Dr. Saitya Brata Das, Associate Professor of English at the Centre for English Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, was recently denied promotion to Professorship by the JNU Vice Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar Mamidala. Dr. Das has six books, three edited books of essays, and several published papers to his credit. He has also been teaching for over sixteen years, eleven years at the Venkateshwara College, Delhi University, and since 2012 he has been a permanent faculty member in JNU.
Given his extraordinary academic achievements which clearly make him eligible for Professorship, it is evident that the denial of promotion is a case of blatant discrimination. Dr. Das says that the discrimination seems more stark in light of the fact that those conforming to the ruling ideology of the administration and the State are easily promoted, while those who do not conform and are progressive and left-leaning, are discriminated against and not given promotion.
