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Alleging caste-based discrimination 10 Dalit professors at Bangalore University in Bengaluru, have threatened to quit their administrative roles and approach the Governor of the state who serves as the Chancellor of the University. According to the aggrieved professors, they have been denied compensation for their additional work, whereas professors from other castes continue to receive benefits for performing similar duties, they alleged.
In a joint letter to Vice-Chancellor Prof Jayakara SM on July 2, the Dalit professors alleged that over the past decade, the university had assigned them various administrative responsibilities essential to the university’s functioning — including positions as directors of key centres such as the Ambedkar Research Centre, Equal Opportunities Cell, Students Welfare, and Distance and Online Education — but without any compensation.
The signatories include: Prof C Somashekhar, Prof Vijayakumar H Doddamani, Prof Nagesh PC, Prof Krishnamurthy G, Prof Sudesh V, Prof Muralidhar B L, Prof Shashidhar M, Prof Ramesh, Prof Suresh R, and Prof Kumbinarasayya.
“They are getting the work done from us, without giving the position or reward. It’s a clear case of discrimination,” Prof J Krishnamurthy, one of the signatories and President of the Bangalore University Teachers Association, told TNM.
According to him, for nearly a decade, Dalit professors have been denied compensation, and the situation has worsened recently. The professors allege that the university administration assigns them additional responsibilities but evades payment by terming their appointments as “in-charge.”
“While giving additional administrative responsibilities, it is just mentioned as ‘in-charge’… despite repeated requests, there has been no response from the university authorities,” the letter reads.
Prof Krishnamurthy alleged that Dalit professors are routinely made “in-charge” without being formally appointed to the posts.
B Shivanna, a member of the University's syndicate alleges that the Vice-Chancellor is also reluctant to provide financial aid to these study centres.
"Our Vice-Chancellor does not provide any financial or infrastructural support to welfare-related centres like the Ambedkar Research Centre, the SC/ST Cell, or even the Sexual Harassment Cell. Whenever professors approach the Vice-Chancellor for support, they are ignored,” he said.
In contrast, professors from dominant communities are given funds and facilities, Shivanna alleged.
“This is the core issue, the stark disparity in support extended to Dalit versus non-Dalit faculty members,” he said.
Alleging exploitation by the University, Shivanna said that unlike academic roles, duties of professors in statutory roles stretch till 2 am sometimes, and they are not even given transport allowance or earned leave.
He also alleged that the professors handling these cells are unable to organise seminars or paper presentations due to lack of funds.
The professors also expressed disappointment with Vice-Chancellor Jayakara SM, saying they had hoped for positive change under his leadership. “We expected fairness, but even two years into his term, there has been no real support,” said Shivanna.
“There are some statutory positions which are assigned to the professors compensating with perks — earned leave or some remuneration. Now, all those have been curtailed because all the professors discharging such responsibilities now belong to SC, ST, Dalit communities,” Prof Krishnamurthy said.
A look at the responsibilities assigned to the 10 signatories is revealing. Professor C Somashekhar is Director of the Ambedkar Research Centre; Professor Vijayakumar H Doddamani is Director of the Babu Jagjivan Ram Research Centre; Professor Nagesh P C is Director of Students Welfare; Professor Krishnamurthy G is Special Officer for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; Professor Sudesh V is Coordinator of Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA); Professor Muralidhar B L is Director of the Centre for Distance and Online Education; Professor Shashidhar M is Director of the Malaviya Teachers Training Institute; Professor Ramesh is Director of Broadcasting; Dr Suresh R, is Director of the Equal Opportunities Cell; and Dr Kumbinarasayya S is Director of the Braille Resource Centre.
Prof Krishnamurthy said there are many Dalit professors who are highly qualified and yet face exclusion and differential treatment. “The rules are not uniform. There is always a different rule to stop or suppress us,” he said.
The faculty said they are planning to meet with the Vice-Chancellor again this week and warned that if their concerns are not addressed, they will take collective action including a strike and a formal appeal to the Governor.
“This is a fight for social justice. If the university does not respond, we will not remain silent,” said Prof Krishnamurthy, adding that such discrimination is not limited to Bangalore University but is prevalent in other state universities as well.
Despite multiple attempts, Vice-Chancellor Jayakara SM did not respond to queries from TNM at the time of publication. The copy will be updated if and when he comments.