About Myself: When I joined the HCU , I was an apolitical person. Because I also belong to a poor family so my sympathies are always with the downtrodden sections. I wanted to work sincerely for the empowerment of marginalized sectors and also fight for their cause actively. At this point of time, I came closer to the ideology of SFI, which appealed to me because it speaks about the revolution of proletariat and saving the poor from exploitation. I became the active worker and wholeheartedly started working for SFI. As per the decisions taken by the SFI, I also contested for the post of General Secretary and I won. Presently, I am a General Secretary of HCU students union.
About Present Affairs of SFI: The present state of affairs at SFI, HCU unit reflects a murky state. After working for the quite some time in SFI, I realized that the office bearers of the Union cannot express their voice independently. Even the common workers follow the directions from the top brass without questioning. Now, I understand the politics of SFI are not based on principles but opportunistic. The process starts right from the selection of the candidates for union elections, where in caste and communal cards are played heavily. Similarly, region and religion are also major above politics of caste community and religion.
It appeared to me strange that one hand we fought against ASA and on other hand, a JAC is formed with a different sole motive. Initially, I thought that the fight is really for the social justice, which I wholeheartedly support even today. However, slowly I felt that the Students Union is effectively hijacked by JAC to mount continuously attack on selected persons. Common students are misguided through daily stories which are mostly untrue and in the nature of fiction. These stories are imaginary and in the nature of individual tales of alleged discrimination by faculty and students against certain sections. As far as my experience goes these stories including the videos of individual narrations including those of atrocities by police are spread through the media only to generate sympathy and garner undue mileage.
As part of this false propaganda, SFI has forgotten its true purpose of serving the students. The JAC or for that matter the SFI unit at HCU are e controlled by external forces and dance on their tunes. The voice of own cadres have no value and when I tried to raise my voice, there were no takers. SFI top brass works as dictators and they led the entire environment in the wrong directions apparently to serve the selfish interests and interests of their masters from above. After and before the death of Rohit Vemula, I have seen the developments in the University very closely. I don’t feel shame to revel the truth here that some sections of University teachers are responsible for so called developments in the HCU Just for their Political Gains. As per my understanding, the movement is massively funded by Congress, Left and opportunist forces of the country.
About Rohit Vemula : As per my understanding, Rohit Vemula was a sensitive person. He is active in SFI since few years ago. He also felt isolated and alienated in SFI and could not tolerate the opportunistic politics pla yed by SFI for sheer political gains. That’s why in his suicide note he mentioned that an individual is reduced to his immediate identity. Probably, SFI did not find any utility with him through he was fully committed to the ideology and was an active worker. He was disillusioned and went to join ASA. It was very unfortunate that he believed in radical methods to achieve justice for the poor. According to me, SFI nurtured the feelings of hatred in him which he was displaying against to all others whom to be his enemies. It is very unfortunate that he committed suicide.
The Agitation And Present Affairs at HCU : After long suffering, I realized that SFI and other organizations which are part of JAC, the lives of common students do not matter. They are hell bent in continuing the agitation at any cost because they have taken it to such heights where their existence would be under question, if the agitation is stopped. Certain faculty members and outsiders including politician s are also keen on continuing the agitation. Common students like me whose primary purpose is study are worst affected.
The Contradictions: It is also surprising for me that on one hand SFI states that it does not support terrorists like Yakub Memon but on the other hand plays opportunistic politics by supporting these people who organize Namaz -E-Zanaja in memory of Yakub Memon, wherein he has glorified as a martyr (Shaheed). SFI is selective in supporting a program on its politic al convenience. The office bearers of Student Union have no independence and forced to obey the directions of external forces from CPI(M) and Congress.
It is also surprising to me that on the one hand the JAC demands justice for Rohith Vemula but doesn’t co-operate in the enquiry conducted by judicial commission which is headed by retired High Court Judge, who is an independent person. On one hand, a member of JAC and leader of ASA files cases under SC/ST Atrocities Act against certain persons but doesn’t want to come clean on the caste of Rohith Vemula. It is also surprising that JAC or ASA are not demanding CBI enquiry into the circumstances in which Rohith Vemula committed suicide. The leaders of JAC & SFI, make serious allegations against certain professors which are actively supported by faculty who have vested interest but not came forward ei ther to prove the allegations or hold discussions to solve the program. Most important, it is very painful for me to see that students don’t show respect to the professors amd call them by names without having any evidence of discrimination for such professors. It is also painful to note that students are instigated to indulge in vandalism by the leaders of JAC,SFI & ASA and others to destroy the HCU which belongs HCU community.
I wish that the massive money support to the agitation should also come into light. Daily rent of tent is around five thousand and three months have been passed already. Lavish food is served for more than 10 days to the student’s community for free of cost. Large scale events are organized. Certain individual members of the movement are having daily lavish parties. Rallies are organized periodically and outside leaders are invited. Thousands of color posters are printed & distributed. From where is coming? As a participant of the moment, I confirm that massive funds are flowing and keen to know the source of such funds. Beef & Chickens has been served in the event of 125th birth anniversary of Baba Saheb Ambedkar. What is the source of money??
My Opinion: The real losers of the entire game are none other than the common students, who have suffered in terms of placements.
Repudiated companies like Oracle has refused to come for the campus recruitment and, today the image of HCU is tarnished and genuine student is having fears in mind whether to join HCU or not.
The students union, which was supposed to be the impartial body taking c are of welfare of all the students is hijacked by few individuals and organizations for serving their nefarious activities.
I have come forward because I’m not able to stand the contra dictations, the wrong methods employed and wrong way in which the moment is being carried forward by JAC,SFI,ASA. My loneliness and alienation are affecting my studies and also apparently driving me towards the unfortunate path undertaken by Rohith Vemula. I think coming into open and getting distanced from the wrong way would save me from th e doom.
What I Want?
- I Request the JAC and its constituents to i immediately stop the agitation and adopt constitutional methods for achieving justice for Rohith Vemula. The facts can be presented before the Judicial Commission and also in the cases pending before High Court.
- JAC/SFI/ASA shall distance themselves from political parties and also professors shall not allow to participate in the agitation because vested interests by certain faculty can cause long term damage to HCU as an institution.
- JAC/ASA/SFI must stop the name calling the professors including the VC. If the VC is found to be guilty, he would be convicted anyway. Till that time, no one has any right to indict him.
- JAC/SFI?ASA shall immediately abandon the politics of hatred and adopt politics of co -operation and reconciliation ion so that HCU can retains its academic superiority.
- The problems at HCU shall not be looked into from the myopic vision of caste and efforts shall be made by all the students towards Academic progress of the HCU wherein adequate procedures are immediately evolved to safeguard the interests of marginalized sections.
- The Students Union cannot be partial approach. While seeking justice for Rohith Vemula, It Cannot be ignored that another student Susheel Kumar was attacked during midnight by the mob of students of ASA. Students Union has to unequivocally condemn to the attack and seek justice for Susheel also. They should demand CBI enquiry in this case.
- JAC for social justice shall publish its accounts from the death of Rohith Vemula till date to provide the details of sources for arranging the funds.
Lastly, I quote those 11 lines from the suicide note of Rohith Vemula those will justice my words….
“ASA, SFI, anything and everything exist for their own sake. Seldom the interested the person and this organization matched. To get power, to become famous or to be important in between boundaries and to think we are up to changing the system. Very often we overestimate the acts and find solace in traits. Of course, I must give my credit to both groups for making, introducing me to wonderful literature and people.
The scribing of the lines shows Rohith’s dedication towards the Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar’s thought but the words are clear evidence those shows attitude and activities Of SFI & ASA here in the UOH ASA which claims that the inspiration for them is Baba Sahib Bhim Rao Ambedkar. At this junction, it is necessary to remember three warnings given by Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar in his constituent assembly on 25th November 1949…
“If I wish to maintain democracy, not merely in form but also in fact what must we do?”
The first thing we must do is to hold fast to constitution methods of achieving our social & economic objectives. It means that we must abandon the bloody methods of revolution. It also means that we must abandon the methods of Civil Disobedience, non-cooperation and Satyagraha.
The second thing is we must observe the caution which J.S.Mill has given to all who are interested in democracy namely, not to lay their liberties at the feet of even a great men, or to tryst him with power which enable him to subvert their institutions. The third thing we must do is not to be content with mere political democracy. We must make our political democracy, a social democracy as well”.
By these above mentioned views I announce my resignation from SFI and its opportunistic politics.
Let the truth prevail and justice be done because” satyamev jayate”
Link to Facebook Post – https://www.facebook.com/rajuatuoh/posts/275170362827739
