AMU Professor Alleges 27 Years of Harassment Over Hindu Identity; Claims Miscarriage Due to Institutional Pressure.

Professor in AMU alleges harassment by Muslim Colleagues over Hindu identity; claims miscarriage due to mental pressure and heavy work-load.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | Aligarh | Jan 8, 2026:: A senior professor at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has levelled serious allegations of prolonged discrimination, communal harassment, and institutional victimisation, claiming she has been targeted for nearly 27 years because of her Hindu identity. The allegations include claims of sustained mental torture, professional marginalisation, and a miscarriage allegedly caused by excessive workplace pressure during pregnancy.

Professor Rachna Kaushal, a senior faculty member in the Department of Political Science, has submitted a detailed written complaint to AMU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Naima Khatoon, accusing a Dean and a senior Professor of making communal remarks, abusing their authority, and fostering a hostile work environment.

Complaint Submitted With Evidence

According to her complaint, Prof. Kaushal was appointed as a lecturer in 1998, and soon after joining, she allegedly began facing discrimination and mental harassment within the department. She has stated that the alleged harassment continued uninterrupted for decades and adversely impacted her professional growth and personal well-being.

The complaint submitted to the Vice-Chancellor reportedly includes audio recordings, written transcripts, and documentary evidence to support her allegations. Prof. Kaushal has asserted that these materials clearly demonstrate communal bias, intimidation, and misuse of institutional power by senior colleagues.

Allegations of Communal Slurs

Among the most serious claims are allegations of explicit communal slurs. Prof. Kaushal has alleged that she was directly told:

“You are a Hindu, go to BHU (Banaras Hindu University). There, let alone the admission of Muslim children, even their application forms are thrown away.”

She has claimed that such remarks were made in an official academic setting, reinforcing what she describes as a pattern of religious discrimination and humiliation within the university.

Miscarriage Allegedly Linked to Workplace Pressure

One of the most distressing aspects of the complaint pertains to an incident from 2004, when Prof. Kaushal was pregnant and expecting twins. She has alleged that despite her medical condition, she was subjected to relentless mental pressure and forced to continue heavy academic and administrative work.

According to her statement, she continued working under pressure despite physical pain and emotional distress. She has claimed that the sustained stress and workload ultimately resulted in a miscarriage, which she describes as an irreversible personal loss caused by institutional insensitivity.

Ready to Appear With Evidence; Legal Action Warned

Professor Kaushal has stated in her complaint that she is ready to appear in person before the university authorities if required and present all evidence, including audio recordings, transcripts, and documents. She has further warned that if the university fails to initiate action, she will be left with no option but to file an FIR and approach the court to seek justice.

Awaiting University Response

As of now, AMU has not issued any official statement in response to the allegations. It remains unclear whether the university administration will constitute an internal inquiry committee or initiate disciplinary proceedings against those named in the complaint.

Broader Questions on Campus Neutrality

The allegations have once again brought focus to concerns about religious discrimination, institutional accountability, and the protection of faculty rights within higher educational institutions. Academic observers note that if proven, the claims would amount to serious violations of constitutional principles, university service rules, and ethical standards of academia.

While the allegations are yet to be independently verified, their gravity has sparked calls for a transparent, impartial, and time-bound investigation to ensure that academic spaces remain free from communal bias and intimidation.

In 2018, the AMU authorities arbitrarily restrained the CAS promotion of Prof. Kaushal (then an Associate Professor), forcing her to knock on the doors of the Allahabad High Court to obtain favourable justice.

What kind of India is this when open and unapologetic Islamic bullying of Hindus erupts within its own academic institutions—where a devoted Hindu professor is allegedly hounded and humiliated by Muslim colleagues through nakedly communal hostility—scenes one would expect in Bangladesh or Pakistan, not in a constitutional democracy like India!
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_Agency Inputs.