In a significant move towards addressing caste-based discrimination in educational institutions, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has urged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to enact the Rohith Vemula Act. This proposed legislation, named after the late Rohith Vemula, a PhD scholar from the University of Hyderabad who died by suicide in January 2016, aims to prevent exclusion and injustice faced by students based on their social, economic, or religious backgrounds.
The call for the Rohith Vemula Act comes after Gandhi's recent interactions with students and teachers from Dalit, Adivasi, and Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities in Parliament, where he learned about the rampant caste discrimination prevalent in colleges and universities across the state. In his letter to Siddaramaiah, Gandhi emphasized the urgent need for legislative action, stating, "It is time to put a firm end to this. I urge the Karnataka government to enact the Rohith Vemula Act so that no child of India has to face what Dr B R Ambedkar, Rohith Vemula, and millions of others have had to endure."
Gandhi's letter also reflects on the tragic deaths of Vemula and other students, including Payal Tadvi and Darshan Solanki, highlighting that such incidents are unacceptable. He quoted Ambedkar's experiences of caste discrimination in school to illustrate the ongoing challenges faced by marginalized students. "There was plenty of food with us. There was hunger burning within us; with all this we were to sleep without food; that was because we could get no water, and we could get no water because we were untouchables," Gandhi wrote, underscoring the historical context of caste-based injustices.
In response to Gandhi's appeal, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed gratitude for the former Congress President's commitment to social justice. He assured that the state government would prioritize the enactment of the Rohith Vemula Act, stating, "Our government stands firm in its resolve to enact the Rohith Vemula Act in Karnataka – to ensure no student faces discrimination based on caste, class, or religion. We will bring this legislation at the earliest to honor the dreams of Rohith, Payal, Darshan, and countless others who deserved dignity, not exclusion."
This commitment aligns with the Congress party's 2023 resolution, which pledged to enact the Rohith Vemula Act if they returned to power. The proposed legislation aims to uphold the right to education and dignity for Dalits, tribal people, OBCs, and minorities, ensuring that students from these communities do not face the discrimination that has historically plagued the education system.
The tragic story of Rohith Vemula, who was initially labeled a Dalit, has drawn national attention to the issue of caste discrimination in educational institutions. His suicide on January 17, 2016, after allegedly facing institutional harassment, sparked widespread protests and debates about casteism in India. It was reported that Vemula had been suspended from the university hostel following a confrontation with members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, a student group affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The university's actions, which included barring suspended students from accessing common areas on campus, were widely criticized as a form of social ostracism.
In a controversial twist, the Telangana Police filed a closure report in May 2024, asserting that Vemula was not a Dalit and that he committed suicide out of fear of his "real caste" being discovered. This report has raised further questions about the systemic issues surrounding caste identity and the pressures faced by students from marginalized backgrounds.
Gandhi's letter and Siddaramaiah's subsequent pledge to enact the Rohith Vemula Act reflect a growing acknowledgment of the need to address caste-based discrimination in education. The proposed legislation aims to create a framework that protects students from socio-economic disadvantages and ensures that no student faces the kind of discrimination that Vemula and others endured.
As the Congress party continues to advocate for the Rohith Vemula Act, the focus remains on creating a more equitable educational environment for all students, regardless of their caste or background. The urgency of this issue is underscored by the ongoing reports of caste discrimination in educational institutions, which Gandhi highlighted in his letter. He stated, "It is very unfortunate that even after decades, lakhs of students are still facing caste discrimination in our education system."
With the enactment of the Rohith Vemula Act, there is hope that the educational landscape in Karnataka will begin to shift towards a more inclusive and just system, where all students can pursue their education without the fear of discrimination based on their caste or background. The commitment from both Gandhi and Siddaramaiah marks a crucial step in this ongoing struggle for social justice and equality in India.
