Isn't there any SOLUTION to put an end to the caste based discrimination among the campuses in India?
Introduction:
As for now, we had been going through enough number of debates and
discussions on behalf of the death of Rohith Vemula (Research Student,
Hyderabad Central University). Statistics shows that around Eight Dalit students from the UoH
(University of Hyderabad) itself have already committed suicide in the
past decade. Why did they not make much into the headlines of national
level newspapers and channels? Is it just because Rohith Vemula have
done the same thing in a different way, leaving a powerful letter
behind? Or is it to be considered as yet another shadow political mockery
move to win the political war prior to the elections in Bihar, WB etc.
by bracketing the names of Union Ministers Bandaru Dattareya and Smriti
Irani within the black list adhering to the issue?
This is not the right time to do a post mortem on the incident just on
the basis of political backgrounds. Let us focus on the matter of caste
discrimination whether it be a part of this or not. It is ironical that
India has just celebrated its 67th Republic Day while such issues happen
on the other side of the society which itself reveals that it is
already a high time to have a check into the issues of caste
discrimination and untouchability prevailing in various layers of the
society even now.
We know that we live in a society where the one who brought out the
statements called 'annihilation of caste' himself had to admire Buddhism
thereafter. Debates, discussions and endless protests won't be able to
take us much ahead unless we try to bring some effective changes in the
conventional perceptions regarding various matters appending to caste
discrimination. We should do a little sort of introspection as well as
retrospection at the same time.
Let us try to seek some ways to resolve the problem from some other angle of thoughts and perceptions.
The Adulterated Matter Of Religion:
It is a fact that Hinduism is not any religion which was evolved out
from something, but is still evolving out from a complex culture of
living practices and rituals. It was developed primly along the Indus,
through which it
had been weathering since thousands of years to become a well formed set
up.
Castes and sub castes (say Varnas) were initially defined on the basis
of the profession one does. These are the truths which people often
hesitate to understand. However, Hinduism is considered as a religion.
Once upon a time, there was a fake belief that one can make an escape
from being a Dalit or a discriminated community member (say any) just by
changing one's religion from Hinduism to Christianity, Buddhism, Islam,
Jainism or any other. Obviously, it was a true fact that such people
who had undergone a religious translation, by stepping out from
Hinduism were mostly able to make a progressive line of life thereafter.
However, this trend was later misunderstood by many a number of Dalits.
There were times when parents were ready to accept a bride or groom
from
some other religion but weren't ready to accept someone from a lower
caste (as it is said to be) even if he or she belongs to the same
religion! The crazy logic acts like "I prefer my daughter
getting married to some thief from some other religion to marrying some
guy who was born to a toilet cleaner". But, it is admirable that these
days, things are changing positively in various places (Especially
cities) which shows a ray of hope.
However, we do not need to talk about such things in this 21st century
since it has become a matter of irrelevance.The bug in the code is that
it is still wagging its tail as a matter of 'relevance' which should not
be encouraged anymore. Unfortunate incidents like that of Rohith's prove that
it has still got relevance in the current world. Problems started rising when religious norms and systems started
becoming more and more politicized in an unhealthy manner. Things became vulnerable and insecure to a further level when
bureaucracies started finding its own way to take a pivotal seat
undermining the aesthetic principles of religion, say any.
The Blindfolded Act of Valour:
Though suicide can never be a solution for anything but Rohith's deed is
being circulated and propagated in such a way that it tends to pass a
message to other vulnerable youngsters to go with the same sheep thereby
encouraging suicides in such a way that you can become a celebrity
after death and people will pay you for all your misfortunes. It
promotes the fake logic that you can experience a larger than life
experience after your death which would be a motivation for other Dalit
students facing worst than death situations in their life. Remember,
Rohith Vemula is not a martyr, but a helpless victim of a social evil.
Youngsters should note the point that there is a big difference
between fighting until death and fighting by death. In the near future,
the public will see the real chain pullers who are going to make huge
gains out from the death of Rohith Vemula and the deluge of protests
being followed.
Rohith's suicide is not merely the end of a debacle but it is to be
considered as a wake up call for justice. As per the global statistics,
the elements like depression,
over-reaction and suicide tendency among the current world youngsters is
said to be increasing dynamically. There should be a whole-hearted
effort
to curb such issues with more humane and psychological approach. Moral
studies and
ethics should be taught from school level itself by making social
awareness and communal harmony as the core subjects. It should be taught
as a practice to inculcate the culture of peacefulness among the coming
generation apart from the conventional method of teaching ethics just
using a
text book. Some amount of spirituality and philosophy can also be
brought into the
campuses. It could be done in par with the Yoga movement and Swatchh
Bharat mission as well.
Suggestible Educational and Socio-Political Reforms:
The importance being given to the caste, sub caste and the sub-sub caste
should be reduced to a considerable level when it comes to the 'INSIDE
CAMPUS' life.
-The system of allotting separate hostel rooms and accommodation
facilities for General, OBC and SC/ST students should be terminated
strictly.
-The reservation details are to be used only for technical admission
procedures. Thereafter, it should not be allowed to mark a schematic
presence at any magnified levels within a campus. Faculties and students
need not get to know each others' caste or creed unless one reveals it
willingly.
-One need not mention the surnames (which often includes the caste or
clan name) on official documents and certificates (Unless for strict
verification procedures).
Apart from all these measures, there should be a well set up political
administrative system within colleges/universities which functions in a
transparent and democratic way.
-Unlike, the students union and formation of political parties which we
see now, were once set up from the initiatives during the times of
Jayaprakash Narayan and all, the current world demands much more- out of
the box systems like techno-cultural and psychological helping groups
(A quasi-political system).
-Every campus should have such groups with elected representatives,
incorporated with parents, teachers and eminent social workers, thinkers
and advocates indeed.
-The system should act like a '
Problem Solving Hub', where students and
teachers can express their views, hardships and bring them up for
discussions to find a solution in a collective and pragmatic way.
-It should be brought under the jurisdiction of Supreme Court
aggregating at a national level, extending to the ministry of Human
Rights and welfare.
-The system should function in such a way that insults and
discriminating deeds occurring at any of the campuses should be brought
under the special tribunal formed under this wing and should be enquired
and trialed and reports should be submitted within fourteen days so
that it should never affect the academics.
Conclusion:
The above mentioned measures can either be viewed as Utopian or childish
but before we ignore something by calling it as mere 'childishness',
one thing we should bear in our mind is that even the uneducated
children of Haryana, U.P., Bihar etc.have got enough knowledge to
discriminate their pals on the basis of sub-sub-castes while they don't
even know to name the colors they find in a rainbow or they don't even
know how the Indian flag looks like! Such pathetic situation still exist
within the rural villages of India were the demons of discrimination rules by
demarcating people on the basis of castes and sub castes. The epic
tragedy is that when we come to know that such discrimination on the
grounds of caste play a pivotal role in at least some of the high
profiled educational institutions and prominent universities of India,
which is to be taken seriously.
Rohith Vemula, the one who aspired to become Carl Sagan, ended up in
being a dead poet who has written a preface to his own death. Let Rohith
be a lesson for all of us including you and me. Let us not forget the ones who sacrificed or buried themselves within
the ordeals of filthy caste discrimination but let us forget the
discrimination itself. Already, it is too late to think. If we do not make any
step ahead thinking out of the box, the Indian constitution will turn
meaningless and the Indian educational system will turn worthless and
the nation itself will become a buffoon before the world finding its own
place next to the then apartheid era.
Sorry Mr. Rohith Chakravarti Vemula,
Hopefully,
Rahul Sharma.
(rahulsharma3992@gmail.com)
JAI HIND
PS: Let the truth come to light.
