Anagha Shashi, a Dalit PhD scholar in the Department of Environmental Science at Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University in Kerala, has been protesting outside the university, alleging caste and gender discrimination and obstruction of her academic work.
Shashi joined the university in March 2024 and said that although she completed her PhD coursework more than a year ago, she has been unable to begin her research. She alleged delays in submitting her annual progress report and said the university has not convened her Doctoral Committee.
She has also raised concerns that the delays could put her fellowship from the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment at risk.
Alleged cleaning and clerical work
According to Shashi, she was repeatedly assigned tasks unrelated to her research, including cleaning laboratory equipment, arranging old records and maintaining the department when laboratory staff were unavailable.
She alleged that her research guide, Arun Babu, once told her, “If there is no chair, stand in the corridor.”
Shashi also alleged that Babu and faculty member Jaini Varghese asked her to clean and arrange laboratory equipment and organise old records.
She claimed that when she sought academic guidance, she was told that she had to follow instructions or leave the programme.
Allegations of casteist remarks
Shashi further alleged that she faced caste-based comments after receiving her research fellowship.
She claimed she was told that she had received the grant because of her caste and alleged that she was threatened with the cancellation of her fellowship.
She also said that one of her friends received a disciplinary memo after liking one of her social media posts.
Shashi and her mother began protesting outside the university on the night of August 14, demanding action over the allegations.
University announces judicial inquiry
The university has denied Shashi’s allegations and maintained that her claims are baseless. According to Malayalam media reports, an internal inquiry did not find evidence supporting her allegations.
The university administration has now announced that a judicial commission will be constituted to investigate the complaints, including the allegations of caste discrimination.
Shashi has welcomed the proposed judicial inquiry but said she will not withdraw her protest without concrete assurances from the government.
Student organisations, Dalit groups and political parties, including the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), have expressed support for her agitation.
