Classes to Resume Today at University of Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: Two weeks after a Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula committed suicide, classes will resume at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Monday, much to the relief of students who were concerned about the loss of academic days. Thanks to the efforts of vice-chancellor Dr M Periasamy, who reached out to the protesting students and assured to fulfil most of the demands raised by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Social justice, the atmosphere has changed.
On Sunday morning, the acting VC decided to sanction pending scholarship amount for Rohith Vemula, whose suicide protesting caste discrimination led to nation-wide protests. Other promises include appointment of a team of counsellors to address the issues relating to discrimination on university campus and retaining posts of SC/ST faculty members who left their positions in solidarity with the students. In return, the JAC members agreed to lift the siege on the administration building and return to class rooms.
Responding to the demand for removal of Prof Appa Rao from VC post, Periasamy said: “This demand has to be addressed by the MHRD. Based on the judicial probe report, the government will decide.”
Further, he said, removal of any faculty members from the executive council is also not under the jurisdiction of the university VC. Hence, the university will forward its recommendations on such demands to the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) for consideration, Dr Periasamy told Express.
However, the relay hunger strike and protests will continue till all the demands are met, said Munna Sannaki, one of the JAC members.
The protesters also threatened to lay siege to the administration building if Prof Vipin Srivatsava returns as acting VC after his four days of leave.
The JAC is opposed to him because he was on the committee that recommended the suspension of five Dalit students, including Rohith Vemula. They fear that his continuance as acting VC would influence the judicial probe. On Sunday, five faculty members sat on hunger strike in solidarity with the protesting students.
as it happened
■ Protesting students meet acting VC Dr M Periasamy on
Sunday and submit their demands list.
■ Academic and administrative activities all set to resume on Monday.
■ Administration agrees to address all the demands that come under university’s jurisdiction.
■ A team of counsellors will be set up to address
issues related to discrimination on campus.
■ Pending scholarship amount of Rohith Vemula will be sanctioned. The process will begin on Monday.
■ Pending salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff, fellowships and scholarship to be released on Monday.
Students Burn Sushma’s Effigy
Hyderabad: The protesting students at University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Sunday burned the effigy of union minister for external affairs, Sushma Swaraj, to condemn her remarks on Rohith Vemula’s caste. The minister on Sunday said that Rohith Vemula was not a Dalit. The students also burned effigies of RSS, ABVP and Delhi police to condemn the lathicharge on protesting students near RSS office in Delhi.
Appa Rao promoted as NCRI chief?
On Sunday, students alleged that Prof Podile Appa Rao who remains the Vice-Chancellor of University of Hyderabad, has been promoted as chairman and CEO of the National Council of Rural Institutes, Hyderabad, Telangana. Though the website of NCRI mentions Rao’s name with a photograph, there is not much details available. Meanwhile, the JAC is planning to shift the epicentre of its protest from the UoH campus to the national capital, New Delhi to press for his resignation. Around 100 JAC members are planning to leave for Delhi in the next two days. They have planned mass protests in tandem with students from universities across the country. Demanding the resignation of vice-chancellor Appa Rao, union ministers Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya and the enactment of a law named after Rohith Vemula against discrimination in educational institutions, the JAC members are planning to intensify their protest, both in UoH and New Delhi.
MHRD assures to fulfil demands of JAC
In a quick turn of events, the MHRD, which remained silent so far, has agreed to fulfil most of the demands raised by the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice - UoH. Confirming the same to Express, acting Vice Chancellor, Dr M Periasamy said, “I got a call from the MHRD this afternoon. They are positive to address most of the demands.” The university administration is planning to invite the union minister for HRD, Smriti Irani to visit the university campus. The minister was supposed to visit the campus to inaugurate the new building for UGC networking centre, however the event was postponed due to recent developments, Periasamy said. In fact, the acting VC wants the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to visit the university campus. “We are one of the best institutes for research and academics. But unfortunately the university got a lot of negative publicity due to recent events. The Prime Minister’s visit would be a boost to the institute.”