‘I Refuse to be Reduced to a Number, a Vote, a Thing’ – Rohith Vemula

Students belonging to JNU, DU and Jamia organised a protest in Delhi on 17th January, commemorating one year death anniversary of Rohith Vemula, and for justice for Najeeb, a JNU student, who is missing for 90 days now. Police beat up students and protesters and detained almost 200 students in the parliament street police station.

Image Courtesy: Samim Asgor Ali

It’s been one year since Rohith Vemula, a 27 year old PhD student, chose death over a life of humiliation. He, along with four more activists of the ASA (Ambedkar Student’s Association), was suspended from the University after ABVP (Student wing of BJP) filed a complaint against them. Vemula, who made it to the University defeating formidable structural discrimination that Dalits in this country face to access higher education, was pushed to death. His death woke us from our slumber of complacency, and tore down the walls of privilege. This privilege has been strengthened by years of denial. Vemula reminded us that we have failed to create a democratic society. 

A year later, justice is still far. On January 17th, the first death anniversary of Rohith, protests and marches were called all across the country to continue the fight against caste discrimination prevailing in university spaces.

Image Courtesy: Samim Asgor Ali

What is ironic is that while this government trumpets respecting mothers, with the much proclaimed ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, the cries of Rohith’s mothers fall deaf on their ears. Najeeb and Rohith belong to the marginalized sections of the society; therefore they are treated like second grade citizens. So when Radhika Vemula cries for her son, not only is her pleas dismissed, but she is physically dragged and detained.

Image Courtesy: Samim Asgor Ali

Police brutality has heightened after the authoritarian government came to power. In all the movements against anti-people policies of modi government, police crackdown has been brutal. One is forced to wonder, who gives orders to these men to be so barbaric with young unarmed students. As a policeman grabs a young female student by the neck, other students get beaten up with lathis. Mohit Pandey, president, JNUSU, Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid were among the 200 students dragged and detainedby the Delhi police.

Video Courtesy: Samim Asgor Ali

Hyderabad university saw another inhuman picture altogether. 18 people including Rohith’s mother and brother were detained in the night even though it is unlawful to detain women after 6. But in an oppressive state such as this, how does it matter? Instead of arresting Appa Rao, they go after the family of the victim. A year has passed and a mother still awaits justice.

Video Courtesy: Dalit Camera

Rohith was pushed to death because he dared to oppose casteist oppression and communal violence. Najeeb Ahmad, who has been missing for more than two months, was subjected to violence and threats to his life by ABVP goons before he disappeared. The government’s apathy towards such genuine student issues is appalling.