Beyond Rohithgate

Beyond Rohithgate

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

These days the media--print as well as electronic- come up with stories on daily basis that sadden my mind, often make me extremely despondent.
Some, mostly belonging to vested interest groups, would often say the media thrive on them(for commercial reasons).I think such description does not stick to them under the prevailing environment of our country which is indeed standing on a crossroad.
The moot point is how much of 'history' is allowed to carry on board on our long-pending flight to inclusive growth and prosperity in social, economic and political terms.
The tragic suicide of Rohith, a research scholar at the Central University in Hyderabad is not just a case of unfortunate demise of a budding scholarly pursuit. It begs many questions from us. We must face them with an open and unimpassioned mind. It has become expedient to highlight this point,as it appears that some people are ONLY concerned with the 'dalit' identity of Rohith.
In fact it is not easy to decipher his mind, which otherwise appeared to be very composed, rational and down-to-earth in nature. Such impression is what is likely to be derived from the 'suicide note' purported to have be left by Rohith (though still under forensic examination). Only his close friends and teachers at the University may have answers to some intriguing issues.
Why did he take a protest march as a member of the Ambedkar Students Association against the HANGING of Yakub Memon? Did he believe that Memon was innocent? Or he was against HANGING per se as a form of punishment? Or did he think that that the minority identity of Yakub Memon had something to do with the harshest punishment received by him, even if he was vicariously guilty.Only his fellow protesters could provide some hints. But then it is an irony of fate that he preferred to end his life by hanging.
What happened prior to that that led the University authorities to suspend Rohith and four others, is a matter of an impartial and open enquiry.But the question remains whether the authorities could not become a little more sensitive towards their alleged delinquency. Was the disciplinary action taken against them was too harsh in form and character? Did the 'dalit' identity of the alleged delinquent students come to play in handing out their suspension order. Same questions may be asked about the pro-active role played by Union Ministers on a case of a minor disturbance in the University campus. It doesn't appear to have caused out of pure academic interests on their part.Now it's evident that that was not a clever political maneuver on their part either.
Before anything else,I feel like expressing my deep sorrow and concern vis-a-vis the reported suicide of Rohith.
The suicide note(as reproduced in the "Hindu") makes it amply clear that he was blessed with a sensitive heart and responsible personality. The note did not betray any bitterness towards anybody.He did not accuse anybody for for decision to end his life prematurely. Even in such stressful moments,he remembered to ask his friends to repay the money he had borrowed, out of his stipends fallen due from the University/Govt.He also remembered to take of care of his needy family too to the best of his ability. Of course he did strike off an entire para therein for reasons only known to him. In the background of display of such positive features of mind and personality, it is difficult to perceive how much did he bleed and if any healing touch could have changed the fatal choice of his wounded heart.
After all he was an active member of Ambedkar Students Association. Dr.Ambedkar,a 'dalit' himself suffered monstrous humiliation in his childhood in school and elsewhere but struggled to win a place in the heart of the nation as one of the leading luminaries who breathed life into our democratic institution.
It is high time for us to realise that Dr.Ambedkar should not just be worshipped as a name, he should be followed as a beacon light for all victims of discrimination on the basis of caste and creed.
Last but not the least, if you want to shine as a nation, shun politics in academic affairs. Let the teacher-pupil relations be re-written in words that have been an essential part of our 'history' of even our recent past.
Unfortunately for us, such unwelcome trends are not just confined to one Central Univerity alone, they are raising their ugly heads in educational entities in various hues and colours elsewhere too with the active and/or tacit approval of the political parties in power.
<<<<<>>>>>