HCU suicide: Protests spread like wildfire

The protests following the suicide of Dalit research scholar at Hyderabad Central University on January 17 is gathering momentum in Mumbai, as students from many institutions have raised their voices against the inaction by the authorities against the discriminative policies for students from the SC/ST and minority communities. All Ambedkarite Movements and All Party Dalit Leaders will hold a protest at Eastern Freeway on January 21.

Students from TISS were the first to hold a protest in the city on Monday, followed by protests outside the main gate of University of Mumbai (MU) in Kalina by MU students, TISS and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research on Tuesday. They were joined by various student organisations that included the Students Islamic Organisation that said that the radicalisation of students across higher and technical institutions across the country will have an adverse impact on the future of these students.

“It is our earnest desire to see the social fabric of India to be acknowledged and spread through the campuses of India. We would like the campuses to be safe haven for healthy discussions and a cradle for the development of the society at large and such condemnable events bring hurdles to these aspirations,” said a spokesperson of the SIO.

“The injustice that prompted Vemula to take the extreme step of ending his life is very shocking and there is more to it than meets the eye. The circumstances surrounding the expulsion of Vemula and four other Dalit scholars by HCU hint strongly towards the radicalisation of the educational institutions. If steps are not taken to arrest this phenomenon, it will create a social divide on the lines of caste, race and religion,” said Sanjay Wairal, president of the SC/ST/OBC Student and Teachers Association.