Dalit PhD student ends hunger strike before MG University

The 36-year-old student has been demanding access to resources needed to complete her PhD, a change in her research guide, and the removal of Nandakumar.

A PhD candidate from Mahatma Gandhi University who was on hunger strike for over a week has ended her protest on Monday after a meeting with the varsity officials and said all her demands were considered. 

Since October 29, Deepa P Mohanan, a Dalit PhD candidate at the Mahatma Gandhi University, has been observing the protest, alleging that her doctoral studies have been delayed due to caste discrimination by certain officials of the varsity. After meeting with the varsity official, she told the media that Nandakumar, former director of the International and Inter-University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IIUCNN), who allegedly made some casteist remarks against her, has been ousted from the institute.

The 36-year-old student has been demanding access to resources needed to complete her PhD, a change in her research guide, and the removal of Nandakumar. She claimed that for the last ten years, her studies were affected due to the actions of the director of the institute, allegedly because she is a Dalit.

"All demands were met by the officials. Nandakumar has been ousted. Time for the research has been extended till 2024 and the varsity officials have extended all support to complete my research," as reported by NDTV.

She also claimed Nandakumar has been shifted to the Physics department. As per reports, Nandakumar has decided to approach the court against his removal from the center. On Saturday, the University had removed Director Nandakumar from its Nanotechnology centre after he allegedly made some casteist remarks against the PhD candidate.

Read More:

• Mahatma Gandhi Central University Courses & Fees 2021

• Mahatma Gandhi Central University Admission 2021