Professor says women should read Constitution instead of fasting during Navratri, terminated

The services of a guest lecturer at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth University in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi has been terminated after protests over his alleged derogatory social media post on the Hindu festival of Navratri.

Prof Mithilesh Gautam had put up a social media post where he shared that women should not keep fast for nine days during Navratri, instead they should read the Constitution.

मैं मिथिलेश गौतम की बात को दोहराता हूँ। इस शिक्षक ने ऐसा क्या बोला था कि यूनिवर्सिटी को मिर्ची लग गई। महिलाओं को हक़ हिन्दू कोड बिल से मिला है। धार्मिक ग्रंथों ने तो हमेशा उनका रास्ता मुश्किल ही किया है। #मिथिलेश_गौतम_को_बहाल_करो pic.twitter.com/LLbHPMX0Q4

— Ashok Das (@ashokdasDDastak) September 30, 2022

His post received flak from a section of students, who protested against the professor.

On September 29, a complaint was filed against Gautam with the college authorities.

The Registrar of the university said that the post on social media hurt "religious sentiments" and in view of students' protests, the environment at the college was disrupted.

Examinations and admissions have come to a halt as well, the Registrar said.

Following the complaint, Gautam was barred from entering university and has now been dismissed from services 'with immediate effect'.

Meanwhile, students supporting Gautam have submitted an application with the university authority to withdraw action taken against him.