‘Students kept TISS fight alive': Dalit scholar returns to campus after year-long battle against suspension

One year after filing a petition against his suspension, Ramadas Prini Sivanandan, a dalit PhD scholar from Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) who was barred for participating in a protest in January 2024 talks to Careers360 about his legal journey, solidarity from students, social media backlash and more: Edited Excerpts:

How has your experience been fighting the legal battle for one long year?

The outcome of the legal battle with TISS Mumbai brings relief and happiness, but the cost I had to pay was an entire year. There was a lot of struggle and on all fronts – academics, health-wise or financial. All of this was not so easy. For example, the case was listed or mentioned 35 times in the Mumbai High Court since May 2 last year, when I first filed my case. Sometimes, it came on the list and then got postponed to another date. You have to go to court often and mention it to get it listed. Some months, I was going to court three to four times. Throughout the process I had to be in Mumbai for followups.

I also faced trolling and cyber-bullying, being tagged “anti-national” with numerous caste-based attacks, which continued for a long time – across hundreds and hundreds of social media handles, and in multiple languages. You go to the comment section of the handles of regional media and you can see the hate. Even PSF (Progressive Students' Forum) couldn't support me for a month as TISS had banned it. The journey was a struggling one, but still worth it.

What was the primary issue you contested?

The university made two allegations. First, a disciplinary one that despite previous warnings, I continued with some activities against the interest of TISS – specifically about participation in a protest in parliament under the PSF-TISS banner. Initially, in a disciplinary committee meeting, I clarified that this accusation was incorrect as the protest was at Jantar Mantar, not parliament, and with Delhi Police permission and supervision. It was a peaceful, lawful assembly with no criminal activity reported. It took place at a venue where law enforcement agencies were completely monitoring the whole protest.

I was asked in what capacity I had attended the protest, to which I explained that I participated as an individual citizen of the country, and that I can attend any lawful assembly. I am also a member of the national committee of the Student Federation of India (SFI) and a member of PSF. But I did not represent TISS.

I am a student and I am part of student organisations which are all legal. We submitted an official pamphlet of the United Students of India which had no TISS mention.

The second allegation was about sharing pamphlets for a screening of the documentary Ram Ke Naam. I explained that I had met with an accident on January 16 and was in hospital after a critical surgery during the week of January 26. While I shared a social media post on the screening, the documentary has won the National and the President of India awards, is U-certified, available on YouTube. I even watched the movie in a public screening on the TISS campus itself. Appealing to people to watch is not a crime.

Some random posters, WhatsApp screenshots on the screening had been presented in court which we never shared. The court thankfully dismissed all the charges.

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What pushed you to keep fighting after the Mumbai High Court dismissed your plea?

I had two choices. One, either just accept the suspension or go against it. But right now, I can sleep without guilt due to the outcome. Also, after the High Court’s judgment, if we had dropped in between, it would have meant we were just agreeing to the allegations.

We had this understanding that this judgment will not be limited to me only. Our argument was that students from the Scheduled Caste awaiting government fellowships, i.e. National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste, the fellowship given by the government, especially to Dalit students of India, should not be further victimised for criticising the government. We did not want this to be a precedent for the marginalised students.

So I had no other choice but to fight it back. Everyone has equal rights. After the Supreme Court’s judgment, there is a precedence for free speech of students as well. Also, the judgment proved that none of these protests violated university rules and norms.

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While the high court judgement was considered a "dangerous precedent”, what does the SC judgment signify?

In my understanding, the apex court’s judgment was to ensure that the right to education is for everyone. It questioned to what extent you can bar a student from education, which was my primary concern. The court did not take any sides and allowed me to continue with my studies which is my first priority.

Also, giving a fight is important. We regularly see disciplinary actions against students. They need to stand up against this, and hence, going to court is important.

Did you face any discrimination or bias against your caste identity?

There were arguments that students receiving the government fellowships cannot participate in such programmes. The verdict came on May 2, exactly a year after I first filed my petition in high court and coincidentally the same date Rohith Vemula's case was closed by the Telangana government last year.

The timing intensified the caste-based attacks. I was tagged as 'fake' and trolls demanded to check my family roots, even my parents' DNA.

I was considered ineligible for the national fellowship on SC because I attended a politically motivated programme. And that is why we moved to a higher court. Yes, I have been discriminated against based on my caste identity, not only at university but generally. As a first-generation learner – the first in the family to pursue PhD – where no one in my family has completed class 10 or even higher education, reaching this point has been challenging. When a student needs support, this shouldn't be what they receive.

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What kind of support did you receive from the student fraternity, friends and family?

Students across the country provided the most crucial solidarity. My SFI comrades came out on the streets, offered support and released statements. Often a phone call from someone whom I have never met but was part of the student movement somewhere would give me strength. It is these students who kept the fight alive for a year. Students, non-students, dalit organisations, other left and progressive organisations, public intellectuals and writers, everyone came out in solidarity.

On the night of the verdict, students at TISS celebrated the victory, which assured me that I wasn't alone in this fight. Many have been arrested and faced police charges for protesting but they are at it still.

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The biggest learning or takeaway from this journey?

If I had stopped after the high court judgement, we wouldn't be talking like this now. This makes a difference. I would not be able to go to university or continue my studies now. My biggest takeaway is that it is worth giving a fight. The struggle makes us feel that we're better – not just stronger, more human.

Members of parliament, students, alumni, and others were writing to the VC. Also, what you learn is the feeling that it is important to continue the struggle.

When do you plan to resume your PhD and how?

I got a letter from the university acknowledging the Supreme Court order, and they informed me that I can resume. I made my first visit to the campus on May 5, and I have already started going to the campus. My thesis is on tea plantation labourers' condition.