Researcher alleges caste bias at Sanskrit department

Aresearcher at University of Kerala has accused the Head of the Department and Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies of caste-based discrimination after he was objected to being awarded a PhD in Sanskrit.

- HD Bureau

The scholar, Vipin Vijayan, alleged via a social-media post that the label “one who does not know Sanskrit” was imposed on him and left lasting scars, drawing parallels to the case of Rohit Vemula in his invocation of persistent caste discrimination. His complaint centres on a communication from C. N. Vijayakumari, the HoD and Dean, asserting that a candidate “who does not know Sanskrit” should not be awarded a doctorate in that subject.

According to multiple accounts at the university, the dissertation in question was submitted by Vijayan, who is affiliated with the student-wing Students’ Federation of India.