IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE MARTYRDOM OF ROHITH VEMULA

IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE MARTYRDOM OF ROHITH VEMULA

On 17th January, exactly six months ago, Rohith Vemula, a radical student activist of Hyderabad Central University, was driven to suicide by the continuous pressure and harassment by the institute authorities and the government. In these months since the institutional murder of Rohith, our nation has seen an upsurge in student movement directed against the brahmanical hindutva fascist forces. The state has used multifaceted tactics of denial and deception to cover up its crimes- Irani and Dattatrya outrightly denying their role in the crime, denying Rohith's caste identity on the other, discrediting the student movement by creating media sensation around false and absurd charges against students of JNU. None of these moves by the government worked, for students did not abandon the struggle. In fact, the struggle intensified as students, accompanied by the progressive sections of the society, chose radical measures to fight for justice for Rohith and all other students, faculty, intellectuals who were targeted by the state.

However, the government has continued to cling on to its ways of suppressing the struggles of the students. Appa Rao, the criminal VC of HCU has been restored, and Rohith's co-warriors in the struggle in HCU continue to be harassed by the police. False cases against students in different campuses have not been withdrawn. Thus, it is clear that the regime is not seeking a democratic solution. But it is definitely trying to adapt to the situation, and the recent change of HRD minister; replacing Smriti Irani with Prakash Javadekar, who is just as rightwing and in fact a former RSS leader, is a sign that it is reframing its strategy to suppress dissent among students as efficiently as possible.

In such a scenario it is also crucial that students build up their strength for the coming future and one of the tasks will be to achieve better communication and coordination among the various sites of student struggles- in different cities, colleges and institutions. To stand in solidarity and work together would require more than a formal commitment. It should be affirmed through practice.

While the immediate task of the students’ movement is to reclaim the institutes of higher education, it is ultimately part of the wider struggle against the present ruling regime that is set upon destroying the rights and organizations of people. The students’ movement must expand and enjoin with the ongoing struggles in factories and fields, in slums and offices.

We, the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice, Mumbai, once again affirm our resolve to carry on the battle for Justice for Rohith and against the casteist and brahmanical fascist regime which is intolerant of all difference, resentful of dissent and disregardful of democratic processes.