“Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment. It has to be cultivated. We must realize that our people have yet to learn it. Democracy in India is only a top-dressing on an Indian soil which is essentially undemocratic” ~Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
In spite of the existence of affirmative actions, reservation policies, and the constitutional assurances of equality, the harsh and sobering truth persists: caste-based exploitation remains an undeniable and deeply ingrained facet of Indian society. This persistent societal exploitation casts a long shadow over the very fabric of India’s educational institutions. This imbalance persists to this day, with top-tier universities in India predominantly occupied by individuals from “upper-caste backgrounds”. The representation of SC (Scheduled Caste), ST (Scheduled Tribe) OBC(Other Backward Castes) and religious minorities’ students and professors within these prestigious institutions remains strikingly limited, failing to reflect the diversity and inclusivity that the educational sector should ideally hold.
Students belonging to historically marginalized and exploited communities regularly find themselves confronting prejudicial attitudes, discriminatory practices, social and economic exploitation, overt hostility and even sexual harassment from academic guides, professors, and fellow students. These incidents underscore the enduring challenges faced by these students in their pursuit of knowledge and education and push them to the brink of taking their own life.
“The value of a man was reduced to his immediate identity and nearest possibility. To a vote. To a number. To a thing.” ~Rohith Vemula in his last words.
In 2016, students across India came together and mourned the institutional murder of a dreamer whose aspirations reached for the cosmos, a young man who was full of love for the people, who he knew were created of stardust. After a relentless struggle against the neoliberal, Brahmanical educational system in our country, a system that values profit over everything else that education stands for, offered him nothing but despair, despair so absolute he was coerced to see his birth as nothing more than a fatal accident. Rohith wasn’t the first Dalit student to be subjected to institutionalized caste-based discrimination in this country, and the grim truth is that he wasn’t the last one either. 6 years following Rohith’s death, according to the report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the year 2021 witnessed a distressing trend with over 13,000 student fatalities in India. This equates to an alarming average of more than 35 student deaths per day, marking a 4.5 per cent increase from the 12,526 student deaths recorded in 2020. Every day, we find ourselves losing more and more Rohiths to this system. We can no longer let their struggles, both internal and external against this Brahmanical system, be reduced to mere statistics.
Anil Kumar, Ayush Ashna, Darshan Solanki, Faizan Ahmad and many others aren’t just more names in this long list of martyrs who fell fighting the curse thrust upon them by virtue of their identities. This list which seems to grow with each passing year, is a burden we as students have to carry for generations to come. The present moment calls for a critical imperative: students must mobilize and organize both within and beyond the confines of our campuses. The student resistance we saw after Rohith’s death was historic, to say the least. Those who marched in unity against the injustice inflicted upon a fellow student were met with brutal state repression and police violence. As the forceful stream from the water cannons hit our resilient bodies, searing pain shooting through every bone, each breath became a testament to our unwavering determination for justice and change. Standing united against the oppressive system that intertwined caste and corporate loot through the privatization of education, we refuse to yield, backing down was never an option. It is time for us to yet again come together as a formidable force of resistance, one that stands firmly against the seemingly passive, but ultimately complicit, campus administrations, as well as the oppressive political regime that holds power.
We must also organize study circles focused on the legacies of remarkable leaders like Dr B.R. Ambedkar, E.V. Ramasamy Periyar, Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule and this is not just an intellectual exercise; it’s a profound and empowering act of resistance. These study circles serve as a vital platform for students and individuals to come together and reflect on the history of our own oppression, as well as the broader injustices embedded in society. Ambedkar, Periyar, and Phules dedicated their lives to challenging caste-based exploitation and the oppressive forces of Brahmanism.
Studying their work reminds us that our struggles are not isolated; we are part of a larger, historical battle against deeply entrenched systems of injustice. In these spaces, we not only educate ourselves about the roots of our oppression but also find strength in unity. Together, we cultivate the conviction to confront the real enemy: the formidable forces of caste-based exploitation and corporate plunder that have perpetuated brutal oppression for centuries. We shall wage a sustained war against those who serve as intermediaries for more powerful oppressors. It is our challenge to confront these “lackeys” of larger systems of oppression, armed with the tools of education, awareness, and unity. Unity is the linchpin, as it ensures that individuals do not stand alone in their fight. By coming together, we amplify our voices and therefore our impact. We form a formidable collective that refuses to accept the status quo and is prepared o challenge and dismantle the chains of oppression.
Ultimately, the goal of our collective effort is to pave the way for a society that is not only equal but also just. It envisions a world where individuals are not exploited on the basis of their caste, creed, or economic status, but are free to pursue their aspirations and dreams with dignity and fairness. The time for change is now, and it begins with the unity and determination of students who are ready to challenge the forces that seek to suppress them.
Jai Bhim! Inquilab Zindabad!
