By Joseph Maliakan
Nithin Raj 22, a dalit , son of Latha , a daily wage labourer under the MRNREGA and Rajan a painter was a very bright first year student at the Anjarakandy Dental College in Kannur. In spite of living in acute poverty Nithin had done very well in his Class 10 and 12 examinations. Encouraged by his mother Nithin was keen on studying medicine and appeared for NEET three times but could not make it to the merit list.
However , when he was offered a Batchlor of Dental Surgery. ( BDS ) seat at the Anjarakandy Dental College , Kanoor he accepted it. On 10 April morning he called his elder sister Rekha and requested her to transfer Rs.200 to his account so that he could pay for his food. Around 11 a.m the same day Nithin Raj also talked to his father Rajan and his other sisters informing them that he will be coming home for Vishu.
Subsequently what happened to Nithin Raj is a tragedy that is repeated in our educational institutions , in our society again and again , students belonging to low caste communities ending their own lives unable to bear casteist slurs and discrimination.
On 10 April before noon Nithin Raj was called to the Principal Dr.Vinod Monys office where a lecturer of the college Latha Sasidharan was also present. Latha had complained that she was getting repeated threatening calls from a loan recovery agent demanding that Nithin Raj should immediately repay the loan he had taken for his mother’s treatment with interest. At the Principals office for some strange reason Nithin Raj was treated as an accused for Latha Sasidharan accused. Nithin Raj of giving her mobile number to the loan shark who gave him the loan.
What actually transpired in the Principals office will be clear only after the police investigation. However , CC TV footage and eye witness accounts have revealed that Nithin Raj came out of the Principals office crying. The principal had also for unexplainable reason confiscated Nithin Rajs mobile before letting him go.
After he came out of the Principals room crying his friends called him for lunch but he declined the invitation. He was very upset and mentally disturbed. And a little after 1 p.m on 10 April a fellow student found Nithin lying on the gravel patch between the hospital building and casualty building , profusely bleeding. Nithin was rushed to the Kannur Medical College and died at 3.35 in the afternoon.
Two days after his death three audio clips Nithin had made and sent to some relatives and friends started circulating. In the vedios Nithin described in detail how while visiting the staff room Professor M.K. Ram ,the Head of the Dental Anatomy Department abused him. Dr. Ram mocked him and his mother by commenting on his mother’s sickness and surgery. Nithin said his answer sheets with markings were circulated among his classmates to run him down.
Rajan , Nithins father told reporters after the funeral some teachers at the collge called Nithin a Rotten Dog and even wondered how , he a Dalit and the son of daily wage labourers could study at the Dental Collge . His sister Nikhita said some of teachers addressed Nithin as a slum dog in the class. He had made a complaint to the Principal regarding the insult , but nothing came out of it she added.
Nayana Nishikanta a student of college told the TV channel NDTV , Dr.Ram targetted students based on their caste , skin colour and economic background. Students were mortally scared of him , she added.
The Chackarackel Police at first registered a case of unnatural death in the case of Nithin Raj Subsequently cases were registered of abetment to suicide under Section 108 of the Baraiya Nyaya Sanhita and under the SC/ ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. A special Investgation Team headed by Assistant commissioner of Police Hari Prasad has been formed to investigate the case.
The two accused professors Dr.M.K. Ram and K.T. Sangeetha Nambiar who have been suspended have gone underground fearing arrest .
Nithins father said Nithin had to raise a loan of f Rs.14,000 for the surgery of his mother Latha. The family is residing at Kottamala in Nedumangad , a town only 25 kilometers from the capital of Keralam , Thiruvanathapuram ,the capital of Keralam which boasts of modern free health service . In this context the government of Keralam owes an explanation as to why Latha was not given free tratement.
As for discrimination against Dalits one can only quote Professor M.Kunjaman . I faced caste discrimiation throughout my life . The fact that I was a dalit worked against me. The Vice Chacellor was a Dalit. There were dalits in the Syndicate also. Still they did not raise their voice against injustices because upper castes called the shots , always. In the field of higher education also caste discrimination is very acute in spite of 75 years of independence. It is a nationwide paradox which has no solution, because caste is deeply inbeded in Indians.
