RADHIKA VEMULA - DALIT EMPOWERMENT AN UNREALIZED DREAM

RADHIKA VEMULA - DALIT EMPOWERMENT AN UNREALIZED DREAM

The poor woman lost her son Rohith Vemula, a bright P Hd scholar in 2016 due to suspected injustice and insult happened in Hyderabad Central University (HCU) . He hanged himself to death, as he could bear the financial constraints he was put to by stopping his monthly stipend.  Bharat Mata lost one of its emerging stars. What I do not understand is whether he is OC or BC or SC or ST; he is a student of HCU, committed suicide due to prevailing situation in university as he mentioned in suicide note.  Unfortunately instead of showing empathy to the family the BJP Government and its senior leaders Sushma Swaraj, Smruti Irani tried to rake up caste controversy by claiming that Rohith is not from Dalit community.  

There are clearly established cases and judgments in favour of Radhika Vemula to establish that their family belongs to SC community. In fact Guntur Mandal Revenue Officer gave SC certificate to family and they are enjoying SC status through the certificate. The rulers have no mercy for a Dalit widow woman who is under severe trauma due to loss of son on whom she had lot of hopes and dragged the case to court and to everyone’s surprise, court in Feb, 2018 gave verdict that Rohith is not Dalit as his father is from backward community, by setting aside the caste certificate issued by Guntur MRO.  But no action was recommended against the MRO who issued wrong certificate as felt by the court. Though I have strong reservations against this judgment, I do not wish take panga with judiciary.   

Like any citizen, Radhika Vemula too has right to speak and right to express (within the framework of constitution) and she is continuing her fight for Dalit rights, against injustice done to her family and she is vocal in many forums against present union government and its policies. Many social, philanthropic, political organizations came forward to extend moral, emotional and financial support to her family.

The financial support and funding promise from Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is one such incident, where she did mention about few individuals not honoring the commitment given. Like making a mole out of mountain, BJP and senior ministers like Piyush Goel are trying to project it as a issue of national threat and what not. Will they dare to do such things if the person involved is from upper caste or class? Why BJP is feeling so insecure and trying to convert any small opportunity to convert as communal issue and attempting towards polarization?

If one has big heart extend support to Radhika Vemula and help her to emerge as strong woman, otherwise leave them freely, but certainly not make her vulnerable.

Read this blog to understand the caste angle:  https://grbonthu.blogspot.com/2017/06/whether-late-rohith-belongs-to-sc-dalit.html

B Guruva Reddy – 9866889246

grbonthu@gmail.com