take statements from other professors, students in the matter, on the basis of which it will give its decision.
The university, in a statement issued on Saturday, said the committee has found the question objectionable and may be overlooked by the assessors for the purpose of evaluation. The university has also issued a show cause notice to the faculty member who prepared the question paper. Professor Sibaram Khara, Vice Chancellor of Sharda University, said that the UGC has sent a letter asking what action has been taken by the university in this matter. The university has already ordered an inquiry into the matter by suspending Assistant Professor Waqas Farooq, who prepared the question paper.