Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday broke his silence over the death of Hyderabad Central University’s Dalit scholar and activist Rohith Vemula saying, “it is unfortunate that Mother India has lost her son and I feel the pain.”
“There cannot be a bigger grief than a mother losing her son,” an emotional Modi said. Taking a long pause, he said, “I was saddened to know that a youth of my country was compelled to commit suicide. It is unfortunate that Mother India has lost her son and I feel the pain.”
Modi’s comments came on a day the Centre decided to set up a judicial commission to probe into Rohith’s suicide and Hyderabad Central University announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs8 lakh to his family even as protests continued on campus.
The decision to set up the judicial commission was based on the report of a fact-finding team sent by the Human Resource Development Ministry. The commission will submit its report within three months, a HRD Ministry statement said in New Delhi.
It was the Prime Minister’s first public reaction to Rohith’s death, who committed suicide after he, along with four others was expelled from the University of Hyderabad.
The Opposition parties are baying for HRD Minister Smriti Irani and Union Minister of labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya’s blood, holding them responsible for Rohith’s suicide.
Modi, who was speaking at the 6th convocation of the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University did not delve into politics, but said that, “Reasons and politics aside, when I came to know that Rohith ended his life, I was hurt.”
Modi made the reference to Rohith’s suicide while noting that there was happiness about the 21st century being projected as India’s as it was the “youngest nation” in the world, but such a development pained him.
“We want to take this country in a direction where there is new enthusiasm and self-confidence. We are making relentless efforts to take the country in the direction of Ambedkar’s dream,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the nation cannot progress without following his vision.
In his 35-minute-long speech, Modi repeatedly invoked the name and legacy of Ambedkar and asked students to show a strong will and courage in the face of difficulties as the Dalit icon did without wasting his time on making any complaint despite facing humiliation and difficulties.
The PM advised students to gear up for future struggles. “Do not be afraid of failure as these failures will teach you how to climb the stairs of success,” Modi said.
“We must learn from our failures. Mostly people who are successful, know how to use their failures in their pursuit of success,” he said adding, “Failures are a part of life but one shouldn’t be afraid of failures as they only work as fertilisers in achieving success.”
He said while you achieve something do not forget the contribution of others. “Whatever you achieve today is due to the contribution of a lot of people in society who knowingly or unknowingly helped you,” he said.
A group of students from Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University began shouting anti-Modi slogans just as the Prime Minister began his speech. The students, led by one Ram Karan screamed, “Modi go back”. Police took the students away from the venue and later released them.
The whole incident happened so quickly that even faculty members were caught unawares. “Credentials of all students were checked. This should not have happened,” rued a faculty member who refused to give his name. “Action should be taken against these students as per law,” he said.
Modi’s words, however, had a calming effect on the rest of the students, a majority of them Dalits, who were angry at the PM for not having spoken about Rohith’s death earlier. “We are happy that at last the PM has broken his silence. Today we know he also shares our grief,” Rajan Sharma, who claimed himself to be a Dalit said.
In his speech, the PM also lauded Skill Development and Startup schemes and asked the banks to open special branches for Dalits, tribals and women so that they could avail of the loans meant for them under the startup scheme.
He also spoke about Ambedkar’s contribution to education saying: “Ambedkar did a lot for the nation but one thing he was particular about was education and he felt that struggles could be overcome through education. Ambedkar lived and died for the nation. He did not live for himself, he dedicated his life to the nation for the welfare of marginalised communities. He proved himself amidst criticism and insults and didn’t let his commitment to the nation die.”
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in his address stressed on character development of the students in universities besides comprehensive development of the youth.
Among the award winners was UP’s prodigy student Sushma Verma, who was awarded a gold medal for topping MSc in Environmental micro-biology.