Unnecessary confusion over BHU professor’s appointment: Samskrit Bharati

New Delhi, Nov 30: Making its stand clear on the controversy over the appointment of Prof Firoze Khan in the Benaras Hindu University (BHU) Department of Sanskrit Literature as uncalled for, the Samskrit Bharati supported the decision of the university.

In a statement issued here the Samskrit Bharati All India General Secretary Shrish Deopujari said that it was necessary to understand that Dr Firoze Khan’s appointment was made in the Department of Samskrit Literature.

Every faculty has various departments. Likewise Banaras Hindu University's Samskrit Vidya Dharma Vigyan Faculty also has several departments like Literature, Grammar, Dharma Shastra, Ved and others. What is wrong with a Muslim teaching Literature?

Some people are spreading wrong information in the press media that Dr. Firoze Khan will be teaching Vedic rituals and performing Yagyas. The appointment has been sanctioned by the signatures of Department Head and Faculty Head. Will they appoint a Muslim to teach Vedic rituals or for performing Yagyas?, Deopujari asked.

Each department is separate and each department has highly intelligent professors. They are capable of teaching their subjects to the very best.

He further said that there is another misunderstanding connected to the subject Dharma Shastra. Dharma doesn't mean Religion. India is the oldest civilization. At various times there have been various constitutions for the smooth functioning of the society. Today they are known as Smritis. These Smritis are studied in the Dharma Shastra subject. According to the modern vocabulary Dharma Shastra may be translated as Law.

The Samskrit Bharati urged all the students to withdraw their protest; called upon the University authorities to bring the situation back to normal at the earliest and appealed Dr Firoze Khan to fearlessly make his contributions at the University.

The statement also said that Samskrit Bharati embarked its journey to teach Samskrit to the entire world. Apart from India Samskrit Bharati is active in 17 other countries including Arab countries. We sing a song - Pathyem Samskritam Jagati Sarva Maanavaan (We will teach Samskrit to every human being in the world.) Dr Firoze Khan is one of the thousands of people who were trained by Samskrit Bharati.