JAIPUR: Amid raging controversy over appointment of Feroz Khan, a Muslim professor of Sanskrit at BHU, his father Ramzan Khan has said that his ancestors have been singing the devotional songs of Ram and Krishna for the last 100 years.
Nobody protests
“Those protesting against my son for teaching Sanksrit in university shall be satisfied once they know the history and background of our family,” Ramzan said.
“My four sons have been taught in Sanskrit universities and as my youngest daughter was born on Diwali, we had named her Laxmi,” he said speaking to the members of Sant Samaj who went to his residence to show their solidarity and support to him on Wednesday.
Know our family history
Those protesting my son’s role as a teacher in BHU shall get definitely satisfied once they know our family history, he added.
Feroz’s grandfather was a bhajan singer who is known for his melodious voice singing hymns dedicated to Radha-Krishna, Sitaram, Shiva and other Hindu deities in a temple here in Bagru. Now his grandson Firoz also follows the same values, said Ramzan.
In fact, Ramzan and his family have been working at Ramdev Gaushala for around two decades, with an aim to do ‘gauseva’ and have also been reciting hymns.
Hindu seers supported
People have been flocking from in and around to listen to the hymns of Ramzan in his melodious voice. Such is his melody that once a woman on deathbed invited him to Sing Krishna song to her, said Ramzan, quoting one of the incidents.
Meanwhile, the saints who visited him, said that Ramzan and his family members symbolise the spirit of a true Hindu. It comes as a pride for all of us that Feroz is such a learned scholar of Sanskrit.
“This is very condemnable that a person who is highly qualified in Sanskrit and got appointed on merit is being opposed only because he is Muslim. This intolerance should be stopped,” said Mahant Saurabh Raghvendracharya,. from Raghunaathdhan Pachar.
Those protesting against him either have a fake degree or they themselves are fake, the Mahant added.
Students favours professor Khan
As students of the Sanskrit department at BHU are continue to protest against the appointment of Professor Khan for the last fortnight, many students from the university with banners that read, “We are with you Dr Firoze Khan” took out a march in favour of the newly appointed Sanskrit professor.
Professor Radhavallabh Tripathi, who was among the selection panel in conversation with NDTV said:
“Firoze Khan was selected on the basis of his qualification and he was the most qualified person best suited for the post. He has been trained in “pathshala padhyati” which is the traditional way of teaching Sanskrit and he was just the best candidate. I think the resistance against the appointment is because of vested interests and it should not be allowed,” Professor Tripathi told NDTV.