To those who think caste is no longer an issue in Indian society or that caste exists in the remote villages, the suicide of Nithin Raj proves otherwise. The first-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery student, died on April 10th following continuous harassment from his peers, faculty, and administration. Nithin was from Thiruvananthapuram district. He was found seriously injured near the medical college block of Kannur Dental College, was taken to the hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries. The primary accused are the Director of the Dental Department and an Associate Professor. Audio clips sent by Nithin, and the testimonies of his family and friends, reveal how he had been a target of casteist, racist abuse since the time he joined the college. He was harassed by faculty members who used to hurl casteist abuses at him, target him, even calling him a ‘rotten dog’. The family got to know about Nithin jumping from a building and dying through news channels. He had been facing ragging from his seniors, another issue rampant in campuses across Kerala. His complaints fell on the ears of the casteist faculty who further humiliated him based on his caste, skin colour, and the occupation of his parents, who are labourers. The faculty continued to harass him by reducing his marks, out of spite and with complete impunity.
He is one among countless victims of Bramhinical violence that continues in Kerala society, that ironically boasts of development, and unparalleled socio-economic growth. It is high time this model of economic development is questioned. This is a systemic murder fueled by casteism of the dominant communities that continue to hold power in Kerala. A state-wide Hartal was observed on 28th April demanding action against the perpetrators. The protests against casteism in educational institutions must expose the impunity with which oppressor caste faculty/administrators exert their power over the marginalised students. Student movements must necessarily create spaces within campuses that fight these casteist, communal, and patriarchal systems. The fight for a Rohith Act should be seen as a part of this struggle. The institutional murders of Nithin and every other student is a slap on the face of the dominant ruling parties and structures in Kerala that show off big numbers of development for their electoral gains.
