Historic struggle of students in Hyderabad Central University: HCU students targeted for taking on establishment, resisting Saffron takeover

The students of Hyderabad Central University (HCU) have been a thorn in the flesh of the current dispensation.

The HRD ministry, the Secunderabad MP, the Vice-chancellor, were all against the students who raised voice against Saffron take over in the HCU.

It resulted in the death of Rohith Vemula, which roused the anger of students and citizens across the country.

But, the focus was shifted to Delhi, after the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) row. Meanwhile, Appa Rao, the controversial VC was again brought back.

The tainted man who hid crucial documents and who has been booked in the case of Rohith Vemula's death--in fact, an institutional murder, is again in the saddle.

And, the students who protested his return even when inquiry is on, were chased and beaten up brutally by scores of policemen.

The sight of students being dragged, hit with batons and girl students allegedly threatened of rape, shows the vengeance with which the entire dispensation is acting against the students.

Reports say that University has been sealed, food supply to hostels stopped and even water connection cut off. Many students are in hospital.

Others who were taken away by police are yet to be traced. Their condition and whereabouts are not known. The situation in the University campus later was described as 'war zone' and 'prison' in different reports.

Political parties indifferent to students' cause!

For, the Ambedkarite students, there is no major outfit to support them.

In fact, the agitating HCU students don't have any political support.

Hyderabad is the capital of Telangana, a state ruled by TRS. BJP has hardly any presence in the state.

But, it seems that BJP is virtually running the show. Unfortunately, other political parties have also not expressed as much solidarity, as was needed.

Dalit, Bahujan students', resolve is truly inspirational.The local government is nowhere in picture.

It seems the show is being controlled directly from Delhi--Smriti Irani, the Union HRD minister.

Local parties have hardly bothered to intervene or come to the succour of students. There were few voices of support.

Media ignored police brutality on students

While students were being beaten, dragged and taken away by police, 'national media' looked askance.

The India-Bangladesh match was their priority. Power was cut, food was not allowed and even internet was shut so that students couldn't contact with fellow students outside.

Read this report, 'No food or water, Trapped Hyderabad students narrate campus ordeal', in Huffington Post, to understand the situation.

The police action was extremely brutal and many students were seriously injured.

Despite the nature of the police lathi-charge, media remained indifferent.

However, on social media, there was palpable anger over the excessive police violence.

Students, activists, academicians and youths from different sections, were outraged.

The bid to Saffronize the Universities was first resisted in HCU. And once again it is this University that has taken on the establishment.

Either it is Fergusson College or Allahabad University, the right-wing is aiming at a takeover everywhere. The nexus of BJP leaders, the servile VCs and the ABVP are together in this ploy all over the country.

But HCU students have shown the way.

Read the earlier report on this blog about the institutional murder of Rohith Vemula.Clearly, University of Hyderabad students have shown great resilience and have taken on the might of the establishment. CLICK TO READ

It is a historic fight and a truly memorable one.

LINKS:

1. Rohith Vemula's death is institutional murder: Discrination with Dalits, Casteism on Campus
2. An undeclared emergency at the Hyderabad central university
2. What happened in University of Hyderabad yesterday

Rohith Vemula's death is institutional murder: Discrimination with Dalit students, caste atrocities in Indian universities

The death of Rohith Vemula has shocked the nation. Especially, the students' fraternity, is aghast. But can it stir us enough, to make all of us take up the cudgels and ensure a change in the system?

That's easier said than done. Caste has killed talent for centuries in this country and our universities have been guardians of 'caste merit' for ages.

Rohith's death is not the first such incident. Dalit students have been facing institutional biases in campuses across the country. The incidents in EFLU or the students' protest in Madras Law College, are just a few examples of injustice towards the Dalits.

The University action was exactly in sync with the manner in which dominant castes act against the dalits, oppressed castes. The academia is no different from the rural landscape where caste atrocities are the order of the day.

The five research scholars, all Dalits, were barred from entering the hostels, administration buildings and from participation in elections. They were suspended.

When students from the poor families, who have work hard to reach the edifices of higher education find that there is no idealism here but the same mindset ruling these institutions of 'high learning', what they must have felt. 

That, there is no justice. No way to fight the 'system'. That the 'system', the 'status quo' will always prevail.

In his last letter, Rohith wrote that how he felt 'empty'. One could sense, what he must have gone through.

The Ambedkar Students' Association (ASA) had raised its voice against capital punishment.
How can it be termed 'anti-national'. The Law Commission of India has also supported abolition of death penalty.

So how come anyone against death penalty be termed 'anti-national'. But ASA had become a thorn in the flesh of the casteist edifice of the central university.

This is what Rohith had written in an earlier letter to the vice-chancellor:

1. Please serve 10mg Sodium Azide to all the Dalit students at the time of admission. With direction to use when they feel like reading Ambedkar.

          2.Supply a nice rope to the rooms of all Dalit students from your companion, the great          Chief Warden.
         [See link]

The ABVP, which is the students' body linked to Sangh Parivar, was against the ASA stand.
The ABVP had the support of the University administration. False accusations were made against ASA office-bearers.

A committee, however, found that the allegations were untrue. Still, ABVP got local MP to write a letter to Smriti Z Irani, the Union minister.

The VC quickly took action against the research scholars, who were suspended.

Even, the stipends were stopped. The research scholars were expelled from the hostel and were staying in the open.

The row had began in July. But for months, the Hyderabad University [Central University] sat over it, refusing to resolve issue, which ultimately led to Rohith ending his life.

The vice-chancellor Appa Rao acted in a partisan manner. BJP MP Bandaru Dattatreya wrote to Smriti Irani, about 'anti-national activities' on campus.

After this letter, the administration came out vengefully against the research scholars. And, the rest is known to everybody. Do read the links to understand the turn of events which led to the death.

READ
*The events that led to Rohith Vemula's suicide [Times of India]
*Social boycott of Dalit scholars [CounterCurrents]
*What is actually happening in the University of Hyderabad [RoundTableIndia]
*How ABVP-BJP killed Rohith Vemula [IndiaResists]
*Rohith's suicide was not due to personal issues, read his letter to VC [DailyO]