Renowned CERN physicist Dr. Basant Kumar Mohanty, with an h-index of 120, has been denied promotion to professor at Delhi University. Activists allege caste-based discrimination and demand transparency in academic appointments.
In a development that has shaken the academic community, Dr. Basant Kumar Mohanty, a highly accomplished physicist affiliated with CERN and a faculty member at Delhi University, has been denied promotion to the rank of professor. The decision has led to allegations of caste-based discrimination, triggering protests from social organizations and educators across the country.
What makes Dr. Mohanty’s case stand out is not just his academic record, but the scale of his global recognition. With an h-index of 120, he ranks among the most cited physicists in India—many times over the national average for professors in Indian universities, which typically stands below 20.
Despite these credentials, Mohanty was declared “unsuitable” by Delhi University’s promotion committee—sparking accusations of bias from colleagues, activists, and social justice organizations.
“This is a travesty,” said Rahul, a fellow academic and close associate of Dr. Mohanty. “When someone of Dr. Mohanty’s caliber is labelled ‘unsuitable’, it raises serious questions about what the university really values. His rejection is not about merit—it’s about his background.”
Dr. Mohanty belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, and his supporters allege that his identity played a decisive role in the university’s decision. Activists claim that this is not an isolated case but part of a larger pattern of institutional exclusion faced by SC/ST/OBC scholars in Indian academia.
“There’s a silent but systematic practice of branding scholars from marginalized communities as inadequate, despite their proven excellence,” said Ashok Bharti, Chairperson of the National Confederation of Dalit Organisations (NACDOR). “The selection panels are often dominated by forward caste individuals, creating an unspoken but effective barrier against diversity in leadership.”
Bharti has demanded that faculty selection and promotion interviews be mandatorily recorded on video to ensure transparency and accountability. “The process lacks any form of public scrutiny. If merit was truly the benchmark, Mohanty would’ve been promoted years ago,” he added.
The Social Democratic Teachers’ Front (SDTF), alongside NACDOR, has demanded the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University, accusing the administration of fostering a culture of exclusion and casteism.
For many, this case echoes past tragedies—particularly the suicide of PhD scholar Rohith Vemula in 2016, and more recently, the death of Professor Samarvir Singh, both of which brought attention to the mental and institutional toll caste-based discrimination takes on scholars from marginalized groups.
“This is not just about one professor,” said an SDTF representative. “It’s about generations of talented students and teachers being held back, not because they lack merit, but because the system refuses to recognize it in someone who doesn’t fit the savarna mold.”
Dr. Mohanty has so far remained silent on the controversy, but his peers continue to speak out. “He is one of the most brilliant scientists we have. It’s painful to see such a person humiliated because of who he is,” said a colleague in the Department of Physics, who requested anonymity.
As the story gains traction, educationists are calling for a systemic overhaul—including more inclusive hiring committees, transparency in selection processes, and safeguards to prevent caste-based exclusion in higher education.
“This moment is a test for Indian academia,” Bharti said. “Will we allow talent to rise, or continue to let caste decide who belongs at the top?”
For now, Dr. Mohanty’s rejection is more than a personal disappointment—it has become a rallying point in the long battle for equity and dignity in Indian higher education.
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