Profiles of OU student JAC
suneetha achyuta
These were a few of the profiles of students who either deposed or wanted to depose at the public hearing on police violence in Osmania University on 10th April at OUCIP conducted by Hyderabad Forum for Telangana, Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee and Human Rights Forum. We wanted to bring into the space of the public hearing and later, the public domain - the political, familial and educational struggles of these students - Gogu Shyamala, A.Suneetha, K.Sajaya and Kaneez Fathima.
Balalakshmi, (LLB), University College of Law, OU
I am from Marigochachala village in Cheryala mandal in Warangal district. We are five sisters and I am the eldest one. We belong to Gowda community. My father also used to do small electrical repairs and would send us to school. All of us would make beedis at home. After tenth class I went to Cheryal for my Intermediate. I started giving tuitions and do tailoring to pay my college fees. After my degree, I wanted to become a police officer. I joined Osmania University because I heard that one can prepare well for competitive exams here. So, I joined M.A Economics here in 2006. Since I didn’t have the necessary financial backing to prepare for UPSC, I decided to appear for SI exams as the first step. I took coaching, physical training etc. My younger sisters work in a supermarket here and supported me. In my hostel I am known as police Balalakshmi.
I have never joined any student organization because I saw many of them fighting among themselves. But I am a socially aware person. I have closely observed Telangana farmers and weavers suffering. But, once I saw students protesting against KCR withdrawing from his fast unto death, I decided to join the student agitation.
Jagan, Research Scholar, Economics Department, OU
My name is Jagan. I am from Bachanpet Mandal, Warangal district. My parents are daily wage construction workers. We have two acres of land but it is not cultivatable. I am of Madiga caste. I studied in the government school in my village till 10th class. There are people in my village who had participated in the Telangana Armed struggle. In intermediate I worked in TASF. From then onwards I knew how injustice has been done to Telangana by Andhras especially in the employment sector. In 2000 I came to Hyderabad with the aim of joining Nizam college but due to financial problems joined SP college. I did my B.A in SP College by doing painting jobs over the weekend. All the lecturers in that college were from Andhra region that too from upper caste. Whenever I felt that I was losing my identity, I questioned them even if they were my teachers. I took admission in M.A. Economics in OU. Currently I am doing my Ph.D on the issue of farmers’ suicides in Warangal district. In 2006 some of us started Telangana Vidyarthi Vedika at OU.
On 29th November morning lathi-charge took place after which we decided to put a tent in front of Arts College so that all people can come to a common place. After 23rd December, I participated in the indefinite hunger strike launched by the students. Through out the agitation we made sure that it remains peaceful and democratic. Students never did any violence, stone pelting, putting vehicles on fire etc all were done by the police in mafti. After the suicide of Venugopal Reddy, we tried hard to restrain the emotionally distraught students. When I addressed a meeting of technology students earlier, the same Venugopal Reddy had raised slogans against student suicides, but decided to take the same route!
Krishank Manne
My name is Krishank Manne. My father’s name is Leo Augustine, he is an advocate. Mother name is Merlin Diana; she is working as a Professor in Army college of Dental Sciences. I did my schooling till 5th standard at Karimnagar and later after 5th standard I came here and joined St.Patricks school at Hyderabad. I did my intermediate at Layola junior college at Alwaal. From childhood onwards I have seen my father being with George Fernandez and with Civil Liberties people. After intermediate, as my father is also lawyer and I was also interested in the subject, I joined LLB, at Pendakanti Law college, during first and second year I played for the OU cricket team.
In the ongoing Telangana Agitation for a Separate Statehood I have been actively participating in the meetings and programmes conducted at the Osmania University since Nov 29 2009 till date. Being a J.A.C member , I and my fellow J.A.C members conducted the meetings , rallies and other protests in a peaceful manner at the Osmania University. We went ot Padayatra to the districts of Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Medak, Adilabad and Warangal for 71 days. During Padayatra, Venugpoal Reddy died, but no one broke the Padayatra. During Padayatra we slept in huts and we took bath in rivers but all the energy was by the peoples’ response. Even though, lathi charge has become quite common in the OU campus, occurring every other day, it is only four or five major incidents that have got the public attention.
Maandala Bhaskar, Ph.D, Telugu Department, OU
My name is Mandala Bhaskar. I am from Konaravpet in Karimnagar district. I did my Intermediate in Siricilla which is twenty km. away from my village and my B.A in Siddipet in Government Degree College with history, economics and political science. I joined M.A.in Telugu literature because I wanted to understand what Dalit literature is all about. I belong to Mala community. Now, I have registered for Ph.D in Telugu. While doing my B.A., I got introduced to the writings and ideology of Ambedkar and Phule through Bahujan Samaj party which inspired me to become politically active and pursue my higher education. After joining OU, I worked in the student organizations here. But once the Telangana JAC got formed and the police lathi charge on 29th December, I started taking active part in the student movement for Telangana. In fact I did not think that the movement would come up so strongly but once it started, I thought that as a person from this region and as a student, I should do my bit for the movement.
Agamani, M.A. Hindi, Arts College, OU
I am from Hyderabad. My father is an attendant in civil supplies office in Somajiguda. From my fifth class there was pressure at home to stop my studies and get me married. I belong to Mangali community. Since I was good in studies and I always resisted they let me continue. Somehow girls from certain communities in Hyderabad do not get the support for education that girls in districts get, I feel. There are very few girls in Osmania University from the city compared to the districts. My college education was with breaks due to adverse conditions but I began to financially support myself by learning to do DTP work. I joined M.A in Hindi because of my interest in literature and I want to settle as a lecturer in future.
Once the Telangana movement re-started after KCR announced his fast unto death, I became very restless. I have been a politically active student in my college days protesting for scholarships etc. But as soon as we announced a meeting on Telangana, there was tremendous response in the ladies’ hostel and the next day, we took out a big rally in the campus against the lathi charge on the previous day and in support of Telangana. Then five of us joined the student JAC. Women students came out in large numbers in support of Telangana and enthusiastically participated in all the programmes announced by the JAC.
Jagan Kumar, (M.A).Telugu.
My name is Jagan. Ours is agricultural family and we are BCs. I have completed MA Economics. At present I am doing MA Telugu course and I stay at Triveni hostel. I am actively participating in this movement and was on indefinite hunger strike as well. As my health deteriorated I was forcefully hospitalized. As we heard that KCR has withdrawn fast, all the students fastened the movement. Lot of students got injured in the struggle. Because I participated in the hunger strike, 12 cases were booked on me. And later five more cases were booked against me. They arrested me twice. Police illegally arrested some students and harassed them. There are cases on almost 75 students; this is also because police personnel belong to Andhra region.
Naliganti Sharath, M.Phil, Telugu Dept, Arts College.
My name is Naliganti Sharath and I am from Khila Warangal in Warangal district. We are four brothers and four sisters. We are Maadigas. My father is a stone cutter, makes the foundation stones for house construction. My mother studied till 4th or 5th. All of us studied in government school in the village. I also studied in the government school in my village. During my school and college years, I would go to work with my father during weekend and holidays. My father wanted me to study as much as possible. I am the first one in my family to do post graduation and come for research. I finished my M.A in Telugu and am registered for M.Phil. I am working on poet-singers of Telangana – Gaddar and Goreti Yankanna. I am the state cultural secretary for Bahujan Samaaj Party. I write poetry, sing well and address meetings. I have written two poems about student suicides, asking students not to commit suicide and state violence in Osmania University, pointing out the unprovoked lathicharge, firing and tear gas by the police and paramilitary forces.
Rajesh, (Ph.D) Political Science
My name is Rajesh. I am from Kottakaasula village of Konijella mandal in Khammam district. I belong to Maadiga dalit family. Though the village is under the influence of communist parties, what really changed the lives of Dalits is the Roman Catholic Missionary school at Ribbavaram that gave education to the community. There are scores of teachers, constables and conductors from the Dalit community from villages surrounding Ribbavaram. After 6th, I shifted to a government school and social welfare hostel continued in the government college with CEC group in Vyra. The presence and encouragement of BC and Dalit teachers in intermediate and degree colleges transformed me from being a ‘dull’ student to an M.A entrance topper in Kakatiya University. But I joined Osmania in Political Science department. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D here.
The intensity of student participation in Osmania University in fact surprised all of us, whether it is for Chalo Assembly on 10th December or over Venugopal Reddy’s death on 19th January. But the students’ commitment has been phenomenal. On February 20th, when we, OU JAC leaders, were trying to restrain students from breaking the police barricades, some students fought with us saying that they would die to make the programme a success! We were shaken by the intensity of their commitment.
Shilpa, M.A., Political Science, Arts College
I am doing my M.A in Political Science here in Arts College. I am from the city and from a dalit family. This is the first time that I am participating in a political agitation. When I read about the 1969 movement for Telangana, I wished I were born then. I feel fortunate that I am here during this movement now. Students, who were disconnected from their social and cultural background, have begun to connect, learn about and respect each other in this movement. They are able to own up to their own culture and language. The students have set aside their own immediate interests and are participating in this movement.
Sheweta (M.Sc) Pharmaceutical Science
My name is Shweta. I am doing my M.Sc in Pharmaceutical Science. I am from Pedda Suraram of Tipparti mandal in Nalgonda district. During my Intermediate, when I was going on my uncle’s bike, a few villagers asked me to get down from it saying that Reddys were passing by. Then my father told me all about his battles against casteism in the village. I am a Mala and my father is the State General Secretary of Mala Mahanadu. He is a lawyer and my mother works as a JA in Suryapet. I joined M.Sc Pharmaceutical Science two years ago and am in my last semester. Though I participated in small agitation for scholarship during my B.Sc days, it is only after joining the Osmania University that I fought for better facilities in the hostel. Once the Telangana movement started in November, I also began to participate. I have seen life in Telangana villages and know that unless Telangana state becomes a reality, our lives will not get better. I also know that even after the Telangana state is achieved, we will still need to fight for an equitable Telangana.
Saalaiah (Stalin), M.Phil, Telugu University
I am from Dindi village in Nalgonda. When I was in third class, my father got a job as an attendant in government hospital. Before that, my parents did odd jobs and sent us to school. I am the third child in the family. From 1st to 10th, I studied in Dindi. I did my Intermediate in the residential college run by the social welfare department in Rajagadda. I am from Maadiga community. Through out my school years I stayed in the hostel. I was a Bi.P.C student in Intermediate and then for my degree, I shifted to Nalgonda town where I studied in M.G.College. I did my B.Sc there. Then from 2007-2009, I did my M.A in Sociology from Osmania University, because I wanted to understand the society in depth.
Because we are from Nalgonda district which has a history of movements, my entire family, my father and all my brothers always resisted injustice. I have been a politically active student from my childhood. During my school and college days, I fought for food, other facilities and scholarships in the hostel. In Osmania University, I joined M.A Sociology but could not get admission into Ph.D. But I am trying again. Right now, I have got admission into M.Phil in Folk Culture Studies in Telugu University (adjacent to the OU). I still haven’t actually paid my fees. In October I got admission and in November the movement started. After that, I could not move out of the Osmania University because several cases have been foisted on me. My friends paid my fees.
Tatrika Swapna, M.A. (Telugu), Arts College.
My name is Tatrika Swapna. Iam from Nizamabad district. My father is a farmer and mother is a homemaker. We are one sister and two brothers. I studied at a government school in my village. From Intermediate to Degree, I studied at Government Degree College at Kamareddy. For doing Post graduation, I came to Hyderabad and joined women’s college at koti in the MSc Physics course. Then I did B.Ed and iam very interested in literature so joined in MA Telugu. From my childhood itself I have been interested in these issues. I got interested in this Telangana movement because at every step we are exploited by the Andhras and we face lot of injustice, even after getting degrees there are no jobs, girls are not getting married because they are unemployed etc and if Telangana is formed we will get employment, we can take care of our parents properly.
Upender, Research Scholar, Telugu Department.
My name is Upender and I have been an active participant in the ongoing Telangana agitation. I have been charged with many cases and spend my time in fear of arrest. I have already been arrested twice. First time I was arrested in Aleru when I was in a barber shop. I had gone there to attend a meeting. Second time, when I was going to Vidyanagar colony in Hyderabad, I was pillion riding with some passerby. Both of us were taken to a police station. I asked the police why they brought that man too, since he did not even know who I was or that I had cases against me. Both the times, I was not allowed to eat and not allowed to call my friends to inform them of my arrest.
Vijay, LLB, Final year
My name is Vijay and I am doing my LLB, final year. I have been an active member of the OU JAC from its inception. I suffered lathi beatings many times during the last four months in Osmania University. Many people think that it is only on marked dates that the lathi charge took place. But, police beatings have become so common among that we kept count. Whenever we meet, the conversation went like ‘hey, how many lathi blows did you get this time? You did not get it last time, so its only fair that you got it this time”. Even for small occasions like demanding postponement of exams (which is quite usual on the OU campus), police would beat us. We stopped counting.
Yelender, Department of Political Science, OU
My name is Yelender. I am from Mutakollur district of Yadagirigutta Mandal of Nalgonda district. Our family has two acres of dry land. My parents are agricultural workers. I belong to a BC community. I studied in government school in my village till my 10th, my intermediate in government intermediate college in Bhuvangir and did my B.A in SLS (aided) college. I finished my M.A. in Political Science in Osmania University in 2006. Later did my B.Ed, but am currently registered for Ph.D in OU. Right from 29th November onwards I have been an active member of student JAC and did not miss a single programme. I believe that if Telangana state becomes a reality, a lot of people like me will benefit. I also participated in padayatra.
Nagam Kumaraswami, (Ph.D) Political Science, Osmania University
My name is Kumaraswamy Nagam. I am from Ilkaturti mandal, Kunchikalpet village in Karimnagar district. Both my parents are daily wage workers though we have two acres of rain fed agricultural land. Till fifth class I studied in my village and later went to a nearby village called Jeelugula. I belong to Mala Dalit community. After my tenth, I did my Intermediate in Huzurabad that is 10km away from my village and finished B.A from AP Residential College in Nagarjuna Sagar. I benefited a lot from the close teacher-student interaction, English medium education and library there. From 2001-2003, I finished my M.A.Political Science from HCU where I faced a sophisticated form of caste discrimination. I came to OU for my M.Phil which I finished in 2006. Now I am doing Ph.D in Political Science. I worked with SC, ST Association in OU. Though we have always been active on Telangana issue, we maintained our autonomy. In our view, informed by Ambedkarite understanding on smaller states, Telangana issue has many similarities with that of Dalit identity issue, which is why we participate in the movement for Telangana. When TRS took the path of building a peoples’ movement for Telangana instead of lobbying and elections, we thought we should also participate in it.
Till 29th November, due to my Ph.D work I kept away from the movement. After the brutal lathi charge on that day, I could not keep away. Through out the three months, we students fought without thinking much about ourselves and our lives. However, we made sure that the agitation had its own centre – around the tent in front of the Arts College. As far as possible, given the anti-Telangana attitude of the government, we restrained from taking the student movement out of the campus. We knew what the state was capable of so we never initiated any conflict with the large number of police and the paramilitary forces on the campus. The state reacted quite undemocratically to the movement – by arbitrarily arresting us, resorting to indiscriminate lathi charge and firing. I was arrested twice. First on 7th December and spent 13 days in prison. Again, a day after we got released from prison, we got arrested again. On behalf of the OU JAC, from 18th January we went on a padayatra for 21 days.
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A.Suneetha
Fellow and Coordinator
Anveshi Research Centre for Women's Studies
2-2-18/49 Durgabai Deshmukh Colony
Hyderabad 500 013
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