Caste and its by-products have always functioned as hot potatoes in India ever before the pre Independence period. After 1947, we took the effort to proudly say India is independent of colonial imperialism and we have our own administrative boundary, but the question of caste inequalities has always remained as a bloodstain in the minds of Indians.
The so-called educated population started chanting how they are literate and never promote any activity that boosts up caste divisions. However, crimes against Dalits have been on an increasing trend. The report Quest for Justice, by the National Dalit Movement for Justice, states that between 2009-2018 crimes against Dalits increased by 6%.
Tensions have been brewing up in MG University, Kottayam. Alleging casteism in academic spaces, a Dalit woman scholar from Kerala, Deepa P Mohanan, has been on an indefinite hunger strike since October 29, 2021, outside the International and Inter-University for NanoScience and NanoTechnology (IIUCN) at Kottayam’s Mahatma Gandhi University.
From the beginning of the strike itself, she has been accompanied by activists from Bhim Army Kerala. The members of the Bhim Army are all set to address the casteism in MG University along with Deepa. They are extending solidarity and support to the protesting scholar day and night standing by her side.
I spoke with Anuraji P.R, the National Vice president of Bhim Army, who has been accompanying Deepa since October 29. As Deepa cannot speak due to her worsening health condition, Anuraji P.R talks with me on behalf of Deepa Mohanan about the ongoing strike and casteism existing in Kerala’s public sphere.
Sofia Babu Chacko (SBC): Bhim Army has been extending full support and solidarity to the protesting scholar Deepa P Mohanan. Can you brief us about the significance of this hunger strike by Deepa? Is this to make the deaf hear?
A.R: Definitely, the Bhim Army is an organisation that always stands for protecting the rights of the marginalized, and through this strike, we want to echo our demands loud and clear, and ensure action is taken accordingly.
Deepa Mohanan joined MG University in 2011 for MPhil. Since then, she has been subjected to caste-based discrimination from the side of Nandakumar Kalarikkal, the director of IIUCN. The University authority has not provided enough study materials to her. The harasser insulted her publicly in front of an external examiner and others. This happened during her MPhil days. She started her PhD late because they withheld her MPhil certificate. She got in due to her brilliant GATE score, but still had to face casteist verbal and physical attacks.
The harasser intentionally told her to get out of the lab and when she refused to go out, he forcefully locked her inside the lab. They had even withheld her fellowship.
Following all this mental torture, she filed a complaint to University and had set up a two-member committee of N. Jayakumar and Indu K.S to look into the allegations. Even after the committee found out her allegations to be true, no action was taken against Nandakumar Kalarikkal. Deepa then filed a police complaint against Nandakumar in 2016 under SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act. Unfortunately, nothing happened and she was even detained by the police for two days.
Look, this is the condition of our social system. Through this hunger strike, she wants to strengthen the rights of Dalits. If a protest is the only means to fight against anarchy, then we will not look back. Ayyankali and Ambedkar are our heroes, we will definitely fight back and ensure our rights are safe and guaranteed.
SBC: What is the response of student organisations like SFI, KSU, ABVP on this hunger strike? Are they extending any sort of solidarity for Deepa? If not, do you think that the political parties in power are ignorant towards marginalised sections in Kerala?
A.R: Leftist government has not really had any merit for Dalits in Kerala. How will they extend their support when the casteist culprits are major local leaders from the communist party? They won’t and they can’t. Look at the case of Walayar rape, check the Palathayi case, read what happened to Madhu in Attappady. Leftist student organizations may write a letter of consolation and post it on social media to get attention for their falsified agenda. But what have they done so far to annihilate caste from India?
In Deepa’s case, we can see that the harasser has communist roots and support backstage. From the Kerala Students Union side, State President Abhijith came and extended solidarity. Similar support is coming from Ambedkar Students Association and the All India Students Federation. In fact, we will not seek help from ABVP and Hindu Aikyavedi as we will not allow the Sangh Parivar Agenda to strengthen its roots here.
SBC: Bhim army consists of Dalit students. What are the demands put forward by the with regard to the issue Deepa has been facing? What will be your future steps if the demands are not met?
A.R: Well, there are some common demands put forward by Deepa with regard to this hunger strike like accessing lab facility, hostel admission, fellowship in proper time without any block, access to study materials and so on. But our major demand is to remove the alleged harasser Nandakumar Kalarikkal from the director position of IIUCN. There are rumours in the media that he was removed by Vice-Chancellor Sabu Thomas, but this is not accurate. He had only said VC will be new in charge, the clarity regarding his statement is yet to come.
Lastly and more importantly, we are asking for the basic rights an Indian citizen needs. This situation is worse than anything. These demands need to be met soon. Deepa is a symbol that shows how the Brahmanical system suppresses Dalits and prevents them from accessing education, which is a basic right. This protest and our demands are for all the Dalit students. If her demands have not been met, we are planning to conduct massive protests all over Kerala.
SBC: It was in January 2016 when Rohit Vemula died by suicide due to caste discrimination at the University of Hyderabad. In May 2019, Payal Tadvi died by suicide for almost the same reason. Do you think that India only needs martyrs who have been killed by the system and not a solution to this problem?
A.R: Once they attain their martyrdom, the oppressors light up the candles and make them a symbol. But we are asking, what is this system doing before their death? We are young people studying in different streams. We definitely have a vision of a casteless society. Can we dream it at least? We then need to shape and bring up a generation that stubbornly stands up for their rights. In that context, Deepa’s stand is inspiring for all of us.
India has been failing to address the root problems like untouchability and caste atrocities. If this is the situation, how will we find out the solutions to these problems? Our government doesn’t even care about SC/STs plight and social suffering. But we are highly optimistic and well aware of all issues that surround us. What do we understand after Rohit Vemula’s and Payal Tadvi’s institutional murder?
This is the reality. Casteist attacks continue towards Dalit and other minority students.
For each and every Dalit student, this life is an unending fight against casteism.
SBC: Kerala has the highest literacy rate and Malayalis always praise the state for avoiding caste related inequalities. But in reality, is this point valid? Is the state free from caste discrimination in employment and academic activities?
A.R: The said point is invalid completely. Yes, Kerala has a high literate population but it has nothing to do with ending casteism in any context. This is what we have experienced. Even the highly educated ones are turning to be very casteist while dealing with social, political as well as cultural life. Many crimes against SC/ST communities went unreported unlike UttarPradesh and other northern states.
If this is the situation, how can we say that Kerala is a caste free society?
I am repeating the statement, Kerala’s literacy rate has nothing to do with ending casteism.
SBC: Court orders in December 2018 and February 2019 were in favour of Deepa. But no action was taken against the alleged harasser. Is this a breach of minority rights?
A.R: Yes, this is a breach of our rights. The court orders were in favour of Deepa, which implies the guilt of the alleged harasser. But no action has been taken against him. That is very unfair and it brings to question the credibility of the legal system as well as administrative functioning. One of the main casteist allegations put against Nandakumar Kalarikkal is that he told Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr Sheena Shukkoor, at the time of program coordination, that “SC/STs are not capable of leading such programs, they don’t have the ability and responsibility.”
They even prevented Deepa from accessing better campus facilities by pointing out her caste identity. This is a clear breach of minority rights.
SBC: Deepa started protesting against the casteist assaults in 2011. From then till now, what is the role played by the media to make the public aware about the institutional attacks against dalits?
A.R: Deepa chechi (sister) started her fight against casteism in 2011 at MG University. The media’s role has been huge and it does play a pivotal role. They have given us support by reporting the true facts. But yesterday, a piece of false news got published that Nandakumar has been removed officially from the position. That is not confirmed until now. Keeping some factual mistakes aside, the media has been extending great support and we need their support in future too.
SBC: How is this patriarchal setup creating a barrier for a Dalit woman, who wants to raise her voice against caste-based discrimination? Is the fight of a Dalit woman double tougher than that of an upper-caste woman?
A.R: Being a Dalit woman is tough. It is very risky and difficult to fight the deep-rooted patriarchy. But still, we are fighting for a better cause. There are some already constructed notions that since Dalits are a minority, we cannot do anything good for society. This is absolutely unfair and wrong. The upper caste has shaped these notions. They are minimalizing and normalizing a Dalit woman’s effort in socio-political life.
The oppressor wants to see Dalits in ‘guilty’ positions and sometimes they call us thieves. By denying the constitutional rights of Dalit students, where is our education system heading? They do not want us to get an education, better jobs, or land facilities. They are systematically looting us. Isn’t this unfair and pathetic?
Deepa’s fight began in 2011. If she were an upper-caste woman, the situation would not have been like this. Justice served is different to different persons depending upon one’s caste identity.
