Rohith Vemula finds prominence

Aparna Banerji

Advertisement

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 13

At the Amebdkar Chetna March taken out in the city today to observe Ambedkar Jayanti (April 14), the icon of Rohith Vemula remained prominent amidst a host of Dalit icons — Dr BR Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram, Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj and many others. While traditionally, the Dalit discourse, especially during such marches, has been restricted to symbolism around traditional icons, the inclusion of Vemula – who is deemed a ‘shaheed’ (a martyr) by Dalits, marks both a response to the contemporary educational crisis and a stance against the establishment.

With parents embattled against private schools regarding fee hike on one hand and the PU crackdown having raised questions on the viability of campus dissent against hefty fee structures, the mood at the Shobha Yatra reflects the Dalits’ sentiment of increasingly being left out of the mainstream education system– Vemula being one of the most potent national icons of the cause.

The march was organised by an umbrella body called Ambedkar Chetna Manch Committee formed by a number of organisations including the Ambedkar Sena, Shri Guru Ravidass Dharam Yudh Morcha, Bhagwan Valmiki Sabha, Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha among others.

Satish Kumar Barti, President, Shri Guru Ravidass Dharam Yudh Morcha, elaborated on this very sentiment, “For us, Rohith Vemula is our ‘shaheed’ (martyr). Across esteemed Indian universities, including Jawaharlal Nehru University, Hyderabad University among others, 25 doctorate students have committed suicide, of whom 23 were Dalits. These 23 suicides have happened even though there is only four per cent representation of such students at universities. These numbers and Rohith Vemula’s death are prove the fact that Dalit and SC students are increasingly and systematically being victimised and insulted at educational institutions to the point that they are driven to death and suicide. It is important for us in the present times to uphold Vemula’s legacy so that students might remember it and fight for their education.”

Hundreds of people rode on open vehicles with the vehicle fronts decorated with posters of Dr BR Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram and Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj (the king of the Indian princely state of Kolhapur who was an admirer of Dr Ambedkar and also backed his education) as supporters chanted slogans eulogising Dr Ambedkar and Vemula. A statue of Dr Ambedkar – to be set up at an educational institute tomorrow - was also garlanded at the end of the march today.

Ironically, Shahu Ji Maharaj, who belonged to the “Teli” community was celebrated for his works for the cause of Dalit upliftment. His sanctioning of 50 per cent reservation for the backward classes in Kohlapur State Services in 1902 was met with tough opposition from the Brahmins. He had also introduced a number of welfare schemes for the people of backward classes.

As part of Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations, a statue of Dr BR Amebdkar will be inaugurated at the Tehsil Complex tomorrow. Kapurthala MLA and Cabinet Minister Rana Gurjit Singh will be presiding over the event.