Caste casts shadow on Aandhra Pradesh varsities

Visakhapatnam: State-run varsities in AP are in the grip of caste politics, which is spreading to every vulnerable group on the campuses, much like at the University of Hyderabad.

With caste taking centrestage in recent years, the premier institutes of the state are proving to be no exception to political pressures and caste politics — right from admissions to appointments of Vice-Chancellors.

With several student unions such as ABVP, NSUI and TNSF being backed by various political outfits, the strong underlying divide between the forward caste and backward groups has become quite a common phenomenon on the campuses.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Andhra University Vice-Chancellor Prof. G.S.N. Raju advised the student community not to resort to caste politics.

“The university is a place which fosters personality, imparts value-based learning and enhances morale of students. Building affiliations with political outfits and encouraging caste-based discrimination will do more harm than good for students,” said Prof. Raju.

It is often alleged that some plum posts of the varsities are offered to a particular caste. The discrimination between rural and urban students is also evident in some universities.

State Chairman of AP Students and Youth JAC, Aareti Mahesh, said, “A close look at the various departments and appointments depict how caste politics is ruling the varsities. Some professors are indirectly encouraging the ugly trend. Division between students of various castes is also palpable in the varsities.”

Vice-Chancellor, Dr B.R. Ambedkar University, Srikakulam, Prof. Lajipathi Rai said, “Instead of driving the student community towards progress and innovation, some intellectuals are being associated with caste politics to cover up their administrative and teaching deficiencies.”

 “It is not unfair if the government appoints vice-chancellors with a view to providing fair representation for different castes under the inclusive concept. But, once appointed, the V-C should act like a judge without giving any room for identity politics,” Prof. Rai added.

Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarti Parishad state committee member and AU scholar G. Ramesh said that the government should discourage caste politics in the varsities, which otherwise would take a murky turn in the coming days.

Suicide reveals state of affairs
Guntur:  The recent suicide of M. Rishiteswari has brought into sharp focus the state of affairs at the the Acharya Nagarjuna University in Guntur.
 

The ANU is the only state-run university in Guntur district  which is otherwise famous as an educational hub. Started in 1976, it has  failed to keep up the pace due to negligence by the government.

Now,  however, political interference haunts the campus. Absence of proper security and vigil on the campus, increased activities of caste-based unions have been the talking point at the university ever since the suicide.

The clamour for ending caste-based politics had not fully died down when the news of the suicide at the UoH came.

Students like K. Mohan say that instances of political interference and casteism have been increasing on the campus and demand state-run universities must remain secular.