Why did Manipal University’s professor label Muslim student a ‘terrorist’?

The hashtag of ‘Manipal University’ has become one of the top trending topics on Twitter today. 

Whenever such hashtags trend, mostly it is related to an unfortunate incident and so is this one.  It all started when a professor in a classroom referred to a Muslim student as a ‘terrorist’ in front of the whole class. However, the concern remains why? Why did he do that and what impact it had on the student?

Incident

The incident took place on Friday at the Manipal Institute of Technology in Udipi.  According to the Indian media, a Muslim student was labelled a ‘terrorist’ during a lecture.

In response, he confronted the professor in a classroom full of students. “How can you pass such statements?”, he was quoted as saying in a viral video.

Professor’s response

In his response, the professor clarified that he had passed the remarks ‘as a joke’, to which the student replied: “

“26/11 was not funny. Being a Muslim in this country and facing all this every day is not funny, sir. You can’t joke about my religion, that too in such a derogatory manner. It’s not funny sir, it’s not,” the student shouted as the teacher tried to downplay an egregious comment..”

Apology

The professor later apologised to the student, saying that he was equal to his son. “Will you treat your son like this? Will you label him as a terrorist, in front of everyone in the class? Sorry alone will not help, sir. It doesn’t change how you portray yourself here,” the student was quoted as replying.

Netizens’ reaction

Many social media users took to Twitter and condemned the incident:

What happened yesterday in Manipal university was really not funny. But I’m not shocked. This is actually what happening in every central university.
Destroying the minds of the youth of this beautiful country is the topmost priority, education is the 2nd one.#manipaluniversity

— hardik motsara (@hardikmotsara08) November 28, 2022

#BJP is successfully spoiling the essence of education in #India ????

Professor in a classroom is referring a Muslim student as ‘terrorist’ in front of whole class ???? pic.twitter.com/3X0sjUNlLp

— YSR (@ysathishreddy) November 28, 2022

Professor in a classroom is referring a Muslim student as ‘terrorist’ in front of whole class ????
And
Kudos to the boy???????? who gave slipper shot reply to his so called professor #manipaluniversity pic.twitter.com/O0rfFEGclA

— Varma Sai (@VarmaSai18) November 28, 2022

Dalits & Muslim students been discriminated, are victims of biases of teachers & called terrorist. It is unfortunate that the brave student fight alone & other students are spectators, our educational system failed to address discrimination & untouchability. #manipaluniversity pic.twitter.com/VjBOrNgRsx

— Adv Priyadarshi Telang (@priyadarshi07) November 29, 2022

#manipaluniversity Every day, each and every one of us should stand up against racial prejudice and disrespectful attitudes. Humanity will never allow anyone to encourage such behavior. It should be condemned by all.

— poli_gem (@Gigi_M7) November 29, 2022

Something similar has happened to me too many times. When I was in school, the teachers there often used to make fun of me, all the other children used to sit quietly and watch, No one used to stand with me in my support.#manipaluniversity https://t.co/5asP8OSONj

— mr.sadik (@Sadikkhan348240) November 29, 2022

When the teacher’s thinking is like this, the environment of the country will be like this.@EduMinOfIndia @CMofKarnataka @BCNagesh_bjp Strict action should be taken against such universities Due to which the name of our state is bad. ????????????#manipaluniversity pic.twitter.com/CHHVCurpl6

— Muhammad Irshadkhan ✨ محمد ارشادخان (@ThisIrshadkhan) November 29, 2022

YOU ARE WRONG SIR !@manipaluniv

Thank you @satishacharya for this power ! Let’s stand together against this Hate Regime !#manipaluniversity #Islamophobia_in_india #MuslimLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/y2saPFutET

— Santosh Chandan (@Santosh72502433) November 29, 2022

Distasteful and disastrous. I wish the same amount of media light was thrown on the gang that could be seen beating up and forcing a Hidnu boy to say words in praise of the Prophet. Never saw media taking it up seriously :/ #manipaluniversity https://t.co/0Z80MqhYkf

— Bhavani Balaji (@Bhavani__Balaji) November 29, 2022

“Sorry does not change how you think.”

Disgusting and unacceptable behaviour in #manipaluniversity

MIT Professor addressed a student as ‘Kasab’ indirectly portraying him as a terrorist.

P.S. ‘Kasab’ was the face of #Mumbai2611 pic.twitter.com/aR0lDtrhjy

— Šäãđ ???????? (@_saad_says_) November 28, 2022

Action 

After the video went viral, the university initiated a departmental inquiry against the teacher who was suspended later and the student was given counselling. 

Students’ reaction

In a WhatsApp post which was later circulated in one of the student groups of the university, where students demanded that they were present there and what professor did was unintentional, he indeed passed a racist comment which is not acceptable but it was indeliberate.

The students demanded that however, after having a personal conversation with the lecturer, many students acknowledged that he genuinely meant that apology, and as a student community, we must let it go as a genuine mistake, the students, dsaid.