Protests rock University of Hyderabad

• Faculty, non-teaching staff, members of civic societies also take part in the protest
• Students demand the resignation of VC
• The new wave of protests is against the VC backtracking on agreed demands

University of Hyderabad (UoH) campus is again rocked with students protesting against the alleged backtracking on the agreed demands by Vice-Chancellor Ramakrishna Ramaswamy. The students allege that there is opposition and suppression of Dalit students. A forum to protect their interests has been formed. Supported by the members of civic societies, the students demand resignation of the VC

Students, faculty, non-teaching staff and the members of civic societies took part in the protest that rocked the UoH campus on Monday. They raised slogans saying ‘VC down down’. These protests were the part of protest against the suicide of research scholar Venkatesh.

On November 23, UoH research scholar M Venkatesh committed suicide as he was depressed for not being provided with a guide for three years. Enraged by the tragic death, students of various unions staged a protest holding the varsity responsible for the suicide. Denouncing the attitude of the officials, they sat on infinite hunger strike. Besides the resignation of vice- chancellor Ramakrishna Ramaswamy, their demands included job for one of the family members of the deceased, a judicial committee consisting of two members selected by the students and punishment of the guilty

The students had earlier called off the strike after five days of protest when the Vice –Chancellor had given in writing that the all the demands would be met. The current wave of protests on the campus is allegedly because of the VC of backtracking on the agreed demands.

The enraged students resumed their dharna on Monday. Speaking to Hyderabad Hans, Bhanu, a student with UoH said, “The VC had backtracked on the demands. He had given us in writing that all the demands would be met. Not only are the students, members of civic society also supporting our cause. We will not budge until our demands are met. VC has to resign.”

“Before the judicial committee was formed, vice-chancellor promised that action will be taken against people who were found guilty. The committee report was released and no action whatsoever was taken till date,” Bhanu added.

Prof. K Srinivasulu, Osmania University, Prof. K Laxmi Narayana, Hyderabad Central University (HCU), Dr Bangya Bhukya, English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), took part in dharna and pledged to fight against the caste repression in all educational institutes.

A new forum called ‘Vidyasamstalalo Kula Anachiveta Vyatireka Vedika’ (forum for fighting against caste based treatment in varsities) has been formed by the students, leaders of the unions and members of the civic societies

Prof. K Srinivasulu said that the death of Venkatesh is an institutional murder and this puts forward number of questions about the democratic spaces of the universities. He added that we need to build a longer movement to root out the oppressive caste mechanisms in the educational institutes.

Speaking to Hyderabad Hans, Satish, member of Telangan Praja Front (TPF), said, “Off late there is an increase in the number of suicides in varsities. The VC himself has said that the suicide of Venkatesh is an institutional failure. When he has agreed to the demands why is he backtracking now? He has to resign and the demands are to be met.”