So You Think Rohith Vemula Was Dalit For Reservation Benefits?
[In the current polarized climate you might find yourself arguing with your friends and relatives. I did too. This is a version of reply to the relative. Thought this conversation could be happening at other places too. So posting it, in case you want to use it.]
So, you think Rohit Vemula was a Dalit who forged an SC certificate for
benefits. Lets check the evidence.
Exhibit 1:
Roopanwal Committee says he’s not a Dalit. He forged an SC certificate to get benefits from reservations.
Exhibit 2:
Then P L Punia, the chairman of National Commission of Scheduled Castes, and he states — Rohit is a Dalit.
But whom do you believe? Both are constitutional bodies? What if the death is politicized. But wait, here comes the twist —
Exhibit 3:
Rohith got in the university without applying for any quota.
Rohith Vemula didn’t need any reservation to get in HCU, yet he joined Ambedkar Students Association. Openly identified himself as Dalit. Which is brave because it makes him vulnerable to discrimination in a place that already had a history of Dalit student suicides. At least three committees saying caste discrimination was apparent.
Did you know lyricist Shailendra was a Dalit? It only came out when his son revealed it. People actually hide their surnames so they are not outed as Dalit. Whatever benefit you think one receives from being a Dalit is far outweighed by the discrimination. So, whether Rohit was actually a Dalit or not, he certainly lived like one openly and quite bravely.