Mumbai University students collect Rs 1.25 lakh for Rohith's family

Students of University of Mumbai (MU) and SNDT Women’s University collected and handed over a sum of Rs 1.25 lakh to the family of dalit scholar Rohith Vemula who committed suicide in the hostel room of Hyderabad Central University (HCU) in January.

Even though Vemula’s family has refused to accept monetary help from anyone, the funds collected by the students in Mumbai will be used for the various agitations being conducted by Justice for Vemula Action Committee in which the family members are also involved.

Speaking about the initiative by the students of both the major universities in the city, Dr Mridul Nile, former in-charge director of the department of students welfare, MU, said not only students but also teachers and staff of both the universities had contributed wholeheartedly for the cause.

“The students have been holding regular meets on the campuses to discuss the progress of the agitation for demanding justice for Vemula. That is when they came to know that the action committee was having problems making ends meet and hence decided to collect funds for them,” said Dr Nile, who is a professor, department of politics, MU.

In all, 107 students from both the universities under the guidance of professors Babasaheb Kamble and Dr Anagha Kamble and PhD researchers Pradeep Waghmare, Dhanraj Kosade and Bhushan Arekar oversaw the collection process that lasted four days. On Sunday, the amount was handed over in person to the action committee at Hyderabad by the professors and scholars.

Various students’ unions and organisations have been contributing and helping the action committee to keep alive the agitation and provide support to Vemula’s family. A few days ago, the HCU extended monetary help to Vemula’s family which they had refused accusing the government of dragging its feet on the issue and trying to shield the culprits.