The protesters stressed that spreading such hatred in a library named after Dr. Ambedkar is reprehensible. The rally also demanded that awareness campaigns be run in the university and anti-discrimination policies be strictly implemented.
New Delhi – Casteist and misogynistic abuses written on a table in the General Reading Hall of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Central Library of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) have shocked the student community. Unknown persons wrote casteist and misogynistic abuses, including hateful words like “Chamar $#d ” and “Chamar ki maa ki &%$” on a study table in the General Reading Hall of the library. Students said that the incident is not only derogatory against the Dalit community, but it is also an attack on the progressive image of this university, which is known for social justice. Student activists have termed it as an open display of Brahminical mindset.
Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association (BAPSA), an organisation fighting for the rights of Bahujan students, took prompt action on the incident. On August 18, BAPSA filed a formal complaint at the Vasant Kunj North police station. In its letter, the organisation demanded that an FIR be lodged against the culprits under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. BAPSA also requested that the CCTV footage of the library be secured and made available for investigation so that the culprits could be identified. BAPSA president Avichal Varkey said such incidents are intolerable. Varkey termed the incident not only as disgraceful but also as an act that made the campus unsafe for students from SC, ST and other marginalised communities. He said, “This is not an isolated incident but a major attack on Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs and religious minorities by the BJP-RSS regime. Such incidents expose the Brahminical mindset that led to the writing of slogans like ‘Dalit India Quit’ and ‘Chamar India Quit’ on the walls of Cauvery Hostel. BAPSA will continue to fight against these casteist goons and raise the voice of marginalised students inside and outside the campus.”
Along with the police complaint, BAPSA mobilised the anger of the students and held a massive protest outside the Central Library in the evening. The rally was attended by a large number of Bahujan and progressive minded students who showed solidarity by raising slogans against casteism and hatred. BAPSA leaders including Karyakarta Kranti and Rupesh Kumar called the incident part of a larger scale attack on Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs and minorities. The protesters stressed that spreading such hatred in a library named after Dr Ambedkar is reprehensible. The rally also demanded awareness campaigns and strict enforcement of anti-discrimination policies in the university.
The protest was also supported by other student organisations. The Students Federation of India (SFI) JNU unit took part in the rally and strongly condemned the “open casteism” in the library.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) also submitted a complaint to the chief librarian and demanded immediate administrative action. JNUSU joint secretary Vaibhav Meena said in a statement that such narrow-mindedness has no place in the temple of knowledge and all students must unite and reject it.
Many users reacted sharply to the incident on social media, especially on Twitter. Users shared pictures of abusive words written on the table and criticised the silence on Dalit issues in society. Many posts expressed anger over how such an act could happen in a library named after Ambedkar. BAPSA shared videos and pictures of the rally from its official handle, with their message clear: “We will not remain silent.”
Geetha Sunil Pillai
Courtesy: Hindi News