(Samaj Weekly)
PhD scholar Rajneesh Kumar Ambedkar of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha, is being discriminated against, harassed and denied his right to education by the university administration.
Unfortunately, Rajneesh has been asked to make changes and modifications to his PhD thesis, long after he submitted his work to be sent to external examiners. He followed all due processes and his supervisor was satisfied with his work.
As far as the university system goes, comments and objections may be raised by external examines about the submitted thesis. But in the case of Rajneesh, the university administration is raising objections. The same administration allowed him to submit the work earlier.
Note the level of lawlessness that Rajneesh was one day asked by the university administration to modify his work long after it is submitted. He was given the diktat that he needs to work under a new supervisor!
The arbitrary decision of the university administration raises several questions. First, if the thesis needs any modification, the suggestions should have come from the supervisor. The supervisor was satisfied and he signed the thesis and forwarded it for external evaluation.
However, his thesis was not sent to the external examination by the university administration. Under which law, the university authority is justified to raise such an objection when the candidate’s supervisor had already forwarded it for external evaluation?
The case of Rajneesh shows that the university structure, which has been captured by communal and casteist forces, does not want an Ambedkarite scholar to complete his/her education and excel in academics and public life.
While the university administration is directly responsible for harassing Rajneesh, the so-called progressive and honourable professors of the university are silent about the case of caste-based discrimination and gross violation of equality within their campus.
Some may disagree with me but I have come to believe that the university mostly produces “the servants of the system” and the so-called honourable professors play their part in maintaining the status quo. The same professor shed tears about class-based inequality and violation of social justice in the classroom and seminar halls but when an Ambedkarite scholar is being harassed under their nose, they either remain silent or take the side of the administration.
However, the continuous struggle of Rajneesh is a ray of hope for us in this dark time. Many people are indeed made victims of the system but some of them decide to resist the unjust system till the last drop of their blood.
It is a brave act that Rajneesh has waged the battle inside the university and outside as well. We salute his and his friends’ struggles.
Please note that for a couple of days, Rajneesh has been sitting on a satyagraha on campus. While the university administration has not paid any attention to his grievances, it has sent its hoard of goons to threaten him to call off the strike. The communal and casteist goons came near his dharna site and raised anti-Ambedkarite slogans to intimidate him.
Despite all odds, Rajneesh continues with his strike and struggle.
We need to stand with Rajneesh in large numbers. We need to write and speak about him and his struggle. Activists, media persons and democratic forces must contribute their part to strengthen his struggle. We must show solidarity in whatever way we can.
Dear Rajneesh, you are our leader. You are our hope. We are all with you. Keep up your spirit. You are the voice of millions of students and research scholars from marginalized communities who are harassed by communal and casteist forces every day.
Here is the link to the interview: https://www.
Jai Bhim Sathi!
Dr Abhay Kumar
JNU, New Delhi
April 1, 2023
