Even as University of
Hyderabad stands divided between those agitating on behalf of research scholar
Rohith Vemula and authorities firm on quelling it, the resignation of SFI
students' leader Raju Kumar Sahu from the organisation on Wednesday spurred
students wanting the varsity to resume its academic activities to rally behind
him.
"Finally , we have
found a voice for our academic woes," said a student, who had stayed
neutral in the agitation that rocked the university after Rohith committed
suicide on January 17 this year. In the letter in which he resigned from the
SFI, Sahu, who is also the students' union general secretary, had said that the
"real losers of the entire game are none other than the common students,
who have suffered in terms of placements." Sahu's opinion regarding the
fate of 'non-aligned' students garnered a lot of support on Thursday , especially
from his home department of Computer Sciences. "The SFI had promised
during elections that if the party wins, it will work for placements of
students. There are so many students who come from poor families and hope for
placements. However, the SFI only protested for its own benefit," said
Jitendra Prajapati, a MCA student, who strongly backed Sahu's decision to quit
the SFI, hoping normalcy would be restored on campus.
Standing testimony to
dismal situation is official data from the students' union which reveals that
while MBA and M.Tech students had a higher percentage of placements, the
figures were not as good for students of other courses such as Computer
Sciences, English and Communication, Economics, and the Sciences, among others,
for academic year 2015-16. Sahu's resignation has renewed the divide among the
students. While a section of students continued to support the Joint Action
Committee for Social Justice, others made their stand clear in favour of better
academics, placements, and were bothered about what was happening to the
reputation of the university. "I am not against the protests. Even I want
justice for Rohith Vemula. But not at the cost of future of thousands of
students like me," said Krishna Kumar, a student.
While the UoH entrance
exam is scheduled to be held between May 30 and June 5, non-aligned students
are earnestly hoping that the revelations made by Sahu about JAC and its
intentions uplift the reputation of the university . Although Sahu clarified to
TOI soon after his resignation that his decision to quit the SFI was his own,
members of the SFI alleged that he was highly influenced by his seniors who are
strong ABVP supporters. "Sahu was definitely influenced by Surya Prasad,
an MCA student who had quit SFI soon after Rohith Vemula's death. A few days
ago, when I spoke to him, he was scared of being booked in the March 22
incident in which Rohith supporters, including him, ransacked the VC's lodge.
Perhaps, his seniors influenced him against the same and made him take such a
decision," said Sanjay Jonnalagadda, member of SFI.
Others couldn't agree
more. Some students said Sahu's political ideology was never strong. "He
was elected as a candidate for the students' election only to gather more votes
from the computer sciences department which has the highest share of students
on campus. Sahu was not among the active members of SFI and was merely used for
vote bank purpose," said a PhD student, who was also a key member in the
Vemula movement, on condition of anonymity.
SAHU SEEKS POLICE
PROTECTION
In a sign of how worried
Sahu is about his safety, he wrote a letter to the police commissioner of
Hyderabad seeking protection. In his letter, he said, "As you know, the
recent developments in the University of Hyderabad, I have resigned from SFI
because of its dividing and alienated politics and fake propaganda. I am
feeling afraid now about my security. I feels (sic) that ASA, JAC and SFI
people can harm me. Please take into serious consideration to this issue and
provide me safety."
Courtesy: Times of India
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