https://www.sabrangindia.in/article/letter-should-shake-our-world-dalit-scholar-suicide-triggers-outrage *A letter that should shake our world: Dalit scholar suicide triggers outrage*
Rohith Vemula will live on Anguished and shocked at Rohith’s death, expelled students vow to continue the protest with support of others Nationwide protests will take place following the suicide by Vemula Rohith, a Dalit student at the university of Hyderabad (UoH) on the evening of Sunday, January 17. The first protest, spontaneous and angry, took place at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) late night, about 9.30 p.m. on Sunday January 17, 2016 itself. Vemula Rohith left a poignant suicide note before he took his life by hanging himself in the room of a colleague-friend in Hyderabad. The next protest will take place outside the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) and its minister, Smriti Irani at 2 p.m. on Monday January 18. Irani had, according to protesting students and a letter written by a ruling party Member of Parliament (MP)—see https://www.sabrangindia.in/article/we-shall-not-be-silenced-protest-against-expulsion-dalit-research-scholars -- obviously interfered in the matter of unlawful suspension of five PHD students and in protecting the student saffron wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The students belonging to the Ambedkar Students Association (ASA) of which Rohith Vemula was an active part, had been furthering a debate on issues related to social justice, including communalism, ensuring that they get effectively flagged on the campus. Irani’s alleged interference can be traced to a letter written by none less than Bandaru Dattatreya , Secunderabad BJP MP and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, to the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) dubbing ASA “casteist, extremist and anti-national”. The communication demanded that the “dynamic leadership” of Smriti Irani, Minister of Human Resources and Development, bring about a “change for the better” in the institution. The ‘change for the better’ in ideological terms (for the Sangh Parivar) meant overruling an earlier decision of former Vice Chancellor of the University RB Sharna who revoked an earlier suspension of the same students after the decision was found to be not in accordance with the decision taken by the Proctorial Board of the UoH (August-September 2015). Sharma soon retired after which the newly appointed and more politically compliant, Appa Rao ‘fell in line’ with Dattarayera’s communication and Irani’s interventions. Anguished at the loss of life of one of their own, one of the five PHD students unlawfully suspended, students from the ASA and other students organizations including the Students Federation of India (SFI) told Sabrangindia that though deeply disturbed there is a steely determination among the students that the late night, sleep out protest will continue. O On Mon, Jan 18, 2016 at 1:16 PM, Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC <[email protected]> wrote: > *Dalits Media Watch* > > *English News Updates 1**8**.01.16* > > > > *PhD scholar at Hyd central varsity found hanging, students protest** -* > *Hindustan > times * > > > http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/hyderabad-phd-scholar-at-central-varsity-found-hanging-students-protest/story-ZqJCTsPNPCLRFOmWOUm1gK.html > > *Struggling to make ends meet, they ‘execute’ contracts worth crores** -* > *Nyoooz > * > > > http://www.nyoooz.com/delhi/324343/struggling-to-make-ends-meet-they-execute-contracts-worth-crores > > *Folk artiste Gunasekaran dies aged 60** -* *Nyoooz * > > > http://www.nyoooz.com/puducherry/324302/folk-artiste-gunasekaran-dies-aged-60 > > *QBullet: Deciding PDP’s Future, Govt to Review Farmer Policy** -* *The > quint * > > > http://www.thequint.com/india/2016/01/18/qbullet-deciding-pdps-future-govt-to-review-farmer-policy > > *Ahead of U.P. polls, politics over Ambedkar’s legacy gathers pace** -* *The > hindu * > > > http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/ahead-of-up-polls-politics-over-ambedkars-legacy-gathers-pace/article8117750.ece > > *16 injured in group clash** -* *The hindu * > > > http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/16-injured-in-group-clash/article8118142.ece > > > > > > *Hindustan times * > > *PhD scholar at Hyd central varsity found hanging, students protest* > > > http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/hyderabad-phd-scholar-at-central-varsity-found-hanging-students-protest/story-ZqJCTsPNPCLRFOmWOUm1gK.html > > > > A PhD scholar was found hanging at a central university’s hostel room > located on the varsity campus on Sunday, police said. > > > > “V Rohit (around 26) was found hanging in the hostel room. He was among > the five research scholars who were suspended by Hyderabad Central > University (HCU) in August last year and also one of the accused in the > case of assault on a student leader,” Cyberabad police commissioner C V > Anand told PTI. > > The suspension of Rohit, who belonged to Dalit community, was revoked > later. > > > > Further investigation in the case is on. > > Earlier, the five research scholars were suspended from the hostel for > rest of their study period for allegedly attacking an ABVP leader. > > > > Meanwhile, mild tension prevailed on the campus on Sunday after scores of > students gathered and held demonstration along with Rohit’s body and raised > slogans. > > > > They demanded police to register a case under SC/ST Atrocity Act against > Union minister and BJP leader Bandaru Dattatreya while alleging that he had > written to HRD ministry seeking action against these research scholars. > > > > A section of students had last week laid a siege to the Administrative > Building of the HCU against the suspension of the research scholars. > > > > The students under the umbrella of a Joint Action Committee (JAC) had > termed the suspension as “undemocratic” and as a “social boycott” since the > five research scholars were denied access to hostels and were forced to > sleep in a makeshift tent on the campus. > > > > Based on the recommendations of a sub-committee of the executive council, > the five were denied access to hostels on the campus except their > classrooms and workshops related to their subject of study. > > > > The council had recommended the punishment based on a proctorial committee > inquiry. The committee was constituted after an ABVP activist was attacked > on the campus, police said. > > > > *Nyoooz * > > *Struggling to make ends meet, they ‘execute’ contracts worth crores* > > > http://www.nyoooz.com/delhi/324343/struggling-to-make-ends-meet-they-execute-contracts-worth-crores > > > > Summary: But for the tribal youth from the Gandabaheli village of Odisha’s > Nuapada district has executed government construction contracts worth over > Rs.1 crore in the past couple of years. There have been numerous examples > of persons belonging to BPL tribes being used as dummies in ‘lucrative’ > government construction contracts. But Majhi is a leading contractor in the > government records who has completed construction worth more than Rs.8 > crore in the past few years. I once asked Meher what would happen if there > were any problem with the construction and I get jailed. Hasut has two bank > accounts – one with the State Bank of India and another in a regional bank. > > > > Tribal youth Hasut Sabar in front of his one-room house at Gandabaheli > village in Sinapali block and Duryodhan Majhi (right) in Dabri village in > Komna block of Nuapada district in Odisha. Life for 28-year-old Hasut > Sabar, with a monthly salary of Rs.4,000, has been a daily struggle and a > decent house a distant dream for him. But for the tribal youth from the > Gandabaheli village of Odisha’s Nuapada district has executed government > construction contracts worth over Rs.1 crore in the past couple of years. > Hasut, who considers the ration card under the National Food Security Act > as his most-valued possession, is a ‘B’ Class contractor. In neighbouring > block, Komna, Duryodhan Majhi of Dabri village spends most of his time in a > thatched house near an agricultural field protecting farm produce at > remuneration less than Rs.3,000 per month. But Majhi is a leading > contractor in the government records who has completed construction worth > more than Rs.8 crore in the past few years. Hasut and Majhi are not the > ‘rare’ government record-rich contractors in this poverty-stricken region. > > > When three check dams constructed at an estimated cost of Rs.17 lakh were > washed away in Sinapali block in 2014, investigation revealed the contract > was executed by Manjulata Sagaria, a Dalit woman. There have been numerous > examples of persons belonging to BPL tribes being used as dummies in > ‘lucrative’ government construction contracts. Rich and influential appear > to be grabbing contracts in the name of poor people to evade legal actions > in the event of poor and inferior execution of constructions. Besides, > contractors from the tribal community, according to an official, are > usually given 50 per cent concession on initial deposits such as EMD > (Earnest Money Deposit). In case of additional Performance Security > Deposit, the tribals get 50 per cent concession. However, the clear benefit > of executing construction projects in the name of poor people is to escape > legal action. Hasut has two bank accounts – one with the State Bank of > India and another in a regional bank. > > > > *Nyoooz * > > *Folk artiste Gunasekaran dies aged 60* > > > http://www.nyoooz.com/puducherry/324302/folk-artiste-gunasekaran-dies-aged-60 > > > > Summary: PUDUCHERRY: Folk artiste and former professor and reader (drama > and theatre arts) at Pondicherry University K A Gunasekaran died after a > brief illness at his residence here on Sunday. He had not been keeping well > after surgery.Inspired by the Left movements, Gunasekaran started penning > poems and plays as early as 1980s. He had published more than two dozen > books on folk arts, modern theatre history, music and other topics. He had > written several plays some of which were published.His popular plays > include "Sathiya Sothanai" (experiments with truth), 1988 and "Pavalakkodi > Alathu Kudumba Valakku" (family dispute), 2001. He was 60.A diabetic, > Gunasekaran had recently undergone a kidney transplantation. > > > > PUDUCHERRY: Folk artiste and former professor and reader (drama and > theatre arts) at Pondicherry University K A Gunasekaran died after a brief > illness at his residence here on Sunday. He was 60.A diabetic, Gunasekaran > had recently undergone a kidney transplantation. He had not been keeping > well after surgery.Inspired by the Left movements, Gunasekaran started > penning poems and plays as early as 1980s. > > After the Mandal Commission submitted its report reservation, he started > focusing on the dalit point of view, ideology and theatre.His first play, > "Baliyaadgal," was performed in 1981.An actor who works both in theatre and > cinema, Gunasekaran had lent his voice for a number of films. He had > written several plays some of which were published.His popular plays > include "Sathiya Sothanai" (experiments with truth), 1988 and "Pavalakkodi > Alathu Kudumba Valakku" (family dispute), 2001. He had published more than > two dozen books on folk arts, modern theatre history, music and other > topics. > > > > *The quint * > > *QBullet: Deciding PDP’s Future, Govt to Review Farmer Policy* > > > http://www.thequint.com/india/2016/01/18/qbullet-deciding-pdps-future-govt-to-review-farmer-policy > > > > The PDP has authorised Mehbooba Mufti to take a call on forming the next > government in Jammu and Kashmir, igniting hopes that the political > uncertainty following the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed might finally come > to an end. > > > > *The agenda of alliance is a sacred document for us, it has to be > implemented. The party has authorised Mehbooba Mufti to take a final call > on government formation.* > > > > *Naeem Akhtar, Senior PDP leader* > > The party has also indicated that its alliance with the BJP is likely to > continue, which could take the wind out of widespread speculation of a > possible political realignment in the state that is now under Governor’s > Rule, reports the *Hindustan Times > <http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/pdp-hints-alliance-with-bjp-on-mehbooba-to-take-call-on-govt-formation/story-r4YMkuExJOvS3ZiWEPY3RP.html>* > . > > > > Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s visit to Mehbooba Mufti following the > death of her father, Sayeed, had prompted conjecture that political > equations in the state could be changing. > > > > *The hindu * > > *Ahead of U.P. polls, politics over Ambedkar’s legacy gathers pace* > > > http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/ahead-of-up-polls-politics-over-ambedkars-legacy-gathers-pace/article8117750.ece > > > > With a little more than a year before Uttar Pradesh goes to the polls, > politics over the legacy of B.R Ambedkar has gathered pace. Appropriating > the legacy of Babasaheb is considered a key thread of the political > strategy applied by parties to secure Dalit support. > > > > The social group together forms a major chunk — almost 22 per cent — of > the State’s electorate. There are 66 Dalit sub-castes in the State. > > > > Taking steps to honour the architect of the Indian Constitution, the > Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government has promised to provide land > for the construction of a “grand memorial” dedicated to him. > > > > On January 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the > State capital and attend functions bearing the name of Babasaheb. > > > > For the memorial, Mr. Yadav said he would allot land in the C.G (Chak > Ganjaria) City project, an ambitious premium township on the outskirts of > Lucknow. > > > > He took the decision after a meeting with Lalji Prasad Nirmal, the > president of the Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Mahasabha, an organisation > that claims to propagate the vision and ideals of Babasaheb. > > > > In what will be his first visit to the State capital after assuming the > top post, Mr. Modi is scheduled to attend the convocation of Dr. Bhimrao > Ambedkar University. He will also visit the premises of the Ambedkar > Mahasabha, where the ashes of Dr. Ambedkar are kept, and pay homage. > > > > The posturing of the BJP and the SP has not gone down well with the > Bahujan Samaj Party, which currently commands the largest chunk of Dalit > votes in the State. > > > > On her 60th birthday on Friday, BSP chief Mayawati attacked both the > parties for “working against the interests of Dalits.” > > > > She accused the Modi government of engaging in “cosmetic work” regarding > Dalits merely to appropriate the legacy of Babasaheb ahead of the > elections, even as the party plotted to wipe out reservation and other > constitutional rights enjoyed by the oppressed communities. > > > > Launching a direct attack at the Akhilesh Yadav government, Ms. Mayawati > said the SP’s mindset towards Dalits was of “casteist and political hatred.” > > > > *The hindu * > > *16 injured in group clash* > > > http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/16-injured-in-group-clash/article8118142.ece > > > > In a caste clash, 16 Dalits, including women, were injured when a mob, > attacked them following a quarrel during Pongal festival celebration at > Kuruvithurai near Sholavandan on Sunday night. > > > > The tiled roof of over a dozen houses were damaged, two huts set on fire > and few vehicles damaged. The police said that while the Dalits were > celebrating at Kuruvithurai, three persons, said to be under intoxication, > from the nearby area picked up quarrel with the Dalit people. > > > > Having taken the trouble mongers under their captivity, the villagers > called the village leaders, who let them go. Meanwhile, the police was > informed about the incident. > > > > However, soon youths from the other side rushed to the Dalits’ hamlet with > weapons and went on a rampage, Revenue Divisional Officer G. Senthilkumari, > who inspected the spot, said. They also pelted stone on them. > > > > “The Dalits, who are a minority in strength in the locality, locked up > themselves in their houses. Angered by this, the mob attacked their houses > with logs and other weapons,” she said. In the melee, 16 persons were > injured and they were admitted to Government Hospital in Sholavandan. > > > > Three of them were referred to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai. > > Superintendent of Police Vijayendra Bidari was camping at the village. The > police have were on the lookout for the perpetrators of the crime. > > > > A large posse of police had been deployed to prevent further untoward > incidents. > > > > *News monitored by AMRESH & AJEET* > > .*Arun Khote* > On behalf of > *Dalits Media Watch Team* > *(An initiative of “Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC”)* > [email protected] > [email protected] > > Pl visit On : > https://jansanskaran.wordpress.com, > https://www.facebook.com/DalitsMediaWatch > <https://www.facebook.com/DalitsMediaWatch> > ................................................................... > Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre- PMARC has been initiated with > the support from group of senior journalists, social activists, academics > and intellectuals from Dalit and civil society to advocate and facilitate > Dalits issues in the mainstream media. To create proper & adequate space > with the Dalit perspective in the mainstream media national/ International > on Dalit issues is primary objective of the PMARC. > > > Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre- PMARC has been initiated with > the support from group of senior journalists, social activists, academics > and intellectuals from Dalit and civil society to advocate and facilitate > Dalits issues in the mainstream media. To create proper & adequate space > with the Dalit perspective in the mainstream media national/ International > on Dalit issues is primary objective of the PMARC. > > You are receiving this message because you are a member of the community > Dalits > Media Watch <https://dgroups.org/groups/pmarc>. > > View this contribution on the web site <https://dgroups.org/_/hyyp1824> > > A reply to this message will be sent to all members of Dalits Media Watch. > > Reply to sender <[email protected]> | Unsubscribe > <[email protected]> > -- Teesta Setalvad 'Nirant', Juhu Tara Road, Juhu, Mumbai - 400 049 http://teestasetalvad.blogspot.com/ www.cjponline.org www.gujarat-riots.com www.sabrang.com __________ Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre- PMARC has been initiated with the support from group of senior journalists, social activists, academics and intellectuals from Dalit and civil society to advocate and facilitate Dalits issues in the mainstream media. To create proper & adequate space with the Dalit perspective in the mainstream media national/ International on Dalit issues is primary objective of the PMARC. You are receiving this message because you're a member of the community Dalits Media Watch. View this contribution on the web site https://dgroups.org/_/62h1ctbk A reply to this message will be sent to all members of Dalits Media Watch. To reply to sender, send a message to [email protected]. To unsubscribe, send an email to [email protected] -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "humanrights movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/humanrights-movement. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
