Prof accused of casteism against scholar to be removed as kerala govt intervenes

The Kerala government has promised to deliver justice to Deepa P Mohanan, a Dalit PhD scholar at the Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) in Kottayam, Kerala, whose indefinite hunger strike after

alleging caste discrimination against her at the university enters its 9th day. Higher Education Minister R Bindu, via social media posts, expressed concern "about the health of the

student" and asserted that "steps will be taken to ensure justice for Deepa." MGU has been directed by the government to remove the professor accused of casteism, and if that

decision remains pending, the state government will directly ask the professor to resign. > Regarding Deepa Mohanan, had intervened to ensure that MG university > authorities stand by 

the student, look at the issue from her > perspective, and resolve her concerns accordingly. > — Dr R Bindu (@rbinducpm) November 6, 2021 > The govt is concerned about the 

student's health situation. I'm > anxious personally as well. > As soon as we get an explanation from the university, steps will be > taken to ensure justice for Deepa.

> — Dr R Bindu (@rbinducpm) November 6, 2021 > If the decision to replace the accused teacher continues to remain > pending, the authorities will be specifically instructed to ask 

the > teacher to step down.  > The student is requested to consider this an assurance from the side > of the govt and withdraw from the strike. > — Dr R Bindu (@rbinducpm) 

November 6, 2021 Mohanan, a 36-year-old scientist, says that the university authorities have been deliberately delaying the completion of her PhD degree. She has been on a hunger strike

since 29 October, outside the International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IIUCNN) at MGU. Mohanan claims that for the last 10 years, her progress is being

scuttled by the director of the institute, Nandakumar Kalarickal, allegedly because she is a Dalit. > UPDATE: Kerala govt assures justice to Deepa Mohanan, whose hunger > strike enters

 9th day today, and directs MGU to remove the professor > accused of casteism with immediate effect. This should have happened > a week ago, but better late than never. Awaiting action

 by > university now. https://t.co/9S36ryLzJk pic.twitter.com/omizhz2XPa > — Siddharth (@DearthOfSid) November 6, 2021 WHY THE HUNGER STRIKE? Mohanan joined MGU in 2011 to pursue an

MPhil degree, after completing her master's in medical microbiology. She alleges that since her first year at the university, Kalarickal has been obstructing her education. Kalarickal

was a joint director when Mohanan started studying at the institute and is now the director of the IIUCNN. _The News Minute_ reports that Mohanan claims he has stopped her from accessing the

lab, accessing chemicals and polymers at the lab, has denied her seating at the workplace, has worked to block her stipend and even locked her alone inside the lab on one instance. Mohanan

has also alleged that he has been rude and abusive towards her, the only Dalit scholar in her batch, and has done what he can to ensure that she doesn’t get her PhD on time. “I already have

an MPhil, and could ideally have finished my PhD by 2015,” Mohanan argues. Mohanan has been on a hunger strike demanding three things * Her research guide be changed * She be provided with

materials to complete her research, like all the other PhD scholars are * Nandakumar Kalarickal be removed from the institute. On 1 November, the university reportedly agreed to the first

two demands, but refused to remove Kalarickal from the IIUCNN. But Mohanan says she won’t end her hunger strike unless he is removed. She argues that her prior experiences prove that if

Kalarickal is at the centre, she will not be able to complete her research as he will be looking for revenge. DESPITE COMPLAINTS TO UNIVERSITY AND POLICE, A PROBLEM THAT PERSISTS? In 2015,

Mohanan had filed a case of caste discrimination against Palarickal with the university. At that time, the university had set up a two-member committee to investigate the matter. The

committee had stated that the allegations by Mohanan were true and had recommended that the university provide her all the facilities needed to complete her research. The following year, in

2016, Mohanan filed a police complaint against Palarickal under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. When she tried to meet the Governor of Kerala to

submit her complaint, she was reportedly detained by the police and kept in a station for two days. She has been supported by several student unions and social justice organisations,

including Bhim Army Kerala, Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students' Association (BAPSA), and Ambedkar Student Association (ASA) are demanding #JusticeForDeepa. Published: 04 Nov 2021, 3:57 PM

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