KARACHI: A Muslim student at the Manipal University in India’s Kar­nataka lashed out at a teacher who allegedly called him a “terr­orist” during class, Dawn.com reported on Mon­day, quoting Indian media reports.

A 45-second video of the incident, which is being widely circulated on social media, shows a young man confronting the professor in a classroom full of students.

A report by the Hindustan Times quoted the student as saying: “How can you pass such statements?”

The professor clarified that he had passed the remarks “as a joke”, to which the student replied: “26/11 is not funny, being Muslim and facing such things in this country is not funny.”

According to the Hin­dustan Times report, the professor 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.

“The professor later had a conversation with the student and issued a personal apology too,” the report claimed citing sources. “The matter was also said to be resolved between the student and the professor.”

Meanwhile, a report by NDTV said that the university has initiated a departmental inquiry against the teacher and the “student has been given counseling”.

The remarks drew the ire of a number of Indian journalists and activists.

Ashok Swain, a professor at Uppsala University, called the incident “what it has been to be a minority in India”.

Actor Arfi Lamba highlighted that “hatred and communalism have reached the temples of learning”, adding that a student should not have to defend himself against bigotry.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2022