Protesting with her mother since 14 August, Shashi alleges she was made to do cleaning and clerical work and faced casteist remarks after receiving a research fellowship.
New Delhi: Anagha Shashi, a Dalit PhD scholar in the Department of Environmental Science at Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University in Kerala, has alleged caste and gender discrimination.
Shashi, who joined the university in March 2024, said that despite completing her PhD coursework more than a year ago, she has not been able to begin her research work. She alleged delays in the submission of her annual progress report and the university’s failure to convene her Doctoral Committee.
According to Maktoob, Shashi said the delays have also put her fellowship from the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment at risk.
‘Forced into cleaning toilets’, made to do clerical work
Shashi and her mother have been protesting outside the university since the night of 14 August, demanding action over what she has described as caste and gender discrimination that has become a hindrance to her prospects.
During her time at the university, Shashi also alleged that she was made to perform cleaning and clerical work at the department.
She claimed that she was made to stand in the corridor on several occasions. According to Shashi, her research guide, Arun Babu, once told her: “If there is no chair, stand in the corridor.”
Shashi further alleged that Babu and faculty member Jaini Varghese asked her to wash and arrange laboratory equipment and organise old records. On weekends, when there was no laboratory assistant, she claimed she would dust and arrange materials in the department.
She also alleged that, despite repeated complaints, her concerns were dismissed.
According to Shashi, Babu told her that he was not responsible for providing her with research ideas or academic assistance.
“I did not come to your house and ask you to come here for a PhD. If you want to do a PhD, you must obey what I say; otherwise, go somewhere else, go to IGNOU,” Shashi alleged Babu told her.
She further claimed that he pressured her to discontinue her PhD, citing the quality of her work.
Allegations of casteist remarks, threats over fellowship
Shashi alleged that the situation worsened after she received the fellowship, with casteist remarks allegedly being made about her talent and credibility.
“She got the grant because of caste, swallowing the whole grant herself,” Shashi was told.
She further claimed that she was threatened with the cancellation of her fellowship.
One of Shashi’s friends who liked one of her social media posts received a disciplinary memo, according to her account.
After repeatedly raising her concerns since August 2025 and exchanging messages with the university administration on WhatsApp, Shashi formally registered a complaint about a year later, according to the report.
Shashi’s mother, while talking to Maktoob, said, “We are not financially well at all. We took loans to educate her. The professor’s words gave my daughter a lot of distress because she knew that I cannot pay such a huge amount,” Ambika said.
Ambika also said that the harassment had severely affected her daughter’s mental well-being to a point that Shashi attempted suicide.
Manisha Mondal
(Edited by Maryam Hassan)
Courtesy : The Print
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