A graduate student from India, Lakshmi Balakrishnan, has accused Oxford University of racial bias, harassment, and injustice. Balakrishnan, who is pursuing a PhD in Shakespeare at the prestigious institution, has initiated legal action against the university, claiming that she has been denied justice through their appeals and complaints procedures.
Balakrishnan claims that in November 2021, her assessors failed her during the confirmation of status assessment in the fourth year of her PhD studies. According to the assessment report, the assessors claimed that Shakespeare did not offer sufficient scope for doctoral-level research. This, Balakrishnan argues, constitutes a breach of contract, as she clearly stated in her application that her PhD thesis would focus on Shakespeare.
She further alleges that the university’s refusal to uphold her appeal, citing the assessors’ academic credentials and judgments, is based on racial bias and procedural irregularities. Balakrishnan states that she has followed all the necessary procedures, filed multiple appeals and complaints, and spent over £100,000 on her education, making significant sacrifices. Despite this, she feels that the university’s actions have disadvantaged her financially and affected her job prospects.
Balakrishnan highlights a crucial detail: two white students from her 2018 cohort successfully defended their PhD theses on Shakespeare, while hers was rejected. She further claims that she was transferred to a Masters program without her consent, after her PhD confirmation was denied, and that she has experienced systematic bullying and harassment from the Oxford English faculty.
Specifically, Balakrishnan alleges that one of her assessors bullied her at a seminar in 2019, forcing her to stop attending these events due to feeling ostracized and targeted. She believes that race played a significant role in this harassment, highlighting a deep bias and discrimination against Indian students within the faculty.
Balakrishnan also accuses one of the assessors of academic misconduct and plagiarism, raising serious questions about the integrity of the confirmation decision. Her case echoes the experiences detailed in Rashmi Samant’s book, ‘A Hindu in Oxford’, which sheds light on the alleged targeting and discrimination faced by Indian students at the university.
Balakrishnan’s legal action and her public appeals for financial support aim to bring attention to the systemic issues she believes exist within Oxford University. Her case raises crucial questions about the university’s commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and fair treatment for all students, particularly those from minority backgrounds.
