AMU VC Zameer Uddin Shah denies girls access to varsity library; HRD Minister Smriti Irani seeks explanation

The Aligarh Muslim University today found itself in the midst of a controversy over not allowing access to women undergraduates to the main library in the campus but the institution said it was due to space constraint and denied having a "sexist approach". AMU Vice Chancellor Zameer Uddin Shah said that undergraduate girl students studying at the off-campus Women's College do not have access to facilities of the Maulana Azad Library since it was established in 1960 and there was "no fresh ban".

Shah on Monday rejected the demand of women students for access to the Maulana Azad Library, by saying there would be "four times more boys" in the library if girls were allowed in.

The HRD Ministry has responded to the VC's comment with Minister Smriti Irani saying, "AMU VC's reported remark not only hurts as a woman but also agitates." Irani termed the remark an "insult to daughters".

HRD ministry has said it will seek explanation from the VC on girl students not allowed in varsity library as it amounts to "disrespect to women"

Lt. Gen. (Retired) Zameer Uddin had noted that all postgraduate girls and women research scholars "have been enjoying round the clock access to the Maulana Azad Library since its inception" and rejected allegations of gender bias, terming them "not only erroneous but mischievous and defamatory". He said Women's College is more than two kilometres from the main campus and all undergraduate students have access "to a top class separate library of their own".

Shah's comment has been severly criticised by various women's association. All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) general secretary Jagmati Sangwan on Tuesday termed Shah's statement as 'unfortunate', and called for action against people making such statements. "This is a very unfortunate statement, action should be taken against such statements," Jagmati Sangwan said.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Barkha Shukla has strongly condemned Shah's statement, and said that this reflects the university's mindset. "The statement that if the girls are allowed in the library, then guys will get attracted and crowd the place, shows the kind of mindset that is prevalent there. This is wrong, and in the current times, women can't be oppressed," Barkha Shukla said. She said the library should be expanded to accommodate more students rather than oppressing women. "If there is lack of space then expand the library, after all the colleges and universities are there to give education to students," she added.

Reports suggest  that the Maulana Azad Library reportedly has more and a better stock of books than the Women's College library. This is the reason behind the demand of Women's College students to access the main library, however they have never been given membership of the library.

Shah said that a demand was raised yesterday to allow undergraduate girls to access the Maulana Azad Library but it was already burdened. It can be met only after the "infrastructural issues have been resolved and arrangements for safe transport for girls have been made," the VC said.

Also Read: AMU VC claims not being sexist; says library cannot take more students

"I gave an assurance that presently we are not able to cater even to the burgeoning demands of boys and graduate girls for availing reading room facilities at the Maulana Azad Library and hence the issue of permitting undergraduate girls would have to wait until we have created necessary extra space.

"Once the infrastructural issues have been resolved and arrangements for safe transport for girls have been made, then we would certainly have no objection in permitting these girls to get physical access to the central library if they so wish," he said.

The VC said he was "pained" that an impression was being created "as if AMU is against equal rights to women or that I have a sexist approach. I want to reiterate that women's empowerment is today a top priority of AMU and it is an article of faith for me to ensure that girl students at AMU are ready to compete with the brightest and the best in the country". 

With agency inputs.