‘Institutional murder’: Hindu College ad hoc teacher who lost job allegedly dies by suicide

NEW DELHI: Samarvir, a former ad-hoc assistant professor in the department of philosophy at Delhi University’s Hindu College allegedly died by suicide on Wednesday. Teachers from various colleges have alleged that the “unfortunate incident” took place days after he was displaced in the ongoing recruitment process at Hindu College.

Teachers and students’ groups have announced that they will hold a protest at Hindu College and DU Arts Faculty against “institutional murder” of Samarvir.

“I would like to state that on Sunday when he called up, he was very upset. He didn't accept the guest lecturer's job in another college earlier because he accepted an ad-hoc job in Hindu College. He told me that, after 20 days, the college informed him that the college cannot continue with his service as it is not allowed by the university. I could sense his helplessness. He further informed that her mother lost one of her eyesight when he didn't get the permanent job which he was expecting. I am unable to accept that he is no more,” said a professor and a friend teaching in Hindu College.

Anju Srivastav, principal of Hindu college did not respond to texts and calls of Careers360. The copy will be updated if response is received.

Also Read | Delhi University teachers stage protest over '80% displacement of ad-hoc teachers'

Delhi University teachers protest

Abha Dev Habib, a teacher at DU’s Miranda House in a Facebook post described the incident as “institutional murder.”

“Their lives were wasted, they were punished for choosing academics as their career - they were forced to work on ad hoc positions for long years. And now instead of getting justice, many colleagues have been crushed by those in power, for their petty networks and profits. Mr Samarvir, who was displaced from Hindu College has lost his life...institutional murder,” she said.

Maya John, assistant professor at Jesus and Mary College in a social media post said, “It is a fact that a sizable number of long-serving ad-hoc teachers, who otherwise fill all the criteria and have worked very hard for their institutions, have been displaced in the recent interviews. With permanent appointments being made through a so-called ‘open’ recruitment process which has seen massive displacement, there expectedly looms in many ad-hoc teachers a sense of betrayal as they have been rendered without a livelihood after having taught in colleges/departments and contributing to the University for years.”

According to John, ad-hoc professors have been “falsely promised” that they will be retained and regularised in open interviews, which “of course has remained a hoax”.

“In majority of these interviews, it has been felt that merit and past experience do not count, and that it is rather non-merit factors like nepotism, cronyism, favoritism, adherence, liaising, influencing and obeisance that are at play,” she added.

Condemning the “institutional murder of Samarvir”, John said: “It is imperative on us to step up the struggle to ensure that DU teachers are not doled out a few favours, but achieve what must be a matter of their rights. We must resolve to fight for the rights of ad-hoc faculty.”

Also Read | UGC has ‘no proposal’ to absorb ad-hoc teachers: Education Ministry

Protests and Condolence meeting

Students Federation of India (SFI) Hindu College unit has called for a condolence meet for Samarvir at 12 pm today inside college premises. All India Students Association (AISA) has called for a protest against “brutal injustice to teachers” at Hindu College gate at 12 noon today.

“The large-scale displacement of teachers in DU has only increased in the last few years, across colleges. We call the death of professor Samarvir an institutional murder by the apathy of the administration and politically biased recruitment process in Delhi University,” AISA said in a statement.

DU teachers and AISA activists holding protest at Hindu College. (Picture source: AISA)Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s teachers wing Academic for Action and Development and Delhi Teachers’ Association (AADTA) has also called for a condolence meeting at 5 pm today at Arts faculty.

According to Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) estimates, around 4,500 ad-hoc teachers are employed in DU colleges.

If you, or anyone you know, needs help, AASRA has a list of resources here: http://www.aasra.info/helpline.html -