#Stand with HCU

Solidarity Statements and Video Testimonies

UoH Alumni Open Letter against the institutional murder of Rohith Vemula, the return of Dr. Appa Rao as UoH’s VC, and the brutal display of state violence in campus.

As alumni of the University of Hyderabad, we observed with dismay the return of Dr. Appa Rao Podile as the Vice-Chancellor of University of Hyderabad (UoH) on March 22. We strongly condemn this provocation that led to the police brutality on campus. The shutdown of the university which has followed is unacceptable and unlawful.

A couple of days ago, a report ranked three departments of the University of Hyderabad among the top 500 university facilities in the world. The education we received at UoH helped us to not only shape our careers, but also to question, critique and analyse concepts such as equality, fraternity and social justice. Upon entering a central university of this size, we were exposed to the sheer diversity of this country. UoH, like other central universities in India, is an amalgam of many languages, cultures, religions and regions.

However, much like the rest of the country, the university campus is a space where systematically oppressive caste structures operate and are institutionally legitimised. Recent events at UoH have left us dismayed and angered at the treatment meted out to peacefully protesting students at the hands of the administration and the police.

Suicides of Dalit students have been recurring in UoH. While such incidents continue unabated across the country, the issue spiralled into a nationwide students’ protest with the untimely death of Dalit scholar and social activist Rohith Vemula on January 17, 2016. Rohith’s suicide note gives us glimpses into the individual that he was — an astute observer of the human condition. His progressive ideas gave hope, especially to marginalised groups, for whom he fought tirelessly. The son of a Dalit mother who makes her living out of a sewing machine, he proudly bore his mother’s identity and fought for the rights of all people regardless of caste, class, gender and sexuality. He was especially vocal about the plight of Dalit students, a 200-million-strong population that has historically been denied fair opportunities to achieve social mobility in Indian society. It is unforgivable that the university administration could not save him.

A grave problem lies, therefore, in the fact that as of March 22, Dr. Appa Rao Podile, who mismanaged the suspension of Rohith and others, leading to his suicide, has resumed the office of the VC after two months of leave. This is highly inappropriate especially given that a non-bailable charge is registered against him under the SC/ST Atrocities Act and a judicial inquiry to determine accountability is still pending.

“We the alumni of University of Hyderabad write to draw attention to the atrocities that the students are experiencing for raising their voices against injustice”

The morning of Rao’s return saw an unprecedented display of violence in the campus. The media reported that the students pelted stones and ransacked the VC’s lodge. But, information from several sources, especially eyewitness accounts from students, faculty and non-teaching staff, contests mainstream media reports. There is ample footage of the police brutally assaulting students with lathis. Some police personnel allegedly threatened to rape students. Even faculty members were not spared.

After the incident, the university has been locked down with no food (14 messes have shut operations), water, electricity (in some parts), and no internet connectivity. This cannot be the reality of a central university, where, as we write this letter, ATM cards linked to student accounts have been blocked barring students from making essential purchases. Students who attempted to cook for their peers were severely beaten up by the police for the absurd crime of ‘cooking in a public place’. The administration has imposed an emergency-like situation in one of India’s biggest universities. Today UoH resembles a surveillance state with students being attacked, and their basic needs like food, water and money being denied to them. As the University and state administration try to starve out its own students by using state machinery and the law to wage war on members of a public institution, the response of the city has been heartening, with residents of Hyderabad cooking and delivering food and water to the students.

In light of these developments, we appeal to all citizens to keep asking the unpleasant questions that Rohith’s suicide has raised; questions about the persistence of caste in our educational institutions, and the present government’s apathy and refusal to hold the university administration accountable. Universities are spaces for understanding our complex social structures where questions are and must be raised against the abuse of power and authoritarianism.

We the undersigned alumni of this university-in-turmoil write to draw attention to the atrocities that the students are experiencing for raising their voices against injustice. We stand with the students and faculty around the country in universities like UoH, JNU, FTII, DU, IIT Madras, University of Allahabad and numerous others that are fighting to uphold the freedoms that are guaranteed by our constitution. We stand with Radhika Vemula and her ongoing courageous struggle for justice against a casteist and patriarchal administration. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of students and faculty members who were ambushed and taken into judicial custody on the morning of March 22. We condemn any kind of violence that tries to suppress freedom of expression and seeks instead to spread fear. Let all students and citizens debate to make India the safest example of a real grassroot democracy. Let them speak for a just world where everyone feels safe to just be.
 
Endorsements

NameAffiliationYear of graduationCourse of study
Nanditha MathewResearch Fellow, National Research Council, Italy.2009M.A and M.Phil Economics
Aabha SharmaKPMG India2014IMA Political Science
RASHAD MOIDEENNo Affiliation2014 
Hameeda C. K.Student, JNU2014 
VG BalajiAlumnus2010 
Gopika G GPhD Scholar, Centre for Development Studies2014 
Krishnendu AdiyatStudent2012 
Vaishnavi ShankarInstructional Designer2008MA English
Anu SalelkarAlumni, Student, Hyderabad Central University2008 
Juby GeorgeEditor, Higher ed publisher2010 
Silpa SatheeshStudent, University of South Florida2010 
Alamuru SoumyaFrelane research scholar2011 
Shauhrat S. ChopraPostdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago2009 
Carmel ChristyPostdoctoral fellow, University of California Santa Cruz2011 
Shijo VargheseAsst. Professor, Sacred Heart College, Thevara2013 
A.P SreerajAssistant Professor, CUR2010 
Abhigna SAcademic Editor2012 
Bestin SamuelWriter, World Vision India2012M.A English and MPhil Comparative Literature
Maithreyi M RSenior editor, BNHS-India1997 
Ramesh BairyAssociate professor, IITB2004 
Navika HarsheHCU/ alum2004 
Anirban DeyEditor, Cambridge University Press2010 
Bindhulakshmi PAssociate Professor, TISS, Mumbai2010 
Shipra NigamResearch Scholar , New Delhi2000 
Jaseena t pStudent2003 
Tore HolstExternal lecturer, university of Roskilde2007MA English
Diana GomesAlumni, UoH2014M.F.A Painting
TharakeshwarEflu2014 
Rakesh NanjappaStudent, State University of New York2014 
Priya VijayPhD scholar, JNU2014M.A English and MPhil Comparative Literature
Shamsudheen U. KHCU alumni2013 
Aparna RHCU alumni2014 
Samiah SultanaEx-student, University of Hyderabad2015 
Mahaprajna NayakCSSSC, Kolkata2005 
Kirti Ajith VarmaIndependent researcher2011 
Meghana RaoPhD Student, University of Toronto2013 
Faiza HasanAlumni, University of Hyderbad2014 
Savitha SureshStudent, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore2014 
Merlin Abey TheressaAnalyst, Private Firm2012 
Soumava BasuStudent2013 
Jithin MathewStudent IIT B2012 
Soumya BalanStudent2010 
Nithin MAssistant Professor, MCC2012 
Dhaneesh M PM.Phil Research Scholar2002 
Sreekumar jayadevanIIT Jodhpur2012 
ManjariStudent, Central University of Gujarat2012 
Ojas ShettyIndependent Researcher2015MA Anthropology
Sheeja RajagopalStudent, IITM2002MA English
Abhishek BakuliStudent, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung2008 
Abir DasguptaStudent, TISS2011 
R K DebbarmaAssistant Professor, TISS, Guwahati campus2014 
Rahul DeshmukhStudent, City University of New York2012 
Gowri ShankarStudent, UOH2012 
    
Muhammed PResearch Scholar, EFL University, Hyderabad2007 
DeeptiChief copy editor, The Times of India2011 
Sujata MishraPolicy Researcher2010 
Rohit ThapaTeach For India2007 
Himanshu UpadhyayaAssistant Professor, Azim Premji University2014 
M Naresh KumarStudent2003 
Tore HolstRecent PhD Graduate/Roskilde University2006 
Shilpaa AnandAssistant Professor, Maulana Azad National Urdu University Hyderabad2006 
Monty MajeedJournalist2000 
ManjariStudent, Central University of Gujarat2011 
Vikas Kumar MoolaM.Phil Social Sciences, CSSSC2012IMA Sociology
SALMA ASHRAFSTUDENT, University of Hyderabad2012 
Richa GuptaCentre for Studies in Social Sciences Calcutta/PhD research scholar2012MA English
Kevin B. HaynesStudent, Western Michigan University2012 
Nandini ChandrashekarStudent2014 
M Naresh KumarStudent/University of Hyderbad2006MA English
Kedar KulkarniStudent, University of Hyderabad2006 
Nikhilesh SinhaLecturer, Hult International Business School, London2004MA Economics
Arpan GangulyStudent, UoH/Graduate Instructor, Colorado State University2004 
Tejaswini MadabhushiIIIT2012 
Srinath raghunathanStudent2008 
Karteek KunnalaStudent2014 
HarshavardhanStudent2014 
Knut AuklandPhd candidate, University of Bergen, Norway2014 
Asamol Mohanstudent2008 
Lijinesh M Tstudent2010 
Ratheesh RadhakrishnanAssociate Professor, Dept. of HSS, IIT Bombay2011 
Devi G RPhD scholar, Dept. of Physics, IIT Madras2012M.Sc. Physics
PRITI LAISHRAMStudent, DELHI SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS2012 
Laishram PriyankaAlumni, University of Hyderabad2014 
SharmilaAssociate Professor, Dept. of HSS, IIT Bombay2014 
Yacoub Zachariah KuruvillaPhd Research Scholar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai2001 
Rekha AbelIndependent Development Consultant1995Ph.D. Linguistics
Alex M. ThomasSenior Lecturer, Azim Premji University2011MA and MPhil Economics
K.SrilataProfessor, Dept of HSS, IITM1998MA,  MPhil and PhD English
Tejaswini NiranjanaProfessor, TISS and Lingnan University1998 
Swati BandiIndependent Scholar1998 – presentFaculty
Sujith Parayilstudent2000 
Paromita BoseAssistant Professor, Mahindra Ecole Centrale2014M.Phil, PhD English
Jayanti K ChhetriAlumni, University of Hyderabad2010 
Suresh PittalaPostdoc at Indian Institute of Science2010 
Sanjeev C MAssistant Professor, NIFT2000MFA Painting
Jasmeet SahiFreelance writer2008MA English
Anupama SEx Student UoH2008 
Priyanka DasStudent, UOH2014 
Sanjeev RoutraySessional Lecturer, University of British Columbia2001 
Shashikantha KoudurAssociate Professor, NIT, Karnataka2001 
Amrit Amlan PattanaikSenior Lecturer, Xavier University Bhubaneswar2008 
Unika PrustyFreelance Journalist & Independent Researcher2010 
Bidyut Sagar BoruahIndependent Researcher2009 
Dharashree DasPhD Candidate, Simon Fraser University, Canada2001 
Gurveen KaurIndependent Researcher, Alumnus1986 
Pridhvi SabbineniAlumnus,University of Hyderabad (Physics)2012 
Mohsin KhanEconomist/consultant – Deloitte Malaysia2009MA Economics
Sawmya RayAssociate Professor, IITG2009 
Vaskar UpadhyayUoH, MA English, 2001. Currently based IN, US2009 
Kiriti KanjilalPhD Student, Washington State University2013 
Koshy TharakanProfessor, Goa University1992 
Kushal DebProfessor, Dept. of HSS, IIT Bombay1989 
Navaneetha Mokkil MaruthurAssistant Professor, JNU2001 
TV MadhuProfessor, University of Calicut1996 
Lourembam ArnoldStudent, University of Hyderabad2014-present 
Sudeshna DeviStudent, Jawaharlal Nehru University2007 
Shravan KumarAlumni, University of Hyderabad1997-1999MA Communication – SN School
Avinandan MukherjeeAlumnus, University of Hyderabad2007MA English
SwathysreePhD Candidate, IIM Calcutta2013 
Akhila M VAlumnus, University of Hyderabad2011 
J S SamSocial Scientist2007 
Sujith SNArtist.2007MFA – SN School
Uday Bhaskar SharmaSenior Research Fellow, IMSc, Chennai.2011M.Sc. Mathematics (Integrated)
Madhusudan NagResearch Scholar, Centre for Development Studies2011-13M.A in Economics
Umasankar PatraUniversity of Delhi, Delhi2011MA English
Vishal BabuEditor, Viva Books Private Limited2011MA English
Parvathy RajendranStudent,JNU2013 
AnandavardhananAssociate Professor, IIT Bombay2002 
Vipin KrishnaJNU PHD Student2010 
Jaya PeterStudent, HCU,HYDERABAD1996 
Rekha AbelIndependent Development Consultant1995 
Divyaprabha V JStudent2012 
Anita CherianAssistant Professor in English, Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi1993 
Bindu K CAmbedkar University/ Assistant Professor2004 
Anupama Ayyala SomayajalaCentral University, Gujarat/Assistant Professor1998 
Venkatesh babuStudent1996 
PratapStudent1996 
Anil kumarStudent1996 
Madhumita BiswalCentral University, Assistant Professor2009 
Sudarshan PapannaCentral University, Gujarat/Assistant Professor2012 
Abhishek ShawAssistant Editor, Economic and Political Weekly2011 
Jomy AbrahamPhD research scholar, JNU2013 
Deepak RajulaStudent, UOH2014 
ParvathiCug2009 
Kranthi NanduriFellow student, Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta2014 
Reshma RadhakrishnanResearch Scholar, Delhi University2005 
Parvathi K. IyerAssistant Professor CUG2009 
Amit UpadhyayAssistant Professor, TISS Hyderabad2001MA Sociology
Rituparna Suruniversity of hyderabad2012 
D ParthasarathyIIT Bombay Professor1995 
Ratheesh KumarJNU/ Assistant Professor2000 
Rajyashree SenPhD student, Janelia Research Campus, VA2012 
Dr. Robin Luke VargheseIndependent Researcher2015MA, MPhil, PhD Philisophy
Niveditha KalarikkalAssistant Professor, , Central University of Gujarat2013 
Shamsiya QosimovaIndependent Contractor, BBC Monitoring in Dushanbe2001 
Sunitha MLead Technical Writer, Wipro Technologies, Hyderabad2006 
Saiyora SaimurodovaStudent, Master of Arts in Sociology, HCU2001 
K.L.LeonEx-Student,SN School,Painting2003 
Dr.D.AnandAsst. Regional Director , Indira gandhi National Open University2008 
Asmita ChaudhuriProject Fellow, Jadavpur University2007MA, Applied Linguistics
Samik MallaResearch Scholar, IIT Madras2013 
Smrti K.PIxD Architect, Nokia2007MPhil English, PhD Translation Studies
Dr. Itishree PattnaikAssistant Professor, GIDR2009Phd Economics
Naresh SEx-Student,SSB2006 
Shivali TukdeoNIAS, Bangalore  
Milan George JacobHindustan Times, New Delhi2014IMA Economics
S. AnandPublisher, Navyana1997MA and Mphil, Department of English
Elizabeth PriyankaEx-student, MA Communication2013SN School.
Sumanta ThangjamPhd, Philosophy2013 
Thushara MohananEx Student , MA Communication2009SN School
Pritipushpa MishraLecturer, University of Southampton  
Jasmine YimchungerAssistant Proffessor, Sikkim University2007MA Communications – SN School
Balendu RashmiBhumika Women’s Collective2014Integrated Masters in Sociology
    
Sudha SamyuktaPRIA2014Integrated Masters in Sociology
Geetha KrishnaPRIA2014Integrated Masters in Sociology
Vinitha MokshagundamLecturer, Mount Carmel College, Bangalore2012MA, M.Phil, History
Ado KehieStudent, IIT Guhati2005MA Sociology
Ganga BhavaniHCU2004 
Jaishree Ram MohanEditor,1994 
ThungchobeniAssistant Professor,Alder College,Kohima.2007 
Jyotsna YedemHCU Alumni2008 
Akshara RavishankarAssistant Professor, Gargi College2012 
Themeem TAsst. professor, St. Stephens College, Delhi2015 
VinithaLecturer, Mount Carmel College, Bangalore2012 
Suresh K Gollestudent2009 
Vizokhonuostudent2015 
Pattela Omkar NadhStudent2014 
Malavika RaoPerformance maker2008 
MonicaEx Student from UOH2014 
SumedhaStudent,HCU2011 
Minu. AAlumni2011 
Kiran SikhaStudent2012 
Naveen Kumar PStudent2011 
Deepthi Krisha TStudent2016 
Santosh GurraniAlumni, Hyderabad Central University2011 
Chandra Kiran KattaCommunication Specialist/NGO2006 
Queenie Fanconstudent2009 
Shravan KumarUniversity of Hyderabad – Alumni1999 
DhilipIndependent Researcher2012 
Aswani RSHCU Student2011 
Monica NanjundaUniversity Of Hyderabad – Alumni2013SN School Of Fine Arts
Kedar KulkarniResearch Assistant, FEEM, Italy2014IMA Economics
Rakesh R.Assistant Proffessor, St. John’s College2012MA and MPhil, Department of English
Imlienla JamirStudent, Analog IAS2014IMA Political Science
Ekta SinglaStudent, UCL-Institute of Education, London2011MA Applied Linguistics
S SayujyaAlumnus, UoH2014MPhil English
Anwesha ChakrabortyPhd Student, University of Bologna2007MA English
Ratan LaishramAlumni HCU2012MA Economics
Sunil Kumar PolamuriIT Professional1999MA Applied Linguistics
Sukriti KapurStudent, Erasmus Mundus Masters Program2014MA Economics
Tharakeshwar V.B.Teacher, EFL University1997Ph.D. English
Madhurima MajumderResearch fellow, Anveshi2013 
M B Sudha RaniMedia Professional1999MA Mass Communications
Rakesh SenguptaPost-doctoral researcher, York University, Toronto2015Ph.D., Cognitive Science
G Naga Sena RanaMedia Professional1999MA Mass Communications
Sopei Joel RungsungMedia Professional2013MA Mass Communications
Sashikantalumnus2000 
Aravind ParakkotAlumnus2001MA English
Anu K antonyResearch fellow, IIT, Bombay MA, Mphil Sociology
Anna MiniFreelance writer2014MA Political Science
Anas Nazar   
Rajeswari SAlumnus2004 
Yanger Kichu 2007MA History
Asima JenaAssistant professor,Central University of Gujarat2009 
Anuradha BanerjiResearch Scholar, Ambedkar University2011 
Sreejith TStudent2012 
Mrudula BhavaniEx-student2015 
Anju Christine LinghamStudent, King’s College London, University of London2013 
Arathi RStudent2014 
PallaviStudent2017 
Lakshmi PriyaStudent2013 
Pranith MaddiralaSN School, University of Hyderabad2011 
Esfandiar Adina (Rahim Rahimov)Student2002 
sukhvinder multanieducationist and researcher2004 
Varunika SarafArtist2006 
Monu RajanAlumnus, UoH2011 
Shriya sharmaStudent2015 
Abhilash AugustineStudent, JNU2013 
madhav vinodhStudent, UoH2013 
Kathi Mahesh KumarStudent2000 
Nagesh MuppavaramStudent2013 
Hariprasad RStudent, central university of hyderabad2011 
GodwinStudent2013 
TINCHU P JAMESSTUDENT2011 
Sujatha GirijaAlumnae of HCU2004 
Harini KumarPhD student, University of Chicago2011 
Elsa OommenWarwick2011 
Mariyam Mumthasstudent2015 
AnaghaAlumni2015 
Anoop DanielStudent2015 
JNANESH R JHCU2011 
GautamiAlumnus/University of Hyderabad2012 
Nargis VasundharaStudent, Ph.D, Delhi University2011 
JOSEPH MICHAEL JOSEalumni2011 

 
 


Letter by CPI(M), Sitaram Yechury addressed to the Telangana Chief Minister, Shri K Chandrasekar Rao

Full text of the letter addressed by CPI(M) General Secretary, Sitaram Yechury addressed to the Telangana Chief Minister, Shri K Chandrasekar Rao today on the brutal attack on students and faculty members of Hyderabad Central University (HCU).

March 23, 2016
Shri Chandrasekar Rao Garu,

I have tried in vain to contact you over telephone the whole day today. Several messages have been left with your staff, but there has been no response.  Having thus failed, I am writing this letter.

I am writing this letter with a sense of anguish and anger.  I am particularly agonized at writing this letter to you on the martyrdom day of Shahid Bhagat Singh.

The brutal police attack against students and other sections of the academic community in the Hyderabad Central University yesterday has been followed up by another round of attack today.  Continuing the manner with which the students were dealt with by the Telangana police yesterday, the police today have reportedly mounted yet another attack inside the campus.  The manner in which the girl students were attacked by the male police with  the liberal usage of foul language against them is reprehensible.

Following the stoppage of water connection, access to wifi, food supplies to the hostel messes, the students themselves organized the preparation of food for the hostel inmates.  Today, all these facilities were attacked by the police and the Vice Chancellor has reportedly shut down the hostels.
Most of us in the country are aghast at the manner in which such brutal assault is mounted on the university community by the Telangana police in one of the premier Central universities of our country.

The Vice Chancellor who proceeded on leave following the tragic suicide of Rohith Vemula was booked under charges of aiding and abetting this suicide by creating the circumstances leading to this tragedy.  Instead of proceeding against the Vice Chancellor on this case, the Telangana police has resorted to such brutality against the students.

The students were protesting against the return of this Vice Chancellor and demanding that the case against him must be proceeded with.  It is clear that the police action under the sanction of the state government was to facilitate the return of this Vice Chancellor.

Further, we are informed that the first decision taken by the Vice Chancellor upon the return was to defer the meeting of the Academic Council on Thursday (March 24), which was convened by the in-charge Vice Chancellor to discuss the setting up of an anti-discrimination committee on the campus, to ensure adequate representation of SCs and STs  on various committees of the university and to consider the proposal to increase the non-NET fellowship from Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 25,000 per month on parity with the Junior Research Fellowship in the country. The in-charge Vice Chancellor has reportedly pleaded that he had no knowledge  of the Vice Chancellor returning to assume charge of the university.

The Telangana government, under your stewardship, has been vocal in announcing that it champions the interests of the overwhelming bulk of the state's population that comes from SC/ST and various Other Backward Classes and the marginalized sections.  Surely, your government and administration cannot concur with these latest decisions of this Vice Chancellor.  Yet, it is the Telangana police, under the remit of your government, that has spearheaded this brutal attack against the university and the students.

This has happened as the university community continues to remain traumatized over the tragic suicide of Rohith Vemula and the circumstances created on the campus leading to such a tragedy.

Instead of proceeding, I repeat, against the Vice Chancellor on the basis of the case registered against him, your government has discharged this responsibility of mounting this attack against this university community.

It is being reported in the media that 28 students, who are victims of this brutal lathi charge, have now been remanded  into custody and lodged at the Central Jail.

In the fitness of living up to your own proclamations and assurances, the arrested students must be released immediately and the cases against them must be dropped.  The Telangana police must immediately proceed on the registered cases against the Vice Chancellor.  As this is a Central University, we are demanding of the Central Government that their appointed

Vice Chancellor be removed forthwith.

Yours sincerely

Sitaram Yechury,
General Secretary, CPI(M)
 


National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights Calls for Immediate Action

The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) condemns the brutal crackdown on students and teachers of the University of Hyderabad. The crackdown was on protestors in the University Campus. In January 2016, a research scholar, Rohith Vemula committed suicide after this scholarship was stopped and he was thrown out of the hostel following a protest organised by Ambedkar Students Association against the judicial killing of Yakub Memon. The five students thrown out of hostel all belonged to the Dalit community. The vice-chancellor who is responsible for this institutional murder went on a leave during the thick of the matter.

The vice-chancellor, Appa Rao re-joined on March 22nd 2016, despite a criminal case under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989 filed against him. He joined calling upon media for a press conference announcing his return.

The student and teacher body protested against his re-joining as vice-chancellor. The protestors were brutally attacked by the police, male police officials physically assaulted female students, and they were lathi charged. Currently 36 students and 3 faculty members are detained in undisclosed locations and many students who were brutally injured during the attack are in different hospitals. 9 students are in judicial remand. They have no food or water served. At least 100 police officials continue to be on campus.

The Internet was disconnected on campus disallowing students to disseminate information on details of the attack or the status of the arrest. Thus isolating the students and teachers body from rest of the civil society.

NCDHR is anguished by the state apathy towards students from marginalised communities. This reflects the total apathy of the administration and the government towards the issue of exclusionary practices in higher education. The attack is not just on the student body and their right to dissent but gravely undermines democratic spaces and values as enshrined in the Constitution.

We demand –

  • Immediate unconditional release of Prashant Dontha of Ambedkar Student Association, along with other 35 students and 3 faculty members.
  • Immediately arrest and take action against the Vice-Chancellor under SC/ST PoA Act.
  •  The act of re-joining office by the VC, while the case is still in the process of investigation is aborting justice and scuttling it.
  • Police to immediately leave University premises.
  • Restoration of basic facilities to the student body.
  • Students and teachers must be consulted in entire process.
  • MHRD to ensure campuses are free from police brutality and violence.
  • Government to immediately enact Rohith Act to act as a safeguard against exclusionary practices.

On behalf of National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights,
Prof Vimal Thorat, Mr N Paul Divakar, Ms Asha Kowtal and Dr VA Ramesh Nathan


HCU: Students and Faculty Arrested for Peaceful Protests Must be Released

Amnesty International India condemns the police crackdown on peacefully protesting University of Hyderabad (UoH) students and faculty and demands their immediate release.

There should be an independent investigation into allegations of excessive use of force by the police. On 22 March, the Telangana police assaulted protesting students in the UoH campus. Students were protesting against the return of the vice-chancellor of the university whom they hold responsible for the suicide of a Dalit Student, Rohith Vemula, in January 2016.

‘Violence against protesting students in a university cannot under any circumstance be justified. Allegations of sexual violence and threats by the police to women students must be investigated and those suspected of being responsible must be prosecuted,’ said Aakar Patel, Executive Director at Amnesty International India.

“Any protesters who can legitimately be charged for acts of violence or vandalism must be prosecuted and tried in proceedings which meet international fair trial standards.”

‘Male police brutally grabbed, molested, tossed and beat female students and faculties alike. Female faculties were grabbed by their hair and dragged into vans. Male students were swept inside the van and were beaten without mercy,’ said Vaikhari Aryat, a UoH student, in her Facebook post. Akshita Chitla, a student of UoH told Amnesty International India, ‘I was dragged outside from the VC office where I was protesting. Police told us not to behave like prostitutes and threatened us with rape. Most of my friends who were girls were slapped and kicked by male and female police officers.’ 25 students and two faculty members among the protesters have been arrested for allegedly vandalizing the vice-chancellor’s office and booked for rioting, criminal intimidation and damage to public property. If found guilty they could be imprisoned for up to 7 years.

Udaya Bhanu, a UoH student and President of the Madiga Students Federation is one of many students admitted in hospital because of the police assault. He said there are injuries across his body including blood clot in his ear and that the doctors suspect internal bleeding. “Yesterday there was no food and water in the campus. So we decided to help the protesting students by arranging some food and water for them. While we were bringing the food packets the police spotted us and said we were encouraging the protesting students. They started beating us up and threatened us if we supported the protesting students,’ said Udaya Bhanu from the hospital.On Tuesday evening the university authorities closed the gates to the campus, preventing the protesters from accessing essential supplies. It was only on Thursday morning, in response to some students underlining human rights violations, that the university authorities restored such essential supplies. The situation in the campus remains tense.

‘Students have a right to protest. Denying students electricity, water and food merely because they are protesting is unacceptable,’ said Aakar Patel.

Caste-based discrimination on campus has been at the center of the protests in UoH. Students who belong to Dalit, Adivasi and other vulnerable communities have consistently spoken out against their marginalization on the campus, and claim that civil liberties are being eroded. An anti-discrimination committee meeting on the UoH campus that was scheduled on March 24 to look into wider representation of Dalit and Adivasi students in decision making bodies was never convened.

‘The university must act to ensure it remains an inclusive place for everyone; there must be no discrimination against those who belong to certain castes or profiling of students because they are politically active on this issue’, said Aakar Patel.

The assault on students in campus and their arrest by the police violates many provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and the Indian Constitution. Article 19 of the Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression and freedom of peaceful assembly. Arrests of peaceful protesters violate India’s obligations under international law, specifically the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to respect and protect the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, set out in Article 19 and Article 21 of that treaty. The arrest of the students and holding them for almost 24 hours without giving any information about their status is in breach of numerous international human rights standards including the UN Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment.

BACKGROUND
There is a long documented history of systematic and organized marginalization of Dalits within Indian society. The UoH campus has been at the center of an ongoing protest that began after the social boycott and suspension of five Dalit students in 2015 over allegations of violence against other students. These allegations were brought forward by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarti Parishad (ABVP) which is the student wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the ruling political party in India. None of those allegations of violence were proven and the students continue to face marginalization by the university authorities. In January 2016, one of the five students, a 26-year-old PhD scholar Rohith Vemula committed suicide. His suicide galvanized student protests across the country.
 
 


HRD Ministry should not be Converted into Hindu Rashtra Development Ministry: CPM

Stand with HCU: CPI-M’s Memorandum to the President

 
CPI-M Memorandum to President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee that General Secretary of the Party, Sitaram Yechury will be presenting at 7.30 p.m. on March 25, 2016

Text of the Memorandum:

Hon'ble President of India
Rashtrapati Bhawan
New Delhi

Dear Rashtrapathiji,

I am writing this letter to you with a deep sense of anguish regarding the ongoing developments in the Hyderabad Central University.

The honourable President of India is the Visitor of this central university. There is an ongoing dispute with the newly appointed Vice Chancellor. The students, faculty and the entire university community has been agitating for redressing the circumstances which led to the tragic suicide of a bright research scholar, Rohith Vemula. After this suicide, the Vice Chancellor proceeded on long leave and he suddenly surfaced and took charge on March 22. His resumption of charge was accompanied by a brutal police action against the students and the university community about which I am sure you are aware.

The demand for the removal of this particular Vice Chancellor by the university community is being met with such a police action which has continued on March 23 as well. The water connection to the hostels, access to wifi, food supplies to the hostel mess - all have been discontinued. When the students themselves organised the cooking of food for the inmates they were once again attacked by the police and all those facilities destroyed.
The reason I am writing to you is because on the issue of removal of the Vice Chancellor, the HRD ministry has officially stated to the media the following:

"Regarding the demand for the removal of the VC the ministry has conveyed the same to the Visitor who is the appointing authority."

Regarding the police action the ministry says that this is an "issue of law and order (that) comes under the jurisdiction of the state government".

This was conveyed to the entire media in the country by the HRD spokesperson Ghanshyam Goel (as reported in the Hindu web edition of March 24, 2016). Further, the news agency ANI  has also put out on social media and the electronic media the same explanation.

The honourable President of India, who is the visitor of the University has now been dragged into the controversy by the HRD ministry. Given this, I am approaching you to intervene in this situation to restore normalcy in this premier central university in our country. As of now some students are still in hospital with serious injuries. Twenty six students have been detained and are in judicial custody along with two members of the faculty. Thus a total of twenty eight persons are in jail.

Further, we are informed that the first decision taken by the Vice Chancellor upon his return was to defer the meeting of the Academic Council on Thursday (March 24), which was convened by the in-charge Vice Chancellor to discuss the setting up of an anti-discrimination committee on the campus, to ensure adequate representation of SCs and STs  on various committees of the university and to consider the proposal to increase the non-NET fellowship from Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 25,000 per month on parity with the Junior Research Fellowship in the country. The in-charge Vice Chancellor has reportedly pleaded that he had no knowledge of the Vice Chancellor returning to assume charge of the university.

Following the tragic suicide of Rohith Vemula there was a case registered against the Vice Chancellor for aiding and abetting this suicide. Instead of proceeding on this case this gruesome attack on the university community was mounted by the police.

Since the honourable President of India as the Visitor of the Hyderabad Central University has been dragged into this controversy by the HRD ministry, I am approaching you to please intervene and ensure that the HCU Vice Chancellor who took a blatantly anti-dalit stand violating all established norms of social inclusion in the university must be removed forthwith. The case registered against him with the police must be proceeded with and justice must be delivered to the university community and the country.

I would also urge upon you to please intervene to ensure that the Human Resources Development ministry is not allowed to be converted into the Hindu Rashtra Development ministry.

Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary, CPI(M)
 


Solidarity Statements and Video Testimonies

UoH Alumni Open Letter against the institutional murder of Rohith Vemula, the return of Dr. Appa Rao as UoH’s VC, and the brutal display of state violence in campus.

As alumni of the University of Hyderabad, we observed with dismay the return of Dr. Appa Rao Podile as the Vice-Chancellor of University of Hyderabad (UoH) on March 22. We strongly condemn this provocation that led to the police brutality on campus. The shutdown of the university which has followed is unacceptable and unlawful.

A couple of days ago, a report ranked three departments of the University of Hyderabad among the top 500 university facilities in the world. The education we received at UoH helped us to not only shape our careers, but also to question, critique and analyse concepts such as equality, fraternity and social justice. Upon entering a central university of this size, we were exposed to the sheer diversity of this country. UoH, like other central universities in India, is an amalgam of many languages, cultures, religions and regions.

However, much like the rest of the country, the university campus is a space where systematically oppressive caste structures operate and are institutionally legitimised. Recent events at UoH have left us dismayed and angered at the treatment meted out to peacefully protesting students at the hands of the administration and the police.

Suicides of Dalit students have been recurring in UoH. While such incidents continue unabated across the country, the issue spiralled into a nationwide students’ protest with the untimely death of Dalit scholar and social activist Rohith Vemula on January 17, 2016. Rohith’s suicide note gives us glimpses into the individual that he was — an astute observer of the human condition. His progressive ideas gave hope, especially to marginalised groups, for whom he fought tirelessly. The son of a Dalit mother who makes her living out of a sewing machine, he proudly bore his mother’s identity and fought for the rights of all people regardless of caste, class, gender and sexuality. He was especially vocal about the plight of Dalit students, a 200-million-strong population that has historically been denied fair opportunities to achieve social mobility in Indian society. It is unforgivable that the university administration could not save him.

A grave problem lies, therefore, in the fact that as of March 22, Dr. Appa Rao Podile, who mismanaged the suspension of Rohith and others, leading to his suicide, has resumed the office of the VC after two months of leave. This is highly inappropriate especially given that a non-bailable charge is registered against him under the SC/ST Atrocities Act and a judicial inquiry to determine accountability is still pending.

“We the alumni of University of Hyderabad write to draw attention to the atrocities that the students are experiencing for raising their voices against injustice”

The morning of Rao’s return saw an unprecedented display of violence in the campus. The media reported that the students pelted stones and ransacked the VC’s lodge. But, information from several sources, especially eyewitness accounts from students, faculty and non-teaching staff, contests mainstream media reports. There is ample footage of the police brutally assaulting students with lathis. Some police personnel allegedly threatened to rape students. Even faculty members were not spared.

After the incident, the university has been locked down with no food (14 messes have shut operations), water, electricity (in some parts), and no internet connectivity. This cannot be the reality of a central university, where, as we write this letter, ATM cards linked to student accounts have been blocked barring students from making essential purchases. Students who attempted to cook for their peers were severely beaten up by the police for the absurd crime of ‘cooking in a public place’. The administration has imposed an emergency-like situation in one of India’s biggest universities. Today UoH resembles a surveillance state with students being attacked, and their basic needs like food, water and money being denied to them. As the University and state administration try to starve out its own students by using state machinery and the law to wage war on members of a public institution, the response of the city has been heartening, with residents of Hyderabad cooking and delivering food and water to the students.

In light of these developments, we appeal to all citizens to keep asking the unpleasant questions that Rohith’s suicide has raised; questions about the persistence of caste in our educational institutions, and the present government’s apathy and refusal to hold the university administration accountable. Universities are spaces for understanding our complex social structures where questions are and must be raised against the abuse of power and authoritarianism.

We the undersigned alumni of this university-in-turmoil write to draw attention to the atrocities that the students are experiencing for raising their voices against injustice. We stand with the students and faculty around the country in universities like UoH, JNU, FTII, DU, IIT Madras, University of Allahabad and numerous others that are fighting to uphold the freedoms that are guaranteed by our constitution. We stand with Radhika Vemula and her ongoing courageous struggle for justice against a casteist and patriarchal administration. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of students and faculty members who were ambushed and taken into judicial custody on the morning of March 22. We condemn any kind of violence that tries to suppress freedom of expression and seeks instead to spread fear. Let all students and citizens debate to make India the safest example of a real grassroot democracy. Let them speak for a just world where everyone feels safe to just be.
 
Endorsements

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Aabha SharmaKPMG India2014IMA Political Science
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Hameeda C. K.Student, JNU2014 
VG BalajiAlumnus2010 
Gopika G GPhD Scholar, Centre for Development Studies2014 
Krishnendu AdiyatStudent2012 
Vaishnavi ShankarInstructional Designer2008MA English
Anu SalelkarAlumni, Student, Hyderabad Central University2008 
Juby GeorgeEditor, Higher ed publisher2010 
Silpa SatheeshStudent, University of South Florida2010 
Alamuru SoumyaFrelane research scholar2011 
Shauhrat S. ChopraPostdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago2009 
Carmel ChristyPostdoctoral fellow, University of California Santa Cruz2011 
Shijo VargheseAsst. Professor, Sacred Heart College, Thevara2013 
A.P SreerajAssistant Professor, CUR2010 
Abhigna SAcademic Editor2012 
Bestin SamuelWriter, World Vision India2012M.A English and MPhil Comparative Literature
Maithreyi M RSenior editor, BNHS-India1997 
Ramesh BairyAssociate professor, IITB2004 
Navika HarsheHCU/ alum2004 
Anirban DeyEditor, Cambridge University Press2010 
Bindhulakshmi PAssociate Professor, TISS, Mumbai2010 
Shipra NigamResearch Scholar , New Delhi2000 
Jaseena t pStudent2003 
Tore HolstExternal lecturer, university of Roskilde2007MA English
Diana GomesAlumni, UoH2014M.F.A Painting
TharakeshwarEflu2014 
Rakesh NanjappaStudent, State University of New York2014 
Priya VijayPhD scholar, JNU2014M.A English and MPhil Comparative Literature
Shamsudheen U. KHCU alumni2013 
Aparna RHCU alumni2014 
Samiah SultanaEx-student, University of Hyderabad2015 
Mahaprajna NayakCSSSC, Kolkata2005 
Kirti Ajith VarmaIndependent researcher2011 
Meghana RaoPhD Student, University of Toronto2013 
Faiza HasanAlumni, University of Hyderbad2014 
Savitha SureshStudent, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore2014 
Merlin Abey TheressaAnalyst, Private Firm2012 
Soumava BasuStudent2013 
Jithin MathewStudent IIT B2012 
Soumya BalanStudent2010 
Nithin MAssistant Professor, MCC2012 
Dhaneesh M PM.Phil Research Scholar2002 
Sreekumar jayadevanIIT Jodhpur2012 
ManjariStudent, Central University of Gujarat2012 
Ojas ShettyIndependent Researcher2015MA Anthropology
Sheeja RajagopalStudent, IITM2002MA English
Abhishek BakuliStudent, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung2008 
Abir DasguptaStudent, TISS2011 
R K DebbarmaAssistant Professor, TISS, Guwahati campus2014 
Rahul DeshmukhStudent, City University of New York2012 
Gowri ShankarStudent, UOH2012 
    
Muhammed PResearch Scholar, EFL University, Hyderabad2007 
DeeptiChief copy editor, The Times of India2011 
Sujata MishraPolicy Researcher2010 
Rohit ThapaTeach For India2007 
Himanshu UpadhyayaAssistant Professor, Azim Premji University2014 
M Naresh KumarStudent2003 
Tore HolstRecent PhD Graduate/Roskilde University2006 
Shilpaa AnandAssistant Professor, Maulana Azad National Urdu University Hyderabad2006 
Monty MajeedJournalist2000 
ManjariStudent, Central University of Gujarat2011 
Vikas Kumar MoolaM.Phil Social Sciences, CSSSC2012IMA Sociology
SALMA ASHRAFSTUDENT, University of Hyderabad2012 
Richa GuptaCentre for Studies in Social Sciences Calcutta/PhD research scholar2012MA English
Kevin B. HaynesStudent, Western Michigan University2012 
Nandini ChandrashekarStudent2014 
M Naresh KumarStudent/University of Hyderbad2006MA English
Kedar KulkarniStudent, University of Hyderabad2006 
Nikhilesh SinhaLecturer, Hult International Business School, London2004MA Economics
Arpan GangulyStudent, UoH/Graduate Instructor, Colorado State University2004 
Tejaswini MadabhushiIIIT2012 
Srinath raghunathanStudent2008 
Karteek KunnalaStudent2014 
HarshavardhanStudent2014 
Knut AuklandPhd candidate, University of Bergen, Norway2014 
Asamol Mohanstudent2008 
Lijinesh M Tstudent2010 
Ratheesh RadhakrishnanAssociate Professor, Dept. of HSS, IIT Bombay2011 
Devi G RPhD scholar, Dept. of Physics, IIT Madras2012M.Sc. Physics
PRITI LAISHRAMStudent, DELHI SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS2012 
Laishram PriyankaAlumni, University of Hyderabad2014 
SharmilaAssociate Professor, Dept. of HSS, IIT Bombay2014 
Yacoub Zachariah KuruvillaPhd Research Scholar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai2001 
Rekha AbelIndependent Development Consultant1995Ph.D. Linguistics
Alex M. ThomasSenior Lecturer, Azim Premji University2011MA and MPhil Economics
K.SrilataProfessor, Dept of HSS, IITM1998MA,  MPhil and PhD English
Tejaswini NiranjanaProfessor, TISS and Lingnan University1998 
Swati BandiIndependent Scholar1998 – presentFaculty
Sujith Parayilstudent2000 
Paromita BoseAssistant Professor, Mahindra Ecole Centrale2014M.Phil, PhD English
Jayanti K ChhetriAlumni, University of Hyderabad2010 
Suresh PittalaPostdoc at Indian Institute of Science2010 
Sanjeev C MAssistant Professor, NIFT2000MFA Painting
Jasmeet SahiFreelance writer2008MA English
Anupama SEx Student UoH2008 
Priyanka DasStudent, UOH2014 
Sanjeev RoutraySessional Lecturer, University of British Columbia2001 
Shashikantha KoudurAssociate Professor, NIT, Karnataka2001 
Amrit Amlan PattanaikSenior Lecturer, Xavier University Bhubaneswar2008 
Unika PrustyFreelance Journalist & Independent Researcher2010 
Bidyut Sagar BoruahIndependent Researcher2009 
Dharashree DasPhD Candidate, Simon Fraser University, Canada2001 
Gurveen KaurIndependent Researcher, Alumnus1986 
Pridhvi SabbineniAlumnus,University of Hyderabad (Physics)2012 
Mohsin KhanEconomist/consultant – Deloitte Malaysia2009MA Economics
Sawmya RayAssociate Professor, IITG2009 
Vaskar UpadhyayUoH, MA English, 2001. Currently based IN, US2009 
Kiriti KanjilalPhD Student, Washington State University2013 
Koshy TharakanProfessor, Goa University1992 
Kushal DebProfessor, Dept. of HSS, IIT Bombay1989 
Navaneetha Mokkil MaruthurAssistant Professor, JNU2001 
TV MadhuProfessor, University of Calicut1996 
Lourembam ArnoldStudent, University of Hyderabad2014-present 
Sudeshna DeviStudent, Jawaharlal Nehru University2007 
Shravan KumarAlumni, University of Hyderabad1997-1999MA Communication – SN School
Avinandan MukherjeeAlumnus, University of Hyderabad2007MA English
SwathysreePhD Candidate, IIM Calcutta2013 
Akhila M VAlumnus, University of Hyderabad2011 
J S SamSocial Scientist2007 
Sujith SNArtist.2007MFA – SN School
Uday Bhaskar SharmaSenior Research Fellow, IMSc, Chennai.2011M.Sc. Mathematics (Integrated)
Madhusudan NagResearch Scholar, Centre for Development Studies2011-13M.A in Economics
Umasankar PatraUniversity of Delhi, Delhi2011MA English
Vishal BabuEditor, Viva Books Private Limited2011MA English
Parvathy RajendranStudent,JNU2013 
AnandavardhananAssociate Professor, IIT Bombay2002 
Vipin KrishnaJNU PHD Student2010 
Jaya PeterStudent, HCU,HYDERABAD1996 
Rekha AbelIndependent Development Consultant1995 
Divyaprabha V JStudent2012 
Anita CherianAssistant Professor in English, Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi1993 
Bindu K CAmbedkar University/ Assistant Professor2004 
Anupama Ayyala SomayajalaCentral University, Gujarat/Assistant Professor1998 
Venkatesh babuStudent1996 
PratapStudent1996 
Anil kumarStudent1996 
Madhumita BiswalCentral University, Assistant Professor2009 
Sudarshan PapannaCentral University, Gujarat/Assistant Professor2012 
Abhishek ShawAssistant Editor, Economic and Political Weekly2011 
Jomy AbrahamPhD research scholar, JNU2013 
Deepak RajulaStudent, UOH2014 
ParvathiCug2009 
Kranthi NanduriFellow student, Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta2014 
Reshma RadhakrishnanResearch Scholar, Delhi University2005 
Parvathi K. IyerAssistant Professor CUG2009 
Amit UpadhyayAssistant Professor, TISS Hyderabad2001MA Sociology
Rituparna Suruniversity of hyderabad2012 
D ParthasarathyIIT Bombay Professor1995 
Ratheesh KumarJNU/ Assistant Professor2000 
Rajyashree SenPhD student, Janelia Research Campus, VA2012 
Dr. Robin Luke VargheseIndependent Researcher2015MA, MPhil, PhD Philisophy
Niveditha KalarikkalAssistant Professor, , Central University of Gujarat2013 
Shamsiya QosimovaIndependent Contractor, BBC Monitoring in Dushanbe2001 
Sunitha MLead Technical Writer, Wipro Technologies, Hyderabad2006 
Saiyora SaimurodovaStudent, Master of Arts in Sociology, HCU2001 
K.L.LeonEx-Student,SN School,Painting2003 
Dr.D.AnandAsst. Regional Director , Indira gandhi National Open University2008 
Asmita ChaudhuriProject Fellow, Jadavpur University2007MA, Applied Linguistics
Samik MallaResearch Scholar, IIT Madras2013 
Smrti K.PIxD Architect, Nokia2007MPhil English, PhD Translation Studies
Dr. Itishree PattnaikAssistant Professor, GIDR2009Phd Economics
Naresh SEx-Student,SSB2006 
Shivali TukdeoNIAS, Bangalore  
Milan George JacobHindustan Times, New Delhi2014IMA Economics
S. AnandPublisher, Navyana1997MA and Mphil, Department of English
Elizabeth PriyankaEx-student, MA Communication2013SN School.
Sumanta ThangjamPhd, Philosophy2013 
Thushara MohananEx Student , MA Communication2009SN School
Pritipushpa MishraLecturer, University of Southampton  
Jasmine YimchungerAssistant Proffessor, Sikkim University2007MA Communications – SN School
Balendu RashmiBhumika Women’s Collective2014Integrated Masters in Sociology
    
Sudha SamyuktaPRIA2014Integrated Masters in Sociology
Geetha KrishnaPRIA2014Integrated Masters in Sociology
Vinitha MokshagundamLecturer, Mount Carmel College, Bangalore2012MA, M.Phil, History
Ado KehieStudent, IIT Guhati2005MA Sociology
Ganga BhavaniHCU2004 
Jaishree Ram MohanEditor,1994 
ThungchobeniAssistant Professor,Alder College,Kohima.2007 
Jyotsna YedemHCU Alumni2008 
Akshara RavishankarAssistant Professor, Gargi College2012 
Themeem TAsst. professor, St. Stephens College, Delhi2015 
VinithaLecturer, Mount Carmel College, Bangalore2012 
Suresh K Gollestudent2009 
Vizokhonuostudent2015 
Pattela Omkar NadhStudent2014 
Malavika RaoPerformance maker2008 
MonicaEx Student from UOH2014 
SumedhaStudent,HCU2011 
Minu. AAlumni2011 
Kiran SikhaStudent2012 
Naveen Kumar PStudent2011 
Deepthi Krisha TStudent2016 
Santosh GurraniAlumni, Hyderabad Central University2011 
Chandra Kiran KattaCommunication Specialist/NGO2006 
Queenie Fanconstudent2009 
Shravan KumarUniversity of Hyderabad – Alumni1999 
DhilipIndependent Researcher2012 
Aswani RSHCU Student2011 
Monica NanjundaUniversity Of Hyderabad – Alumni2013SN School Of Fine Arts
Kedar KulkarniResearch Assistant, FEEM, Italy2014IMA Economics
Rakesh R.Assistant Proffessor, St. John’s College2012MA and MPhil, Department of English
Imlienla JamirStudent, Analog IAS2014IMA Political Science
Ekta SinglaStudent, UCL-Institute of Education, London2011MA Applied Linguistics
S SayujyaAlumnus, UoH2014MPhil English
Anwesha ChakrabortyPhd Student, University of Bologna2007MA English
Ratan LaishramAlumni HCU2012MA Economics
Sunil Kumar PolamuriIT Professional1999MA Applied Linguistics
Sukriti KapurStudent, Erasmus Mundus Masters Program2014MA Economics
Tharakeshwar V.B.Teacher, EFL University1997Ph.D. English
Madhurima MajumderResearch fellow, Anveshi2013 
M B Sudha RaniMedia Professional1999MA Mass Communications
Rakesh SenguptaPost-doctoral researcher, York University, Toronto2015Ph.D., Cognitive Science
G Naga Sena RanaMedia Professional1999MA Mass Communications
Sopei Joel RungsungMedia Professional2013MA Mass Communications
Sashikantalumnus2000 
Aravind ParakkotAlumnus2001MA English
Anu K antonyResearch fellow, IIT, Bombay MA, Mphil Sociology
Anna MiniFreelance writer2014MA Political Science
Anas Nazar   
Rajeswari SAlumnus2004 
Yanger Kichu 2007MA History
Asima JenaAssistant professor,Central University of Gujarat2009 
Anuradha BanerjiResearch Scholar, Ambedkar University2011 
Sreejith TStudent2012 
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Arathi RStudent2014 
PallaviStudent2017 
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Esfandiar Adina (Rahim Rahimov)Student2002 
sukhvinder multanieducationist and researcher2004 
Varunika SarafArtist2006 
Monu RajanAlumnus, UoH2011 
Shriya sharmaStudent2015 
Abhilash AugustineStudent, JNU2013 
madhav vinodhStudent, UoH2013 
Kathi Mahesh KumarStudent2000 
Nagesh MuppavaramStudent2013 
Hariprasad RStudent, central university of hyderabad2011 
GodwinStudent2013 
TINCHU P JAMESSTUDENT2011 
Sujatha GirijaAlumnae of HCU2004 
Harini KumarPhD student, University of Chicago2011 
Elsa OommenWarwick2011 
Mariyam Mumthasstudent2015 
AnaghaAlumni2015 
Anoop DanielStudent2015 
JNANESH R JHCU2011 
GautamiAlumnus/University of Hyderabad2012 
Nargis VasundharaStudent, Ph.D, Delhi University2011 
JOSEPH MICHAEL JOSEalumni2011 

 
 


Letter by CPI(M), Sitaram Yechury addressed to the Telangana Chief Minister, Shri K Chandrasekar Rao

Full text of the letter addressed by CPI(M) General Secretary, Sitaram Yechury addressed to the Telangana Chief Minister, Shri K Chandrasekar Rao today on the brutal attack on students and faculty members of Hyderabad Central University (HCU).

March 23, 2016
Shri Chandrasekar Rao Garu,

I have tried in vain to contact you over telephone the whole day today. Several messages have been left with your staff, but there has been no response.  Having thus failed, I am writing this letter.

I am writing this letter with a sense of anguish and anger.  I am particularly agonized at writing this letter to you on the martyrdom day of Shahid Bhagat Singh.

The brutal police attack against students and other sections of the academic community in the Hyderabad Central University yesterday has been followed up by another round of attack today.  Continuing the manner with which the students were dealt with by the Telangana police yesterday, the police today have reportedly mounted yet another attack inside the campus.  The manner in which the girl students were attacked by the male police with  the liberal usage of foul language against them is reprehensible.

Following the stoppage of water connection, access to wifi, food supplies to the hostel messes, the students themselves organized the preparation of food for the hostel inmates.  Today, all these facilities were attacked by the police and the Vice Chancellor has reportedly shut down the hostels.
Most of us in the country are aghast at the manner in which such brutal assault is mounted on the university community by the Telangana police in one of the premier Central universities of our country.

The Vice Chancellor who proceeded on leave following the tragic suicide of Rohith Vemula was booked under charges of aiding and abetting this suicide by creating the circumstances leading to this tragedy.  Instead of proceeding against the Vice Chancellor on this case, the Telangana police has resorted to such brutality against the students.

The students were protesting against the return of this Vice Chancellor and demanding that the case against him must be proceeded with.  It is clear that the police action under the sanction of the state government was to facilitate the return of this Vice Chancellor.

Further, we are informed that the first decision taken by the Vice Chancellor upon the return was to defer the meeting of the Academic Council on Thursday (March 24), which was convened by the in-charge Vice Chancellor to discuss the setting up of an anti-discrimination committee on the campus, to ensure adequate representation of SCs and STs  on various committees of the university and to consider the proposal to increase the non-NET fellowship from Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 25,000 per month on parity with the Junior Research Fellowship in the country. The in-charge Vice Chancellor has reportedly pleaded that he had no knowledge  of the Vice Chancellor returning to assume charge of the university.

The Telangana government, under your stewardship, has been vocal in announcing that it champions the interests of the overwhelming bulk of the state's population that comes from SC/ST and various Other Backward Classes and the marginalized sections.  Surely, your government and administration cannot concur with these latest decisions of this Vice Chancellor.  Yet, it is the Telangana police, under the remit of your government, that has spearheaded this brutal attack against the university and the students.

This has happened as the university community continues to remain traumatized over the tragic suicide of Rohith Vemula and the circumstances created on the campus leading to such a tragedy.

Instead of proceeding, I repeat, against the Vice Chancellor on the basis of the case registered against him, your government has discharged this responsibility of mounting this attack against this university community.

It is being reported in the media that 28 students, who are victims of this brutal lathi charge, have now been remanded  into custody and lodged at the Central Jail.

In the fitness of living up to your own proclamations and assurances, the arrested students must be released immediately and the cases against them must be dropped.  The Telangana police must immediately proceed on the registered cases against the Vice Chancellor.  As this is a Central University, we are demanding of the Central Government that their appointed

Vice Chancellor be removed forthwith.

Yours sincerely

Sitaram Yechury,
General Secretary, CPI(M)
 


National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights Calls for Immediate Action

The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) condemns the brutal crackdown on students and teachers of the University of Hyderabad. The crackdown was on protestors in the University Campus. In January 2016, a research scholar, Rohith Vemula committed suicide after this scholarship was stopped and he was thrown out of the hostel following a protest organised by Ambedkar Students Association against the judicial killing of Yakub Memon. The five students thrown out of hostel all belonged to the Dalit community. The vice-chancellor who is responsible for this institutional murder went on a leave during the thick of the matter.

The vice-chancellor, Appa Rao re-joined on March 22nd 2016, despite a criminal case under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989 filed against him. He joined calling upon media for a press conference announcing his return.

The student and teacher body protested against his re-joining as vice-chancellor. The protestors were brutally attacked by the police, male police officials physically assaulted female students, and they were lathi charged. Currently 36 students and 3 faculty members are detained in undisclosed locations and many students who were brutally injured during the attack are in different hospitals. 9 students are in judicial remand. They have no food or water served. At least 100 police officials continue to be on campus.

The Internet was disconnected on campus disallowing students to disseminate information on details of the attack or the status of the arrest. Thus isolating the students and teachers body from rest of the civil society.

NCDHR is anguished by the state apathy towards students from marginalised communities. This reflects the total apathy of the administration and the government towards the issue of exclusionary practices in higher education. The attack is not just on the student body and their right to dissent but gravely undermines democratic spaces and values as enshrined in the Constitution.

We demand –

  • Immediate unconditional release of Prashant Dontha of Ambedkar Student Association, along with other 35 students and 3 faculty members.
  • Immediately arrest and take action against the Vice-Chancellor under SC/ST PoA Act.
  •  The act of re-joining office by the VC, while the case is still in the process of investigation is aborting justice and scuttling it.
  • Police to immediately leave University premises.
  • Restoration of basic facilities to the student body.
  • Students and teachers must be consulted in entire process.
  • MHRD to ensure campuses are free from police brutality and violence.
  • Government to immediately enact Rohith Act to act as a safeguard against exclusionary practices.

On behalf of National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights,
Prof Vimal Thorat, Mr N Paul Divakar, Ms Asha Kowtal and Dr VA Ramesh Nathan


HCU: Students and Faculty Arrested for Peaceful Protests Must be Released

Amnesty International India condemns the police crackdown on peacefully protesting University of Hyderabad (UoH) students and faculty and demands their immediate release.

There should be an independent investigation into allegations of excessive use of force by the police. On 22 March, the Telangana police assaulted protesting students in the UoH campus. Students were protesting against the return of the vice-chancellor of the university whom they hold responsible for the suicide of a Dalit Student, Rohith Vemula, in January 2016.

‘Violence against protesting students in a university cannot under any circumstance be justified. Allegations of sexual violence and threats by the police to women students must be investigated and those suspected of being responsible must be prosecuted,’ said Aakar Patel, Executive Director at Amnesty International India.

“Any protesters who can legitimately be charged for acts of violence or vandalism must be prosecuted and tried in proceedings which meet international fair trial standards.”

‘Male police brutally grabbed, molested, tossed and beat female students and faculties alike. Female faculties were grabbed by their hair and dragged into vans. Male students were swept inside the van and were beaten without mercy,’ said Vaikhari Aryat, a UoH student, in her Facebook post. Akshita Chitla, a student of UoH told Amnesty International India, ‘I was dragged outside from the VC office where I was protesting. Police told us not to behave like prostitutes and threatened us with rape. Most of my friends who were girls were slapped and kicked by male and female police officers.’ 25 students and two faculty members among the protesters have been arrested for allegedly vandalizing the vice-chancellor’s office and booked for rioting, criminal intimidation and damage to public property. If found guilty they could be imprisoned for up to 7 years.

Udaya Bhanu, a UoH student and President of the Madiga Students Federation is one of many students admitted in hospital because of the police assault. He said there are injuries across his body including blood clot in his ear and that the doctors suspect internal bleeding. “Yesterday there was no food and water in the campus. So we decided to help the protesting students by arranging some food and water for them. While we were bringing the food packets the police spotted us and said we were encouraging the protesting students. They started beating us up and threatened us if we supported the protesting students,’ said Udaya Bhanu from the hospital.On Tuesday evening the university authorities closed the gates to the campus, preventing the protesters from accessing essential supplies. It was only on Thursday morning, in response to some students underlining human rights violations, that the university authorities restored such essential supplies. The situation in the campus remains tense.

‘Students have a right to protest. Denying students electricity, water and food merely because they are protesting is unacceptable,’ said Aakar Patel.

Caste-based discrimination on campus has been at the center of the protests in UoH. Students who belong to Dalit, Adivasi and other vulnerable communities have consistently spoken out against their marginalization on the campus, and claim that civil liberties are being eroded. An anti-discrimination committee meeting on the UoH campus that was scheduled on March 24 to look into wider representation of Dalit and Adivasi students in decision making bodies was never convened.

‘The university must act to ensure it remains an inclusive place for everyone; there must be no discrimination against those who belong to certain castes or profiling of students because they are politically active on this issue’, said Aakar Patel.

The assault on students in campus and their arrest by the police violates many provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and the Indian Constitution. Article 19 of the Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression and freedom of peaceful assembly. Arrests of peaceful protesters violate India’s obligations under international law, specifically the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to respect and protect the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, set out in Article 19 and Article 21 of that treaty. The arrest of the students and holding them for almost 24 hours without giving any information about their status is in breach of numerous international human rights standards including the UN Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment.

BACKGROUND
There is a long documented history of systematic and organized marginalization of Dalits within Indian society. The UoH campus has been at the center of an ongoing protest that began after the social boycott and suspension of five Dalit students in 2015 over allegations of violence against other students. These allegations were brought forward by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarti Parishad (ABVP) which is the student wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the ruling political party in India. None of those allegations of violence were proven and the students continue to face marginalization by the university authorities. In January 2016, one of the five students, a 26-year-old PhD scholar Rohith Vemula committed suicide. His suicide galvanized student protests across the country.
 
 


HRD Ministry should not be Converted into Hindu Rashtra Development Ministry: CPM

Stand with HCU: CPI-M’s Memorandum to the President

 
CPI-M Memorandum to President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee that General Secretary of the Party, Sitaram Yechury will be presenting at 7.30 p.m. on March 25, 2016

Text of the Memorandum:

Hon'ble President of India
Rashtrapati Bhawan
New Delhi

Dear Rashtrapathiji,

I am writing this letter to you with a deep sense of anguish regarding the ongoing developments in the Hyderabad Central University.

The honourable President of India is the Visitor of this central university. There is an ongoing dispute with the newly appointed Vice Chancellor. The students, faculty and the entire university community has been agitating for redressing the circumstances which led to the tragic suicide of a bright research scholar, Rohith Vemula. After this suicide, the Vice Chancellor proceeded on long leave and he suddenly surfaced and took charge on March 22. His resumption of charge was accompanied by a brutal police action against the students and the university community about which I am sure you are aware.

The demand for the removal of this particular Vice Chancellor by the university community is being met with such a police action which has continued on March 23 as well. The water connection to the hostels, access to wifi, food supplies to the hostel mess - all have been discontinued. When the students themselves organised the cooking of food for the inmates they were once again attacked by the police and all those facilities destroyed.
The reason I am writing to you is because on the issue of removal of the Vice Chancellor, the HRD ministry has officially stated to the media the following:

"Regarding the demand for the removal of the VC the ministry has conveyed the same to the Visitor who is the appointing authority."

Regarding the police action the ministry says that this is an "issue of law and order (that) comes under the jurisdiction of the state government".

This was conveyed to the entire media in the country by the HRD spokesperson Ghanshyam Goel (as reported in the Hindu web edition of March 24, 2016). Further, the news agency ANI  has also put out on social media and the electronic media the same explanation.

The honourable President of India, who is the visitor of the University has now been dragged into the controversy by the HRD ministry. Given this, I am approaching you to intervene in this situation to restore normalcy in this premier central university in our country. As of now some students are still in hospital with serious injuries. Twenty six students have been detained and are in judicial custody along with two members of the faculty. Thus a total of twenty eight persons are in jail.

Further, we are informed that the first decision taken by the Vice Chancellor upon his return was to defer the meeting of the Academic Council on Thursday (March 24), which was convened by the in-charge Vice Chancellor to discuss the setting up of an anti-discrimination committee on the campus, to ensure adequate representation of SCs and STs  on various committees of the university and to consider the proposal to increase the non-NET fellowship from Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 25,000 per month on parity with the Junior Research Fellowship in the country. The in-charge Vice Chancellor has reportedly pleaded that he had no knowledge of the Vice Chancellor returning to assume charge of the university.

Following the tragic suicide of Rohith Vemula there was a case registered against the Vice Chancellor for aiding and abetting this suicide. Instead of proceeding on this case this gruesome attack on the university community was mounted by the police.

Since the honourable President of India as the Visitor of the Hyderabad Central University has been dragged into this controversy by the HRD ministry, I am approaching you to please intervene and ensure that the HCU Vice Chancellor who took a blatantly anti-dalit stand violating all established norms of social inclusion in the university must be removed forthwith. The case registered against him with the police must be proceeded with and justice must be delivered to the university community and the country.

I would also urge upon you to please intervene to ensure that the Human Resources Development ministry is not allowed to be converted into the Hindu Rashtra Development ministry.

Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary, CPI(M)
 


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