Son of Indian oil tycoon made a professor at British university

Britain's University of Sussex has awarded a professorship in sustainable development to 31-year-old Anant Ambani, son of India's richest man, oil tycoon Mukesh Ambani. The decision has drawn criticism from university staff and environmentalists, who have long pointed to the Ambani family's ties to the dubious origins of rare animals in their private zoo.

An oil empire and a wedding with the prime minister

Mukesh Ambani built his fortune on oil and natural gas, owns the world's largest oil refinery, and has close ties to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Two years ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a guest of honour at Anant's lavish wedding. Anant now sits on the executive board of the family conglomerate Reliance Group, where he oversees renewable energy; the family's fortune is estimated at £90 billion — around 2.6 trillion crowns.

A private zoo with 900 crocodiles

In the Indian state of Gujarat, the Ambanis built the private zoo Vantara on a 1,400-hectare site next to one of the family's oil facilities. Reportedly, it houses more than 150,000 animals, including around 200 lions, 250 leopards and 900 crocodiles. Formally, Vantara has never been found guilty of any violations, but conservation groups have for years been asking how several endangered species ended up at the private zoo. According to the UN body overseeing trade in rare species, a significant share of the permits for transporting animals to Vantara appear to have been forged. India, the United States and Japan blocked the body from pursuing the investigation further.

Professorship sparks outrage

It is against this backdrop that news of Anant Ambani's professorship has triggered a sharp response from academics as well as Indian and international environmentalists. Layla Mehta, head of the University of Sussex's climate, environment and sustainability department, said: "Universities should be places that question power and demand accountability from corporations, not grant them academic legitimacy."

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz