LAHORE: Renowned physicist Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy on Saturday resigned as distinguished professor of Physics and Mathematics from the Forman Christian College (FCC) in protest against, what he claims, lack of respect he received at the hands of the administration.

He has been teaching at the FCC for the last eight years and his contract would have ended in October 2020.

The resignation would take effect 120 days upon its acceptance from July 3.

His resignation, available with Dawn, stated that he was resigning as distinguished professor of Physics and Mathematics in protest against reduction of contract from three years to one year, also not renewable.

“I am resigning because the Rector claims I do not meet FCC’s academic standards or its teaching requirements. In his email to me, on June 20 he stated that the Academic Standards Committee had recommended against my continuation at FCC, a decision he agrees with. Whether such a meeting actually took place, I cannot say. But if it did then I had been tried and sentenced in absentia without a chance given to defend myself. I cannot recall any individual or committee seeking to contact me on any such matter during my 8 years at FCC. I have never been informed either verbally or in writing about my alleged shortcomings, nor have I seen minutes of any meeting where my role at FCC was discussed.”

It further states, “I am resigning because the Administration is not just tolerating academic mediocrity but is actively soliciting and promoting it. It appears to have only one interest at heart – that to have grand graduation ceremonies, mortar boards, pomp, pageantry, processions and parades.”

It states, “I am resigning because I am denied the respect that every academic is entitled to, especially one who bears the title of Distinguished Professor. If someone in this category can be dealt with so whimsically, arbitrarily and high-handedly, then what hope can there be for FCC’s lecturers, assistant professors, associate professors, and even full professors? Such absolute arrogance of power and arbitrary diktat is intolerable in any institution, but particularly in an academic institution where successful functioning demands collegiality, fair-play and transparency. By violating these fundamental principles, Forman Christian College is spiraling into academic degeneration with no visible end point.”

Prof Hoodbhoy also named two professors of the physics department who engineered his removal. He said he had preferred to resign after completing the current contract and it would be ended in 120 days.

FCC spokesperson Michelle Jacob was not available for comments.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2020