Deoband heat 'forces' university to scrap paper on controversial author Salman Rushdie
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Indian-born author of The Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie
Chaudhary Charan Singh University (CCSU) in Meerut has cancelled the post-doctoral fellowship of Prabha Parmar, who was awarded research work on the novels of three authors, including controversial writer Salman Rushdie.
Darul Uloom Deoband had opposed any study on Rushdie's novel The Satanic Verses, which is banned in the country, though Parmer's ambit of research reportedly did not cover the novel.
But in an official communication dated April 23, 2012, sent to her, Prof. Arun Kumar, department of English, (CCSU), gave another reason for cancelling her fellowship: That she is on maternity leave and is yet to start the research work sanctioned by the UGC this January.
'This has reference to the UGC letter dated January 23, 2012, on the subject of the award for fellowship for the year 2011-2012 (Category OBC) for your topic Use of Magic Realism in the Major Novels of Salman Rushdie, Amitav Ghosh and Vikram Seth in the subject of English.
'You joined the department on February 13, 2012, and on the next day asked for maternity leave for three months till May 13, 2012,' the letter read.
'You have technically not started your research work, which was approved by the UGC on January 23, 2012.
'Please be informed that the department of English will not be able to provide any facilities for your fellowship,' it stated.
Not ready to speak on the issue, Parmar merely confirmed the receipt of the letter on Wednesday.
But a source close to her said that the department had not raised any objection before some members of the university tried to create a controversy.
Ashraf Usmani, chairman of Darul Ifta, fatwa department of Darul Uloom, Deoband, had said on Monday they were preparing to oppose the fellowship.
'The CCSU had allowed a student to do research on a book (The Satanic Verses) which was banned in India.
'This means that the ban on the book is mere eyewash and the government supports a student to read it and do research on it,' he had said.
Expressing his satisfaction over the fresh decision, Usmani said: 'They stand corrected. We are happy about it.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2135170/Deoband-heat-forces-university-scrap-paper-controversial-author-Salman-Rushdie.html#ixzz2jGQLBiRF
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