Perumal Murugan on Muthukrishnan.

Translated from Malayalam. Perumal Murugan on Dalit scholar Muthukrishnan (Why did Muthukrishnan aspire for more?) in Civic Chandran Chinnangath's Patabhedam, May, 2017 issue.

(V.P.Jishnu in Malayalam)

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I work as a professor in a government college where ninety percent of the pupils are first generation students. These children, due to economic conditions, take up some physical labor when they were in school. In college, they are part-timers who do some odd jobs to fulfill the needs of their family, so also to meet their own expenses. They, for whom an elaborate meal is a distant dream, stay content with one meal a day.

Among this lot, most choose Economics, History or Literature for their degree course for the simple reason they would get spare time to work even as they pursue their education. These kids learn almost nothing during their three-year under graduation course. Seventy- five percent of them drop-out after landing some job. Only twenty-five percent go on to pursue further education, that too, in government colleges.

A student of a government college completing his Masters degree successfully is a big event. For professor’s like me, it is a matter of pride and celebration when a student gets admission to prestigious institutions such as Jawaharlal Nehru University. We refer to such students as role models with the hope it would inspire others like them. But is it possible anymore after what has happened to Muthukrishnan?

Muthukrishnan who was doing PhD at Centre for Historical Studies in Jawaharlal Nehru University belonged to our Salem district in Tamil Nadu. He completed his B.A and M.A in History from Salem government Arts College which was considered one of the oldest institutions in the state. He did B.Ed from Ramakrishna College in Coimbatore and M.Phil from Hyderabad University. I met Muthukrishnan when I went to address a group of Tamil students in Hyderabad University. I remember appreciating Muthukrishnan for his determination, for having come this far: from Salem government college to Hyderabad University.

Propelled by a lot of hard work and zest, Muthukrishnan ended up doing his doctorate at JNU. 
But unexpectedly one day I heard he was found dead (Hanging from a ceiling fan) at his friend’s room. It was said to be a suicide. The cause, however, still remains a mystery.

Muthukrishnan’s family background was similar to that of ninety percent of our government college students. His father is a watchman. Mother, a daily -wager. Of his three sisters, one was married off, while marriage of another sister has been fixed. They live in Swaminathapuram in Salem. How did Muthukrishnan find money to meet his educational expenses? 
He took up several physical labors. Sold a cup of tea for Rs 1 and worked as a waiter in a restaurant.

Besides his work, he was a frequent visitor at the college library. The district central library was his another home. There were professors who encourage students like Muthukrishnan, and also those who ridicule them. After being mocked by one such teacher, Muthukrishnan vowed to study in JNU, become a professor and come back to this same college. His dream was to become a professor in History. But English language was a main stumbling block. So he underwent private tuition. I think it helped him. His friends tell that he was capable of engaging himself in lengthy discussions in English. He liked his friends calling him ‘Rajini Krish.’ He had a Facebook account n that name. Now, how could a new generation youth like him identify himself with an yesteryear’s star? The trait of roles the actor played in his movies—men hailing from poor background making it big through hard work and honesty-- maybe a reason.

Muthukrishnan liked the books of Romila Thapar, R.S.Sharma, Damodar Dharmananda Kosambi among others. Gaining admission to JNU appeared something ‘historical’ to him. It was after four years of hard work, written test and interview did he get admission to JNU. He had planned to write a book describing his journey to JNU titled, `A Junket to JNU.’

His death now raises hundreds of questions and dread within me. Is it possible anymore to refer to Rohit Vemula and Muthukrishnan as role models to other aspiring students? What if the students retort back, do you want the same fate that befell Vemula and Muthukrishnan to befall us?”

Why do students who study in Tamil language find it so difficult to get through the doors of higher education? Students in north India can write their entrance tests in English or Hindi language. Even after learning English for ten years in school our children approach English with dread. We do not learn Hindi in school. Even if we do, just like English, it remains unfamiliar to us. Because Tamil language belong to a peculiar family, Dravida family. We were forced to write entrance tests in a language in which we are not fluent. Why this discrimination among citizens of the same country? Why we are denied of an opportunity to pursue our education in our mother tongue? When we were forced to give all our efforts to master a foreign tongue, how could you expect us to focus on the subject?

Does it take so much effort from a youth of the country to reach its capital Delhi? Is this how the capital welcomes him? By taking his life? It was said that Muthukrishnan was forced to rip away a portrait of Ambedkar which he had pasted on the wall of his room. Isn’t it a shame if Ambedkar is denied a space in JNU?

As a professor I hold it my responsibility to encourage students to learn and keep away from physical labor. Muthukrishnan encourages me to reflect on this duty. But we are forced to be content with odd jobs and be content with one meal a day. Terms such as ‘education’ and ‘research’ remain out of our reach. We are expected to be content with our traditional trade or job, for generations.

Many of our students end up in the Police force or the Military. Some do make some progress by managing to get through Group IV test and becoming office clerks. That is our limit. All these are works of sacrificial lambs. Why did Muthukrishnan aspire for more? How did he consider himself entitled for such things as Research?
Hereafter this is my message to my students. This is my historical moment.

ENDS.