5 ways media can show it's fair to Rohith Vemula
No cheap political opportunism
If there's ever a time for politicians, activists, civil society, students, youth and others to leap into a raucous, rambunctious debate on Dalits and rampant indiscrimination, it is now. The tragic suicide of a Hyderabad University scholar, Rohith Vemula, and the horrific circumstances that led to it, is yet another dastardly case of caste injustice, prejudice and bigotry, that is seen all over the country.
Journalists, prime time anchors, reporters, analysts will be failing to be honest and impartial if they constantly harp on how politicians are "milking the tragedy" and thus fog out the details, evidence, that could bring out the turn of events clearly.
It's classic conjurer's trick to divert attention, so can we do away with flying questions and hashtags that say, #PoliticsOverSuicide, #VotebankPolitics, or #PoliticiansGoHome, and not insult viewers and readers further? It worked in the beginning, now it's a tired gimmick.
No circus of whataboutery
Now that it is increasingly becoming clear that the student group, Ambedkar Students' Association (ASA), to which Vemula was associated with, was being targeted by the university administration, already rival trolls and social media attached to the BJP and its student wing, ABVP, are circulating medical reports about their student leaders who have been in hospital after being "brutally beaten" by ASA members.
Worse, while raising the dozen earlier suicides in the university (mostly Dalits is mentioned in passing) questions are already being asked why the Vemula suicide is more tragic and deplorable. Is it political strategy, media persons ask - Union labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya, also named in a police FIR for abetment of Vemula's suicide, will soon have municipal elections in neighbouring Hyderabad (Dattatreya is an MP from twin city Secunderabad), and such other ridiculous questions.
No personal witch-hunt
Already media reports are emerging about the mental fragility of Vemula, of his personal problems and the depression over the months, of his fights with fellow Dalits (as if Dalits are from some other planet and have only community love for each other).
Even though it is quite apparent from his suicide letter that the desolation and dejection came from his caste identity - "my birth is my fatal accident". It would genuinely do a lot for the Dalit cause if there are wall to wall field reportage of caste discrimination in education, jobs, hostels; caste violence and hatred, and the increasing sense of ghettoisation and isolation of young Dalits.
#AwardWapsi, not again
Media needs to kick itself to remind it does not turn Vemula's suicide into a secular vs Hindutva debate, now that 131 international scholars from around the world have expressed their concern about caste indiscrimination in Indian universities.
Noted poet Ashok Vajpeyi has returned his DLitt degree from Hyderabad University protesting against the Dalit scholar's death. If Vajpeyi's act triggers other scholars to return degrees to universities which have seen hate violence against Dalits, the protest should be seen for what it is, rather than as a prejudiced attack against the Hindutva horde, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
So, even as the aggrieved nationalist desi erupts, media honchos should not play into the grievance industry despite the temptation of an effortless debate.
No social justice pin-ups
There's always the line-up of Dalit politicians - Mayawati, Udit Raj, Ram Vilas Paswan - who are trotted out by news media whenever there's a hate incident against Dalits, but can there be a new generation of shock troopers - from students, youth leaders, writers, activists - with a breath of fresh air and ammunition?
Steer the debate from the usual victim-martyr storyline to open the world of Dalit culture - food, music, folklore, literature, drama - of its vibrancy, energy and spirit. Perhaps there's an alternative culture waiting, a new rhythm, beat, bhasha, rap?