Chhattisgarh: Dalit youth assaulted, beaten in the middle of the road in Dipka, case filed
Dalit youth attacked in an Instagram dispute: assaulted with casteist slurs, FIR filed against Kunal Singh Rajput. Chhattisgarh: A serious case of assault against a Dalit youth has come to light in the Dipka police station area of Korba district. The victim alleges that a boy named Kunal Singh Rajput came to kill him. The Dalit youth suffered a serious head injury in the incident. However, in the presence of the Chhattisgarh Bhim Army Ekta Mission, the Dipka police have registered a case against the accused. According to the police, the accused is being interrogated and further action will be taken after the investigation is complete. The incident occurred on November 15th at Azad Chowk in Dipka, when Nitesh Kurre, a resident of Dipka, was going to the market with his wife at 5 pm. Kunal Singh Rajput attacked Nitesh Kurre, causing a head injury and serious injuries. The Dalit youth alleges that the accused, Kunal Singh Rajput, stopped him on the road, began assaulting him, and hurled casteist slurs at him over a social media Instagram chat and an old dispute. Police investigating the case Based on the victim’s complaint, the Dipka police have registered a case under relevant sections of the IPC, including sections 296, 115(2), and 351(2) of the Indian Penal Code, and have begun investigating the matter. Sharvan Kumar Courtesy: Hindi News
Major RPF action at Tatanagar station: 13 tribal minors, including 12 girls, being taken to Tamil Nadu were rescued.
The plan was to make them work as laborers in a Tamil Nadu thread factory; the RPF apprehended them before they could board the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express. Jamshedpur: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has achieved a major success in its campaign against human trafficking in Jharkhand. The RPF, acting swiftly at Jamshedpur’s Tatanagar railway station, rescued 13 tribal minors from the clutches of human traffickers. Officials announced on Monday that the rescued children, including 12 girls and one boy, were being taken to Tamil Nadu under the pretext of providing them jobs. They were planning to go to Coimbatore. Tatanagar RPF in-charge Rakesh Mohan stated that the action was based on a strong intelligence report. Senior Divisional Security Commissioner P. Shankar Kutti of the Chakradharpur Division of the South Eastern Railway had provided a tip in this regard. Upon receiving information, the Flying Squad of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) increased surveillance at the station. An RPF officer said, “These children were rescued from Tatanagar station on Sunday while they were waiting to board the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express. During interrogation, the minors revealed that they were being taken to work at a yarn manufacturing unit in Salem, Tamil Nadu.” Two brothers arrested Taking action in this case, police arrested two alleged human traffickers. The accused have been identified as Sunil Tatonba and Jampira Tatonba. These two accused are real brothers and residents of Amdiha Panchayat, which falls under the Hatgamharia police station area of West Singhbhum district. On Monday, the RPF handed over all the rescued children and the two arrested accused to the Tatanagar Government Railway Police (GRP) for further legal action. All the children are residents of West Singhbhum. Tatanagar GRP in-charge Jitram Oraon confirmed the case and said that all the rescued minors are between 15 and 17 years old. They are residents of different villages in the Hatgamharia block of West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand. Giving details about the further process, the GRP in-charge said, “All 13 minors have been handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Jamshedpur for care and protection. Before being released to their families in Hatgamharia, these children will be produced in the Jamshedpur Civil Court to record their statements.” Accused Sent to Jail Sunil and Jampira Tatonba, two brothers arrested on charges of trafficking minors, were produced in court, from where they were sent to Ghaghidih Central Jail in judicial custody. This prompt action by the administration saved the children from a bleak future. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Rajasthan Board’s arbitrary fee hike: Parents of tribal children worried, the board will fill its pockets but poor families will be burdened!
Over 38,000 students in Banswara district alone will be affected by this decision. Over 80% of the district’s population comes from the tribal community, most of whom live below the poverty line. Banswara – A decision by the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education, Ajmer, has raised concerns among thousands of families in the tribal-dominated district of Banswara. The board has abruptly increased the examination fees for grades 10 and 12, jeopardizing the education of children from poor tribal families. The board has increased the theoretical exam fee from ₹600 to ₹850, and the practical exam fee from ₹100 to ₹200 per subject. This increase will apply to both regular and private students. Virendra Chaudhary, a senior leader of the Rajasthan Teachers’ Union (Siyaram), stated that the Ajmer Board of Secondary Education has declared the fee hike of Rs. 250 for theoretical exams and 100% for practical exams, from Rs. 100 per subject to Rs. 200, as unfair. Over 38,000 students in Banswara district alone will be affected by this decision. Over 80% of the district’s population belongs to the tribal community, with most families living below the poverty line. Most earn a living by working as laborers in Gujarat or neighboring states, making it difficult to even make ends meet. They can barely afford to pay their children’s fees. Local parents are outraged by this decision. Dhirajmal, a parent and former sarpanch of Bhanwar Vod Gram Panchayat, said, “This fee hike is an additional burden for poor tribal families. We are already struggling in this era of inflation. This will adversely impact our children’s education, especially girls’ education.” The looting of children and the hefty bonuses to board employees are unfair. Teacher leader Virendra Chaudhary stated that the Board employees are being given annual bonuses of thousands of rupees by robbing poor tribal students. The Board fails to make timely payments for all tasks, from application forms to fee invoices and other Board work, including evaluation and inspection. It also makes unnecessary 20% deductions for temple expenses, magazines, and other items. He demanded the state government conduct a high-level investigation into the arbitrary ₹35,000 bonus given to Ajmer Board employees and the additional honorarium paid in addition to their salaries. The Rajasthan Teachers’ Association, Siyaram, demanded the inclusion of a chairman and members from the tribal region in the Board’s executive committee and expressed the need for a separate board for the Banswara tribal region. Chaudhary stated that for years, a new executive committee has been formed and, under the influence of the administrator, anti-tribal and anti-student decisions have been taken unilaterally. He stated that, as decided in a meeting chaired by the Education Secretary, starting in the 2026-27 academic year, both regular and private students will now have to pay an examination fee of ₹850, which is a step and a deep conspiracy to financially deprive tribal students across the state from education. Furthermore, the fee for practical exams has been fixed at ₹200. However, this increase is the first since 2017. Currently, ₹600 is charged for regular students, ₹650 for private students, and ₹100 for practical exams. According to board officials, the fee increase has become necessary due to rising expenses on question paper printing, evaluation, and examination center arrangements. Currently, the board earns approximately ₹130 crore from examination fees. While this fee increase will increase this revenue, it will directly impact the pockets of approximately 2 million students across the state. Local students and parents have expressed disagreement with this decision. Student Narayan Lal Charpota said that the cost of coaching and books is already skyrocketing, and now the increase in examination fees will make education even more difficult for ordinary families. Siyaram Sharma, State Administrative President of the Rajasthan Teachers’ Union (Siyaram), said that the board’s decision cannot be considered administratively appropriate. The government should also announce a reimbursement relief scheme for the tribal BPL category so that economically weaker students are not deprived of the examination. 10th and 12th exams to be held from February 12 The Education Department has amended the Shivira Panchang to start the new session early. The exam schedule has been released. A letter in this regard was issued by Education Director Sitaram Jat. According to this, the 10th and 12th grade exams of the Board of Secondary Education will be held between February 12 and March 12. Annual exams for classes 9 and 11 will be held between March 10 and 25, and for classes 5 and 8 before March 12 instead of April 2026. Similarly, annual examinations for classes three and four, as well as six and seven, have been scheduled for March instead of April. The second competency-based assessment has also been scheduled for November instead of December, and the third assessment for March instead of April. The Education Department has begun preparations in the district in accordance with the revised schedule. Preparations are also underway in schools. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Lucknow: Dalit research scholar Basant Kannaujiya’s protest continues at BBAU, with the university administration now issuing warnings to supporting students as well!
Following Kannaujiya’s expulsion, notices have been sent to students participating in the protest since November 20th. Lucknow – A peaceful protest against the expulsion of Dalit research scholar Basant Kannaujiya has been ongoing at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) for over a week. Rejecting the university administration’s allegations of “indiscipline,” Kannaujiya continues to protest on campus to protect his constitutional rights to education and justice. However, the matter has now escalated, with the administration issuing warning notices to students who supported him. Prominent Bahujan activists, including Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad, have come out openly in the matter and are demanding the university’s immediate revocation of his expulsion. This incident adds another dark chapter of caste discrimination and administrative tyranny to BBAU’s history. Kannaujiya, a PhD scholar in the Department of History, had been studying at the university for the past 14 years. He was accused of “inciting students, vandalism, and trespassing into the Vice Chancellor’s office” during the alleged unrest on campus on September 17th. The Inquiry Committee and Disciplinary Committee recommended his expulsion based on CCTV footage, student statements, and his past record (which included 14 indiscipline cases, show-cause notices, and FIRs since 2012). Vice-Chancellor Professor Raj Kumar Mittal issued his expulsion order on October 17th, calling his response to the show-cause notice “baseless.” The order also barred him from entering the campus and future admissions. Immediately after his expulsion, Kannaujiya began a peaceful sit-in, within constitutional limits, which has now entered its seventh day. The protest site is near the main gate of the administrative building, where he is demanding student welfare, raising voice against caste discrimination, and the right to education. However, the administration’s response has become increasingly harsh. Notices have been sent to students participating in the protest since November 20th. The most recent case concerns Shivam Kumar, a student in the Department of Information Technology. The university’s Proctor’s Office issued letter number 1084/Proct./BBAU/2025 on November 21st, 2025, warning Shivam for “continued involvement in undisciplined activities.” The letter stated: “It has been found that you, in connivance with outsiders, have been participating in a protest at the main gate of the Administrative Building within the university campus since November 20th, 2025. You have obstructed the movement of teachers, officers, and staff entering and leaving the Administrative Building, and are also involved in creating unrest on the campus. Such actions are a gross violation of the university’s Student Code of Conduct.” The letter further warned: “You are therefore directed to immediately desist from such undisciplined activities and concentrate on your academic work. You may be punished as per university rules for your undisciplined activities.” This notice is not only for participation in the protest, but has also become a form of mental harassment for those expressing support. According to Kannaujiya, similar notices are now being sent to other students who have stood in support of him. Kanaujiya has exposed the administration’s tyranny in his response on social media. He wrote: “Another shameful example of the administration’s dictatorship! In a university with 50% reservation for Dalit students and 51 Dalit professors, Dalit researchers are facing the most caste-based harassment. I was expelled on false charges of indiscipline, and I have been staging a peaceful protest within the constitutional framework to protect my right to justice and education. But now the administration has issued notices to students who simply stood in my support. All department heads have been ordered not to allow any student/researcher to join Basant Kumar Kannaujiya’s protest. This clearly shows that the administration fears dissenting voices and is trying to suppress students with a casteist mindset. Now, another student who supported me has been issued a notice and is being mentally harassed. Is this democracy? Is this a university run in the name of Babasaheb? The truth is that voices against injustice cannot be suppressed with notices. We are on the path of the Constitution, and the struggle will continue.” Meanwhile, the matter has also taken a political turn. Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad has openly spoken out in support of Kannaujiya. He said, “Despite the ongoing peaceful protest against the fabricated and false charges of indiscipline leveled against a Dalit research scholar at BBAU (Central University) and the unjust expulsion based on them, the silence of the university administration and the Sanghi-minded Vice Chancellor is a matter of concern. Such silence is not only unethical but also raises serious questions about the democratic and constitutional dignity of a central university. This struggle is not just that of a student, but a struggle to protect identity, restore dignity, safeguard constitutional values, and save the democratic soul of BBAU (Central University). We clarify: “Atrocities on Dalit Research Scholar – Now the country will not tolerate it.” Swami Prasad Maurya, president of his Janata Party, wrote in a post: “Basant Kumar Kanojia, a Dalit research student at Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Central University, Lucknow, was expelled on false charges of indiscipline, without any evidence or hearing his side of the story. While the true facts could have been ascertained by reviewing the CCTV footage installed on the university campus, the university administration, afflicted with a casteist mindset, has committed a despicable act of dictatorship and discrimination, which I strongly condemn. Similar discrimination against Dalits, tribals, and backward classes has been perpetrated in the past, sometimes by beheading Shamvuk and sometimes by cutting off Eklavya’s thumb. It is a matter of concern that people with Manuwadi thinking are still doing this, which is unfortunate.” Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
‘Dalits, Adivasis, Working Class Face Risk Of Disenfranchisement’ : Thol Thirumavalavan Moves Supreme Court Against Tamil Nadu SIR
Member of Parliament and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol Thirumavalavan has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of India’s decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. He has sought the quashing of the Election Commission’s 27 October 2025 notification initiating the exercise in the State In the petition filed under Article 32, the petitioner contends that the SIR is arbitrary, non-transparent, and unconstitutional, and violates multiple fundamental rights, including equality, dignity, and universal adult franchise. He argues that the rushed exercise, announced less than a year before the State goes to polls, poses a serious threat of large-scale voter deletions, particularly among marginalised communities. According to the petition, the design and timing of the SIR disproportionately burden Dalits, Adivasis, migrant workers, women who relocate after marriage, the working class, disabled persons, and those lacking stable documentation or digital access. Structural barriers such as seasonal migration, informal housing, linguistic challenges and digital illiteracy could make compliance nearly impossible, resulting in wrongful deletions from the rolls. Citing the doctrine on indirect discrimination, the petitioner argues that even a facially neutral measure becomes unconstitutional if it disproportionately excludes disadvantaged groups. The petition points out that Dalits, Adivasis, women, and working-class citizens face disproportionate risks of being removed from the electoral rolls, effectively undermining the universal adult franchise that the Constitution makers envisioned for our democracy. According to the petitioner, there were large-scale voter deletions during similar revision exercises in Tamil Nadu, notably in 2002 and 2005, which later drew official acknowledgement of procedural lapses. Reports of over 50 lakh deletions ahead of the 2009 Lok Sabha polls and complaints from tribal communities in 2016 are cited to underscore the risks posed by intensive revisions. The petitioner points out that Tamil Nadu already underwent a Special Summary Revision between October 2024 and January 2025, with the updated roll published on 6 January 2025 and continuously maintained thereafter. The Election Commission, he argues, has offered no justification for a fresh statewide intensive revision, despite the proximity of the upcoming elections. The plea contends that the SIR process deviates from the statutory framework under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, which envisages home-based verification by Booth Level Officers. Instead, the EC has introduced additional form-based procedures through executive directions, allegedly lacking due safeguards such as notice and opportunity of hearing before deletions. Arguing that the right to vote is a constitutional right under Article 326, the petitioner submits that the SIR effectively creates a restricted franchise by imposing procedural burdens that vulnerable citizens cannot meet, amounting to “soft disenfranchisement” and undermining democratic legitimacy. The ruling party in Tamil Nadu, DMK, has approached the Supreme Court against the SIR. On the other hand, the AIADMK has filed an application supporting the SIR. Actor Vijay’s newly launched party TVK also filed a petition questioning the ECI’s move. The Supreme Court will consider the DMK petition on November 26. The petitiion was drafted by Advocate Disha Wadekar and filed through Aditi Gupta, AOR. Courtesy : Live Law Note: This news is originally published on https:/livelaw.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
India‘Called Me Low Caste, Beat Me, Threw Me Out’: Dalit Woman Names Nine In-Laws in Noida FIR
A Dalit woman in Noida has accused her in-laws of constant harassment after she married a man from an upper-caste family. The woman said her brother-in-law misbehaved with her and casteist slurs were repeatedly used against her. She also alleged that her in-laws beat her and eventually forced her out of the house. She has filed a police complaint against nine members of the family at Sector-20 police station. Sector-20 SHO D.P. Shukla said the woman reported that she married Bharat Sharma, son of Ravindra Sharma of Nithari village, on 5 February 2018 under Hindu rituals. According to her, her family spent around ₹25 lakh on the wedding, including jewellery and other items. She said it was an inter-caste love marriage, and from the very beginning her in-laws started demanding ₹50 lakh as dowry. The woman claimed she was repeatedly taunted for belonging to a “lower caste”. She said her in-laws openly insulted her by calling her caste names and would often tell her husband that he had brought home a girl from a “low caste”. She also alleged that one of her brothers-in-law refused to eat food cooked by her. According to the complaint, her husband began drinking heavily because he was disturbed by the constant harassment she faced. He later left her at her parental home, telling her to stay there until his family changed their behaviour. The woman said she gave birth to a child, but even then the harassment from her in-laws did not stop. She alleged that her elder brother-in-law molested her and she had earlier gone to the police with this complaint. When the matter reached the police station, she claims the accused family filed false allegations against her and her husband. According to the SHO, the woman has now filed an FIR against her father-in-law Ravindra Sharma, mother-in-law Rajrani Sharma, brothers-in-law Chandrakant Sharma and Sunil Sharma, a relative from her aunt-in-law’s side, her younger sister-in-law Renu, her younger brother-in-law Ram Sewak Sharma, her sister-in-law Sarika Sharma and her brother-in-law Gajendra Sharma. The charges include molestation, dowry harassment, assault, domestic violence and offences under the SC/ST Act. Police are investigating the case. Courtesy : TOP Note: This news is originally published on https:/theobserverpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Constitution Month Special | A unique ‘Ambedkar Temple’ in Munger, Bihar, with a 12-foot-tall statue: A retired captain donated land to build it, where the Constitution is the supreme deity!
This year, on Baba Saheb’s birth anniversary, April 14th, a 12-foot-tall ‘Statue of Equality’, imported from Delhi, was dedicated to society. Munger – 185 kilometers from Bihar’s capital, Patna, on the National Highway in Ghorghat, a small village in Munger district, stands a structure completely different from traditional temples. There’s no Hindu deity, no mosque dome, no golden gate of a gurudwara, but only a 12-foot-tall statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, which glows with the first rays of the sun and reminds people, “Educate, Agitate, Organize.” This is not a ‘temple’, but a living symbol of equality, social justice, and the Constitution. Its creator, 80-year-old retired Army Captain Yogal Kishore Paswan, says, “My religion is the Constitution. Babasaheb is like a god to us Dalits.” Tamal Saha of News The Truth (NTT) was on a 185-kilometer journey towards Patna. On the national highway near Munger, he suddenly saw a gigantic figure from a distance. Saha explains in his video that the statue was so impressive that he had to stop the car. Locals told him that it was a temple to Babasaheb, built by retired army officer Captain Yogal Kishore Paswan. 12-foot Ambedkar pillar erected in memory of his wife 80-year-old retired Army officer Captain Paswan said that he was a captain in the AUC (Armed Units Corps) and had traveled throughout India, from Ladakh to every corner. The Captain said that he had built this ‘Statue of Equality’, which is 12 feet tall. A statue this tall probably exists only in Patna, Bihar. Each one is 8-10 feet tall. Captain Paswan explained that in this building, children will study downstairs, and there will be office space upstairs. The lower portion will be an education center, where children will study without any discrimination. The upper portion will be for visitors and guests. At the top, there will be a statue of Babasaheb. When asked why people are building temples, why did you build this one, Captain Paswan replied: “It’s my hobby. I’m a soldier, not a leader who rises with the thought of earning money. I gave all my land in Babasaheb’s name. I have to die, so what will you take away?” Captain Paswan explained that just as the Emperor built the Taj Mahal, this one is also a Taj Mahal for me, which I built in memory of my wife, Maya Devi. The statue of Babasaheb was brought from Delhi. Respect for the Constitution: Babasaheb’s Contribution Captain says emotionally: “Ambedkar Saheb gave the country the Constitution. My granddaughter is a lawyer, and my younger daughter is a lawyer in the Patna High Court. They are all carrying the Constitution with them.” A soldier has no income, but he felt like doing this. He gave away 15-20 feet of land without even asking his son or daughter.” He insists, “Why not worship the Constitution? It’s a deity, equal to God. Baba Saheb is revered all over the world, and he gave us this Constitution, which runs the country. Whether the government is in Delhi or Bihar, it will have to abide by the Constitution, otherwise the people will overthrow them.” In response to a question about why Dalits were once not allowed to enter temples in Bihar, Captain says that here, visitors to the Ambedkar Temple “won’t be asked about their caste. Everyone from a beggar to a rich person can come and talk. Anyone can go inside.” On being asked about religion, Captain says, “I am a Hindu, but I consider Baba Saheb as God because there may be other gods, but he was a living person. What he gave to the country, no leader could give. The Constitution belongs to everyone—Hindus, Muslims, Christians, every caste.” Captain Paswan’s family consists of four daughters and a son who is an assistant manager at the LIC. He says, “I could have sold the land, but I donated it. I am indebted to Babasaheb from my previous life. I must have been stingy, so I gave away my share now.” Currently, construction work is underway, with the plastering of the ground floor remaining, which will be used for the children’s education once it is complete. (Courtesy: This report is based on the original video report by Tamal Saha and Ronnie Sanatra, broadcast by News The Truth (NTT) on November 9, 2025.) Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit women’s achievements: Tina Dabi wins Barmer a 2 crore water award, Dipna Netrapal makes history at the CAG!
These achievements are not only personal triumphs but also send a strong message against caste- and gender-based discrimination. While one officer is greening the environment, another is strengthening accounting and financial transparency. New Delhi – The stellar performance of Dalit women officers in India’s administrative system is once again in the headlines. Rajasthan’s IAS officer Tina Dabi has made history by securing her district, Barmer, the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Puraskar (JSJB) for environmental protection, while Bengaluru’s senior IA&AS officer Dipna Netrapal has received the National CAG Award for innovation in GST audit and training reform. Dipna is the first Dalit woman officer to receive these awards. These achievements are not only personal triumphs but also send a strong message against caste- and gender-based discrimination. While one officer is greening the environment, another is strengthening accounting and financial transparency. The arid Barmer district of Rajasthan has won the first Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Puraskar for its outstanding public participation in rainwater harvesting. The district will receive a prize of ₹2 crore for this achievement. District Collector Tina Dabi stated that President Draupadi Murmu will present the award at the sixth National Water Awards ceremony to be held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on November 18th. Tina Dabi has previously received numerous awards for her meritorious work. IAS Tina Dabi created history in 2015 by securing the first rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination. At the age of 22, she became the first Dalit woman to achieve this feat in her first attempt. Tina has extensively promoted the construction of traditional ‘tanks’ (underground water tanks) in Barmer. Under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti’s ‘Catch the Rain’ initiative, the state was divided into five zones and given the target of installing at least 10,000 artificial recharge and water storage structures. Barmer surpassed this target and topped the Northern region, reviving local water sources through thousands of tanks. This initiative by DABI is not only addressing the water crisis but also empowering rural communities, proving to be a milestone in quenching the thirst of the desert region. Meanwhile, Deepna Netrapal, Principal Director of the Regional Training Centre (RTC) and Capacity Building and Knowledge Centre (RCB&KC) in Bengaluru, has been awarded the National CAG Award. She received this award for two key initiatives: innovation and excellence in public accounting and auditing in GST audits, and the transformation of the training setup in Bengaluru. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India launched the scheme of “CAG’s Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Public Audit and Accounting” in 2021 to recognize and reward exceptional and innovative work done by officers and employees of the Indian Accounts Department in the areas of public audit, accounting, entitlements, and support functions. While the CAG Awards Scheme 2021 recognizes exceptional team excellence, which fosters a meritocratic environment, fostering overall qualitative improvement is even more important from an organizational perspective. To this end, in addition to the existing scheme that rewards team efforts toward excellence and exceptional work, a new award category has been instituted in 2022: the award for the “Most Improved Office.” This award category seeks to recognize offices working in the areas of accounting, audit, and training that have demonstrated the greatest improvement in performance during the prescribed evaluation period. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit professor dismissed by Tamil Nadu University for studying in reverse order after MA: Who is Professor Senarayaperumal, for whom voices of support are rising from India and the US?
The first scholar from the Arunthathiyar community to receive a doctorate, the High Court ordered his reinstatement, but the university chose to appeal. Chennai – The wounds of hidden casteism in Indian higher education institutions have once again been exposed. The dismissal of Assistant Professor P. Senarayaperumal from Tamil Nadu’s Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU) on the grounds of “academic irregularities” is resonating internationally. This is not limited to India; a petition initiated by the Anti-Caste Collective at Rutgers University in the US has set an example of global solidarity. Thousands of scholars, students, and activists have signed the petition, demanding Professor Senarayaperumal’s immediate reinstatement and strict action against institutionalized casteism. The documentary “Punishing the Professor,” produced by the People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI), has further highlighted this issue, telling the poignant story of the struggle of Dalit scholars. This case is not only the struggle of one individual, but also a reflection of the caste discrimination that persists in the name of merit in Indian public universities. Professor Senrayaperumal belongs to the Arunthathiyar community, one of the most marginalized Dalit communities in Tamil Nadu, who sought to transform their lives through education and art. He is a master of the folk art form called “Raja-Rani Attam.” Professor Senrayaperumal had been working as an assistant professor at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University since 2016 but was dismissed in March 2024. The Madras High Court ordered his reinstatement in June 2024, but the university filed an appeal, thus committing a miscarriage of justice. The case is still pending, and due to financial constraints, the professor has now returned to the stage of the folk drama “Raja-Rani Attam.” How did a Dalit artist become a professor? Senrayaperumal was born in Soolapuram village near Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The harsh caste slavery and poverty of the Arunthathiyar community forced him to drop out of school at the age of 13. Joining the family folk theater troupe, he became a part of the traditional folk drama-dance called “Raja-Rani Attam.” This art form is performed at weddings, festivals, and funerals in rural Tamil Nadu, but artists have historically been victims of caste-based exploitation. Arunthathiyar artists were viewed as sexual objects by audiences from dominant castes, and Senrayaperumal played the role of “Rani” (woman) for 18 years, challenging gender binary and embracing the drag tradition. Balancing performing at night and studying during the day, Senrayaperumal resumed his education through self-study. He completed 8th grade, then an MA and MPhil from Madurai Kamaraj University. Then, in an unusual sequence, he earned a BA, 10th, 12th through the open university system, and finally a PhD in Art History in 2013. In 2016, he was appointed Assistant Professor in the History Department of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU) under the SC quota. The current Vice Chancellor was also on the selection committee, and all degrees were verified. Over eight years, he mentored 31 research scholars and brought the art of his community to life in the classroom. An excuse for ‘irregularity’ or the cruel face of casteism? The university cited Senrayaperumal’s studies in ‘reverse order’ as the basis for the ‘irregularity’. In March 2024, just before his promotion, he was served a dismissal letter without a hearing. The university’s reasoning was the ‘reverse order’ of education. But this raises questions about the open learning system that the state government itself has created for marginalized students. Hearing the case, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court completely rejected the university’s argument. In June 2024, the court ordered his immediate reinstatement, payment of his salary arrears, and all benefits. The court recognized his academic qualifications and educational path as valid. However, the university, which claims to uphold the principles of social justice, refused to obey the High Court’s order and appealed to the Division Bench. This raises a serious question: Are the university administration and the Higher Education Department deliberately trying to exhaust a Dalit scholar by engaging him in a legal battle? Professor Senarayaperumal, now unemployed, is teaching the power of education by helping neighborhood children with their homework. He wants to present his case in court by singing so that the judges can understand Dalit history through folk art. Retired Chief Justice S.M. Muralidhar has promised to represent him pro bono. Raja-Rani Attam: The Living Art of Resistance This struggle is not just about employment, but also about cultural identity. Raja-Rani Attam is a folk tradition from South India that combines dance, drama, mythology, and oral history. It shares similarities with other caste arts such as Oggu Katha, Bahurupiya, and Tamasha. Despite historical exploitation, Professor Senarayaperumal created it as a living record of Dalit knowledge. As the only living scholar of this art form in the world, his dismissal is the destruction of neglected knowledge. The documentary “Punishing the Professor,” produced by the People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI), highlighted this issue, telling the poignant story of the struggle of Dalit scholars. PARI’s 28-minute documentary sparked public outrage. The documentary tells the professor’s story through folk art, exposing institutionalized casteism. Following its release, newspapers like “The Hindu” and “The News Minute” covered the issue. Why is the student community united? Students and young teachers from universities across the country are actively participating in the streets and on social media in support of Professor Senarayaperumal. They believe this issue is not just about one person’s job, but a collective fight against the deeply ingrained casteism in the Indian higher education system. Cases like Rohith Vemula’s and Payal Tadvi’s bear witness to the systematic discrimination faced by Dalit and Adivasi students and teachers in educational institutions. Students are demanding that universities stop concealing casteism under the guise of “merit” and make education inclusive for students from all backgrounds. The Anti-Caste Collective at Rutgers University in the US is garnering support for Professor Senarayaperumal from around the world through an online petition, demanding: Immediate reinstatement: Professor Senarayaperumal should be immediately reinstated, and his back pay and all benefits should be restored, in compliance with
3-Time MLA And Dalit Face Vinay Kumar Is New Himachal Congress Chief
Vinay Kumar has been elected MLA from the Renuka constituency for the third consecutive time. Shimla: Ending the uncertainty that prevailed since the previous committee was dissolved on November 6 last year, Congress on Saturday appointed three-time MLA and senior party leader Vinay Kumar as the new President of its Himachal Pradesh unit. A statement in this regard was issued by AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal. The statement issued on Saturday mentioned that the party President, Mallikarjun Kharge, has appointed Vinay Kumar as the “President of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee with immediate effect”. A prominent Dalit face of the party, Kumar was the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly and tendered his resignation from the post, which was accepted by Speaker Kuldeep Pathania. The resignation was seen as a step towards his formal announcement as the state Congress party president. It is noteworthy that Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu had already advocated for a Dalit-affiliated party president. Party National President Mallikarjun Kharge also agreed with Vinay Kumar’s name. Vinay Kumar has been elected MLA from the Renuka constituency for the third consecutive time. Vinay Kumar was elected Deputy Speaker of the Assembly after the 2022 elections. With his position now becoming vacant, the names of Bhoranj MLA Suresh Kumar, Palampur MLA Ashish Butail, and Kasauli MLA KD Sultanpuri are being considered for the post. In an effort to rejuvenate the Congress organisation in Himachal Pradesh and strengthen its grassroots presence, the party dissolved its state, district, and block executive committees on November 6 of last year. The party’s top leadership initiated this organisational restructuring to address upcoming political challenges and to create a new structure that includes dedicated and influential party workers. This move was based on a proposal by then State President Pratibha Singh, which received approval from Kharge. Following this, KC Venugopal issued a letter on November 6, 2024, officially dissolving all executive committees except for the Congress President. Pratibha was asked to continue till further orders. Courtesy : ETV Bharat Note: This news is originally published on https:/etvbharat.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights