The
unfortunate suicide of Rohith Vemula, a research scholar from University of
Hyderabad has suddenly sparked political outrage in the country. According to
sources, one ABVP leader Shushil Kumar complained against five members
including Rohith from Ambedkar Student's Association (ASA) that he had been
assaulted by them. Initial investigation report didn't find substantial proof
hence the accused were let off with stern warning.
Then
Bandaru Dattatreya, a BJP Union minister wrote to HRD minister citing that the
ASA students are anti-national (because they demonstrated against Yakub's
hanging) and indulged in caste-politics. He claimed that they got rid of
punishment in the case of assaulting ABVP student due to poor investigation,
hence needed strong action.
Subsequently,
all the five accused students including Rohith were expelled from their hostel
in December. They were denied access to hostels and other buildings on the
campus except their classroom, library, conference and workshops related to
their subject of study. They were evicted from their rooms and since then they
were forced to sleep in a make shift camp in the campus.
Point is
simple. The university V-C P. Appa Rao who is considered to be a BJP man might
have acted as per the instructions of his political boss and served serious
punishments to the accused students from ASA.
A case
has been registered against Union minister, Bandaru Dattatreya, V-C P. Appa Rao
and four others for abatement of suicide.
Now
question is whether it's abatement to suicide by V-C and his political boss? If
closely looked at, it's case of fierce student politics. It's a conflict
between ABVP and ASA. The deceased was a part of such politics. Does political
matter abate suicide?
In the
suicide note Rohith didn't mention any such thing. If his suicide note is read
carefully, it gives an indication that he was under tremendous strain due to
caste based discrimination in University of Hyderabad (UoH). Question is
whether this caste based discrimination a new phenomenon in this university
after BJP took charge in Centre as opposition is blaming that aggressive
saffronisation in the university led to caste based discrimination.
But facts
are otherwise. According to senior faculty members, the caste based
discrimination in UoH was there since its inception from 1974. This is nothing
to do with politics. This was due to the social system prevailing in Hyderabad and
its surrounding.
Is Rohith
first to commit suicide for caste discrimination? The answer is again no. Nine
students including Rohith from Dalit community committed suicide in University
of Hyderabad due to caste based discrimination, in last decade. Before Rohith,
in 2013 a PHD scholar M. Venkatesh committed suicide while opposing the caste
based discrimination. Nine students committing suicide, it is not a small case.
There must be something wrong in the University, which needs urgent attention.
Definitely it's not politics that took nine lives. It's the caste base
discrimination against marginalized sections that cost some genius lives; it's
a socio-political problem. It requires urgent attention as University can't be
a place for discrimination on any basis.
From a
political point of view, yes, Bandaru Dattatreya has no locus standi in
University politics. He may not abate the suicide but definitely vitiate the
student politics. Action should be taken against him and I feel he should also
be sacked as a minister.
But, what
about others, who are doing politics over student's dead body? Arvind Kejriwal
who was mum on Malda riots has become very vocal in this case. Mayawati sent a two member
committee to the university. Rahul Gandhiis
visiting the university today. Where was Rahul Gandhi when eight students from
Dalit community committed suicide in last decade during UPA's rule? Bandaru
Dattatreya is condemned from intervening in students’ politics. Why Rahul
Gandhi should also not be condemned for intervening in students politics, first
in FTII and now in UoH.
It's time
to take stern steps to end caste based discrimination in the universities. But
will the political class realize it? I guess no. They have their interests in
doing politics even on the dead body of the students. That's very unfortunate
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