Thiruvananthapuram—A new case of casteism has surfaced in the Sanskrit Department of Kerala University. Dalit PhD scholar Vipin Vijayan has made serious allegations of caste discrimination, abuse of power, and withholding his PhD degree from the department’s Dean, Dr. C.N. Vijayakumari. Vipin claims that Dr. Vijayakumari, who is said to be associated with the RSS-BJP, deliberately disrupted his academic journey. This case has shaken the entire state and brought back memories of the Rohith Vemula case.
According to a Facebook post by Vipin, he holds a B.A. and M.A. in Sanskrit from Sri Sankaracharya University, a B.Ed. and M.Ed. from Kerala University. He completed his M.Phil. in Sanskrit from the Kariavattom campus, guided by the head of the Sanskrit department, Dr. Vijayakumari. But now the same Dean is blocking his PhD, calling him “unintelligible to Sanskrit.” Citing the Dean’s alleged casteist statement, Vipin stated, “No matter how much the Pulayanas or Parayans (considered lower castes in Kerala) bow down, Sanskrit will never bow down to them like the Brahmins.”
Vipin says that his dissertation, “Epistemological Review of Kenopanishad,” was praised by the examiners and recommended for a PhD. However, the Dean wrote a letter to the university claiming that Vipin doesn’t know Sanskrit, even though university rules permit research in English or Malayalam. Vipin claims that he is left-leaning and the Dean is an active member of the Sangh Parivar teachers’ organization, making her stance casteist. Vipin says, “My political ideology is being questioned, but why the silence on her ideology?”
Vipin says he completed his M.Phil. in Sanskrit, guided by Dr. Vijayakumari. From Vipin Vijayan’s Facebook post
The researcher alleges in his Facebook post that the university’s dean, Dr. C.N. Vijayakumari, filed a false report against him, alleging that he cannot read or write Sanskrit. According to the researcher, this allegation is completely baseless and false.
Read the PhD scholar’s poignant post:
“I can still hear the cries of my own brother, Rohith Vemula. I can hear the horrific mockery of casteism. I can’t sleep, and life is slipping away again.
The epithet “not knowing Sanskrit” has been forever imprinted on me like a never-fading stain. There’s not a shred of truth in this propaganda, but it has left a never-healing wound in my life.” Will my words, moments from my life, ever be published on any channel or newspaper? I don’t know.
I received my M.Phil. in Sanskrit from the Sanskrit Department of the University of Kerala. I am pursuing research on the basis of my M.Phil. qualification.
My M.Phil. dissertation is titled “An Epistemological Critique of the Kenopanishad,” and it was guided by Dr. C.N. Vijayakumari Teacher! Yes, the same Dean who stated in her report to the university that I cannot read or write Sanskrit.
What qualifications does Dr. C.N. Vijayakumari Teacher, who helped me in awarding an unqualified M.Phil. degree to someone who doesn’t know how to read or write Sanskrit, have to continue as a lecturer?
Did my M.Phil. dissertation reviewer, Dr. Vijayakumari Teacher, deceive the university? Is Dr. C.N. Vijayakumari Teacher a fraud for aiding me in this fraud? Or have I forgotten Sanskrit after receiving my M.Phil.?
How did I suddenly become someone who cannot read or write Sanskrit? The essence of that transformation is casteism!
How did I, who didn’t even submit a nomination in the Research Students’ Association elections, become featured in the news as the General Secretary of the Research Students’ Association, an important position?
I have a political bias, and Dr. Vijayakumari Teacher also has a clear political bias. I am left-wing. Teacher follows RSS-BJP politics and is an active worker in the Sangh Parivar Teachers’ Association at Kerala University.
How did my political bias become a topic of discussion?
Didn’t the Dean of the Sangh Parivar Teachers’ Association’s report against the SFI leader become news?
Why is Dr. C.N. Vijayakumari Teacher’s political bias not being exposed?
How did I become a criminal, and Dr. C.N. Vijayakumari Teacher a holy angel?
I don’t know whether the media will think so. Do facts have no value in news?
By ignoring the dissertation examiners and open defense chairman selected by the Vice Chancellor, the Dean, who is trying to establish non-existent power, is distrusting and challenging the Vice Chancellor’s decisions. The examiners and chairman have recommended the award of a PhD for my dissertation.
C.N., who thinks and acts inappropriately for the noble academic position of Dean, Vijayakumari Teacher should not remain in that position even for a moment. Otherwise, the relevant authorities should remove the Dean. This university with its great tradition should not be disgraced; the Dean should not continue. The reason is that no other student should suffer from such abuse of power.
My PhD dissertation was prepared in English, as university rules permit it. Sanskrit is not mandatory in the open defense; English and Malayalam are acceptable. If you check the Sanskrit Department library, you will find numerous theses and M.Phil theses prepared in English.
Some wicked people from Thiruvananthapuram, who roam around with their faces covered in the name of protecting the university, came running to attack me like frightened dogs. Who entrusted them with the responsibility of assessing my abilities?
Several media personnel called me when the news broke. Appearing before the media is impossible; I fear even venturing out.
My entire life is being cut and bleeding because of a letter from the Dean.
My PhD is my life. It’s as if all the academic achievements and abilities I’ve accumulated over the years have been destroyed in a single day. Does truth have no value?
Otherwise, I wouldn’t exist either. Darkness is filling my life…
FIR filed under SC/ST Act
Following a complaint by Vipin Vijayan, the Srikarayam police have registered a case of caste-based insult against Dr. C.N. Vijayakumari, Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies and Head of the Sanskrit Department at the Kariavattom campus.
According to the FIR filed late Saturday night, Vijayakumari refused to sign Vipin’s thesis after the open defense on October 15th. Later, when Vipin requested her to sign the document again to complete the PhD process, the accused made caste-based remarks in the presence of other teachers and students.
The complaint also alleges that Vijayakumari had been making similar caste-based remarks since 2015, during Vipin’s M.Phil. course under her supervision. According to the FIR, Vijayakumari told the complainant that people from lower castes cannot learn Sanskrit and that she cleaned his room with water after he entered.
Police said the case has been registered under sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which deals with the offense of intentionally insulting or abusing a member of the SC/ST community by using their caste name in public. Officials said these offenses are non-bailable, and a detailed investigation will be conducted before arrest.
When the controversy first surfaced, Vijayakumari denied making the casteist remarks and claimed she refused to sign the thesis because the researcher lacked sufficient knowledge of Sanskrit and had several flaws in his work.
Geetha Sunil Pillai
Courtesy: Hindi News