India: Dalits and Muslims also discriminated against in educational institutions?
The alleged suicide of Fatima Latif, an IIT Madras student at one of India's best educational institutions, has once again highlighted the problem of discrimination in backward classes and minority Muslims in religious and social-based educational institutions. ۔
What's the matter
Fatima Latif, a 19-year-old MA Humanities and Development Studies student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, was found hanging dead from the ceiling of a room at her hostel on November 9. Fatima was very intelligent and the topper of her class. Police have registered the case with the alleged suicide as a fatal death, but Fatima's father, Abdul Latif, says that the text found in Fatima's mobile phone has led her daughter to blame a professor for her death. Is. His daughter had earlier complained about being harassed by the professor. "My name and my identity have become a problem for me," Fatima wrote in a mobile phone.
Discrimination with Minorities
Talking to the DW about the alleged suicide of Fatima Latif, President of the Student Islamic Organization of India, a student-run student Islamic organization of India, said, "This is not a normal suicide case but Islamophobia and caste-based attitudes. The cause is a case of institutionalized murder. It is part of a wider pattern of discrimination and harassment of minorities and backward classes, especially Muslims and Dalits. " Labid Shafi added, "Institutional discrimination and racism are a fact in this country that Rohit Vemula, Dr. Pil Taravi, Fatima Latif and many other talented young students have fallen victim to."
Rohit Vemula, Pil Taravi, Najib Ahmed
Just five months before the fatal suicide of Fatima Latif, post-graduate medical student Dr Pail Taravi was found dead at her hostel at the famous Nair hospital in Mumbai in May 2019. The 26-year-old Pyle was the first female to receive a medical degree in her Bheel tribe. Before taking the last step of suicide, he wrote in his parents' letter that he was facing humiliating behavior from his colleagues and some professors because of his lower caste and that senior students came to the toilet with their feet. Used to wipe her bed. Pyle's parents had written to the college authorities about the matter but no action was taken.
Rohit Vemula, a PhD student at the University of Hyderabad, was also forced to embrace death in January 2016 after being subjected to institutional discrimination. After Rohit Vemula's suicide there were huge protests in educational institutions across the country and the matter became political.
Similar is the case with Najeeb Ahmed, a MSc biotechnology student at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. Najib disappeared from his hostel on October 15, 2016 in suspicious condition. Despite the court's severe criticism, the CBI and Delhi Police Special Investigation Team have not been traced to the country's highest investigative agency till date. Najib's mother Fatima Nafis, who has knocked on every door to search for her son, is questioned by members of BJP's ruling Akhal Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, allegedly involved in the disappearance of her son. Why not
Experts opinion
Former chairman of the Indian Council of Social Sciences Research and Professor Emeritus at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Sukh Dev Thorat, while speaking to DW, said, "Various investigations have proved that these extraordinary cases of suicide are in essence. Discrimination plays an important role on a leaf-based basis. " But is there a solution? In response to this question, Professor Thorat says, "First of all, it must be acknowledged that discrimination exists in higher education institutions. Denying this fact will not help solve the problem. It is true that suicide Some cases may be individual, but it cannot be said that coincidence, 23 of the 25 suicides were related to Dalit students. Therefore, policy makers have to go beyond the denial stage. "
The number of Muslims in India is 14.2%, but according to a survey released in 2014 by the Higher Education Department of India, the number of higher education institutions is only 3.94%.
At a time when talented students should be encouraged, they are mentally harassed, analysts say. If a student of the Muslim community crosses all obstacles and reaches the higher educational institutions, he too has to suffer in unpleasant situations and if a student commits suicide, it is the suicide of the desires of a community, not of a girl. According to these analysts, such incidents will frighten Muslim girls from pursuing higher education in the future.
Demand for inquiry
Meanwhile, several political parties and student organizations have strongly condemned the Fatima Latif suicide case and are protesting against it. The regional political party, MMK, called for a high level inquiry into the incident, calling it a result of religious discrimination. The People's Front of India has termed the incident a result of 'institutional discrimination', saying that higher education institutions will not be allowed to become a cemetery for the backward classes. "Fatima Latif was killed in a gas chamber where hate is used as a gas," the Welfare Party of India said.
What's the matter
Fatima Latif, a 19-year-old MA Humanities and Development Studies student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, was found hanging dead from the ceiling of a room at her hostel on November 9. Fatima was very intelligent and the topper of her class. Police have registered the case with the alleged suicide as a fatal death, but Fatima's father, Abdul Latif, says that the text found in Fatima's mobile phone has led her daughter to blame a professor for her death. Is. His daughter had earlier complained about being harassed by the professor. "My name and my identity have become a problem for me," Fatima wrote in a mobile phone.
Discrimination with Minorities
Talking to the DW about the alleged suicide of Fatima Latif, President of the Student Islamic Organization of India, a student-run student Islamic organization of India, said, "This is not a normal suicide case but Islamophobia and caste-based attitudes. The cause is a case of institutionalized murder. It is part of a wider pattern of discrimination and harassment of minorities and backward classes, especially Muslims and Dalits. " Labid Shafi added, "Institutional discrimination and racism are a fact in this country that Rohit Vemula, Dr. Pil Taravi, Fatima Latif and many other talented young students have fallen victim to."
Rohit Vemula, Pil Taravi, Najib Ahmed
Just five months before the fatal suicide of Fatima Latif, post-graduate medical student Dr Pail Taravi was found dead at her hostel at the famous Nair hospital in Mumbai in May 2019. The 26-year-old Pyle was the first female to receive a medical degree in her Bheel tribe. Before taking the last step of suicide, he wrote in his parents' letter that he was facing humiliating behavior from his colleagues and some professors because of his lower caste and that senior students came to the toilet with their feet. Used to wipe her bed. Pyle's parents had written to the college authorities about the matter but no action was taken.
Rohit Vemula, a PhD student at the University of Hyderabad, was also forced to embrace death in January 2016 after being subjected to institutional discrimination. After Rohit Vemula's suicide there were huge protests in educational institutions across the country and the matter became political.
Similar is the case with Najeeb Ahmed, a MSc biotechnology student at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. Najib disappeared from his hostel on October 15, 2016 in suspicious condition. Despite the court's severe criticism, the CBI and Delhi Police Special Investigation Team have not been traced to the country's highest investigative agency till date. Najib's mother Fatima Nafis, who has knocked on every door to search for her son, is questioned by members of BJP's ruling Akhal Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, allegedly involved in the disappearance of her son. Why not
Experts opinion
Former chairman of the Indian Council of Social Sciences Research and Professor Emeritus at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Sukh Dev Thorat, while speaking to DW, said, "Various investigations have proved that these extraordinary cases of suicide are in essence. Discrimination plays an important role on a leaf-based basis. " But is there a solution? In response to this question, Professor Thorat says, "First of all, it must be acknowledged that discrimination exists in higher education institutions. Denying this fact will not help solve the problem. It is true that suicide Some cases may be individual, but it cannot be said that coincidence, 23 of the 25 suicides were related to Dalit students. Therefore, policy makers have to go beyond the denial stage. "
The number of Muslims in India is 14.2%, but according to a survey released in 2014 by the Higher Education Department of India, the number of higher education institutions is only 3.94%.
At a time when talented students should be encouraged, they are mentally harassed, analysts say. If a student of the Muslim community crosses all obstacles and reaches the higher educational institutions, he too has to suffer in unpleasant situations and if a student commits suicide, it is the suicide of the desires of a community, not of a girl. According to these analysts, such incidents will frighten Muslim girls from pursuing higher education in the future.
Demand for inquiry
Meanwhile, several political parties and student organizations have strongly condemned the Fatima Latif suicide case and are protesting against it. The regional political party, MMK, called for a high level inquiry into the incident, calling it a result of religious discrimination. The People's Front of India has termed the incident a result of 'institutional discrimination', saying that higher education institutions will not be allowed to become a cemetery for the backward classes. "Fatima Latif was killed in a gas chamber where hate is used as a gas," the Welfare Party of India said.
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