Mamta Gautam and Shweta Sharma ABES College professors have now been suspended
In a recent turn of events, ABES College which is a prominent educational institution has found itself embroiled in a controversy surrounding the suspension of two professors.
Two professors from ABES College which is located in Ghaziabad voiced their opposition to the popular slogan, “Jai Shri Ram.” The incident has sparked a heated debate about the boundaries of freedom of expression within academic institutions and the role of religious sentiment in campus life. Two professors opposed ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan by a student and asked him to get off the stage.
Who are Mamta Gautam and Shweta Sharma ABES College professors who didn’t let student say Jai Shree Ram in viral video on Twitter
"कल्चरर प्रोग्राम में जय श्री राम के नारे लगाना कोई लॉजिक नहीं"
◆ मंच संचालक ने कहा- 'प्रीमियर कॉलेज में बैठे हैं, तो बिहेवियर भी वैसा हो आपका'
◆ ABES कॉलेज नारेबाजी मामले का दूसरा वीडियो वायरल#ABES | #JaiShreeRam | ABES College Student Jai Shree Ram Viral Video pic.twitter.com/NRD6sfBMQT
— News24 (@news24tvchannel) October 20, 2023
Reportedly ABES college website is being hacked by unknown hackers-
Hacker/s wrote "Jai Shri Ram" in protest against demeaning 'JSR' and professor Mamta Gautam as Shurpankha !pic.twitter.com/YTzsCkDFWs
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) October 21, 2023
The ABES College, Ghaziabad controversy unfolded when the two professors namely Mamta Gautam and Shweta Sharma were suspended. These two professors expressed their discomfort with religious slogans on campus premises.
Mamta Gautam was an associate professor in the chemistry department at ABES College, and Shweta Sharma was an assistant professor in the same department.
Mamta Gautam was working with ABES’ Chemistry Department and had sixteen years experience. Whereas Shweta Sharma is having twelve years of experience in the same department.
They argued that a place of education should remain neutral ground, free from religious affiliations. This stance drew both support and criticism from various quarters within the college community.
Mamata Gautam, a teacher from ABES Engineering college in Ghaziabad expelled a student from stage for greeting audience with "Jai Shree Ram". The student was about to perform at the College Cultural Fest.
@ABESEC032 should explain Bharat me Jai Shree Ram nahi bolenge to kya… pic.twitter.com/kvN3NGVcQ0
— BALA (@erbmjha) October 20, 2023
— abes (@abesecofficial) October 21, 2023
College’s response
Dr. Sanjay Kumar who is the director of the college shared a 59-second long video on X. He talked about a high-level inquiry committee. This committee was supposed to present a report in front of the administrative department. Based on the report, two faculty members namely Mamta Gautam and Shweta Sharma were suspended.
A section of the college community and external observers argued that the professors’ opposition to the slogan was an infringement on the religious sentiments of a significant portion of the student body. They contended that universities should be inclusive spaces, where all beliefs are respected.
The incident at ABES College has spurred a wider national discourse on the balance between freedom of expression and the need to preserve religious sentiments. It has reignited debates on the secular nature of educational institutions and whether religious symbols and slogans have a place within them. Numerous Hindu organizations are protesting after the incident.