Facing heat,scholar drops Rushdie study

Following protests from Darul Uloom Deoband and other Islamic organisations,a research scholar at Meeruts Chaudhary Charan Singh University has requested the UGC to change the topic of her post-doctoral research into Use of magic realism in the major novels of Salman Rushdie,Amitav Ghosh and Vikram Seth.

Prabha Parmar has written to UGC,which had awarded her a five-year fellowship for the research,and the universitys vice-chancellor. She has requested for a change in topic or amendment to the extent of dropping the name of Rushdie.

Parmar had enroled at the university on February 13. The mention of Rushdie as the subject of her research evoked sharp criticism.

I dont want to be involved in any controversy. I have nothing against anyone and have decided not to pursue this research, Parmar told The Indian Express. Parmar said that she will leave the fellowship if her topic was not changed.