Caste Discrimination and Exclusion in Indian Universities by N. Sukumar

Author:N. Sukumar [Sukumar, N.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Published: 2022-07-24T18:30:00+00:00

Table 3.9 Forms of Exploitation by Research Supervisors

Response

N %

Examining Answer Sheets 268 16.8%

Domestic Help 259 16.3%

Exam Invigilation 257 16.1%

Sexual Harassment 218 13.7%

Body Shaming 180 11.3%

Gaining Emotional Sympathy From the Scholar 169 10.6%

Exploiting/Stealing Your Data/Idea for His/Her Own Research 158 9.9%

Any Other 83 5.2%

Total 1592 100.0%

Source: Fieldwork data. Respondents provided multiple responses to the question.

The respondents’ observations make it clear that despite lofty claims of various progressive laws against caste and gender discrimination, there is a negligible difference amongst state and central universities when it comes to providing an enabling environment for the Dalit students. Compared to 95 responses in central universities, 63 responses from state universities blamed their supervisors of stealing their data. This is especially true of sciences where central universities receive more funding, more opportunities to publish and travel grants for attending seminars/workshops both at the national and international levels. For girl students, this also creates a very toxic atmosphere where any protest can have dire consequences. Their marital status or lack of it is also a concern for their supervisors.91 A few female respondents in the present study corroborated this idea. “Some professors make their research scholars work in their houses. At times they ask us to teach their wards”. “An upper caste teacher expects sexual favours, without that he won’t allow us to complete our PhDs. He forces girls to break their personal relationships. A complaint was registered in the Sexual Harassment Cell after that only a girl student was able to submit her thesis”. “Even senior students in sciences departments exploit junior students particularly girls”. “An upper caste lady teacher asks us for domestic help and to pick up and drop her children. She also expects SC students to clean her toilets”. The most common observation was that upper caste teachers force the research scholars to add their names when the latter publish their research articles. Many students voiced their concern that their emails are monitored. Their mobiles are tracked, and they are forced to endure unwanted physical touch. These incidents occur more in the science and professional courses as students work closely on various projects with their supervisors/teachers. The faculty very ingeniously categorizes students, especially research scholars. Some are supposed to carry their bags, keep their rooms tidy and do other menial jobs. The upper caste students endowed with English language skills are used for academic support and encouraged to go abroad, write academic papers and secure good jobs.

Any conversation on harassment, especially sexual harassment is a taboo, and many girl respondents were unwilling to discuss this issue. Interestingly, the male students opened up about the prevalence of the problem in laboratories and other spaces. It is possible to deduce from the respondents’ opinions that university spaces are extremely difficult for Dalit girl students to negotiate. As many of them pointed out, body shaming is intrinsic to Indian tradition but the culture of silence around sexual harassment makes it tricky to survive in academia. The male supervisors even tried to gain emotional sympathy by discussing their personal issues.

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