Bihar: Controversy erupts as JPU professor sparks outrage with anti-national Facebook posts

In a significant development, Khursheed Alam (Lal Babu), an Assistant Professor at Jay Prakash University (JPU) in Chhapra, Bihar, has ignited a major controversy through inflammatory Facebook posts, calling for a separate nation for Indian Muslims by annexing Pakistan and Bangladesh. The posts have garnered strong opposition from the Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP), prompting them to demand the dismissal of Professor Alam.

ABVP members have submitted a memorandum to Vice-Chancellor Professor Ranjit Kumar of Narayan College Goriyakothi, Siwan, a unit of JPU, urging immediate action against Professor Alam. Activists from ABVP are pushing for the establishment of an investigation committee and the filing of a case against the professor. Notable figures including State University Work Co-Head Rajnikant Singh, University Convenor Prashant Singh, University Research Head Himanshu Kumar, and Prabhakar Kumar were among those presenting the memorandum.

Rajiv Tiwari, BJYM state regional in-charge, has also joined the chorus, demanding swift action from the university authorities. Tiwari emphasised that students will continue to protest until appropriate measures are taken. Concurrently, the university administration has issued a show-cause notice to Professor Khursheed Alam.

As per reports, Professor Alam’s Facebook profile, revealed numerous anti-national posts encouraging Indian Muslims to advocate for a separate ‘homeland.’ On January 2nd, Alam posted an appeal to the governments of Bangladesh and Pakistan, expressing Indian Muslims’ desire for a separate nation adjacent to the two countries.

Some of his posts are listed below:

In another post, Alam alleged that Hindu nationalists are endorsing the two-nation theory, stating, “The Hindu nationalists are justifying the two-nation theory, therefore, the much-publicised communal questions needed to be resolved first.”

The report also delves into the historical background of the Two Nation Theory, attributed to Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the founder of Aligarh Muslim University. Professor Alam’s posts on December 19th last year are highlighted, where he asserted that Hindu rights have demolished the idea of secularism and called for Muslims to demand a separate homeland adjoining Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Alam’s Facebook activity further includes lamenting the alleged unjust incarceration of Indian Muslims under stringent provisions, expressing disdain for Brahmins, and accusing both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress of being “Brahminical parties.”

As the controversy unfolds, questions arise regarding the professor’s conduct and the potential repercussions within the academic community.