Varanasi- A Dalit student’s struggle for justice has ignited a firestorm of protests and political action after he was denied admission to a PhD program at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), despite securing the second rank in the general category.

Shivam Sonkar, a student from the Scheduled Caste community, has accused the university of caste-based discrimination, claiming he was excluded from the admission process despite vacant seats in the RET Exempted category. His emotional protest, captured in a viral video, has drawn widespread attention, prompting Machhalishahar MLA Dr. Ragini Sonkar and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad to voice their support and demand immediate intervention from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the BHU Vice-Chancellor.

Shivam Sonkar had applied for a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies at BHU’s Malaviya Centre for Peace Research for the 2024-25 academic session. He secured the second rank in the general category of the Research Entrance Test (RET) but was denied admission. Shivam alleges that while three seats in the RET Exempted category remain vacant, the university is refusing to convert them to the RET category, effectively blocking his admission. In a heartfelt plea to the Vice-Chancellor, Shivam wrote, “I am a Dalit student who secured the second rank in the general category. Despite three seats being vacant in the RET Exempted category, I am being denied admission. This is nothing short of academic murder.”

The video of Shivam crying and lying on the ground during his protest outside the Vice-Chancellor’s residence has gone viral, sparking outrage on social media. Activists, students, and political leaders have rallied behind him, accusing BHU of systemic caste-based discrimination.

Machchli Shahar (Jaunpur) MLA Dr. Ragini Sonkar and MP Chandrashekhar Azad have written to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the BHU Vice-Chancellor, urging them to address the issue.

In his letter to the V-C, Chandrashekhar Azad emphasized, "Shivam Sonkar is a Dalit student, and the allegations of discrimination against him are extremely grave. Banaras Hindu University, a prestigious institution established by Mahamana Madan Mohan Malviya, should not be a place where caste-based discrimination is allowed to thrive. Such practices are detrimental to democratic values and the concept of social justice. Therefore, I request you to take immediate cognizance of this matter, conduct a fair investigation, and ensure appropriate action is taken to ensure that the admission process is carried out fairly based on merit. Additionally, the university administration must ensure that no student faces discrimination on the basis of caste, religion, or any other grounds in the future."

MLA Dr. Ragini stated, “The denial of admission to Shivam Sonkar, despite his merit, is a grave injustice and a violation of constitutional principles of social justice. This incident reflects the systemic discrimination faced by Dalit students in higher education.”

A clarification letter allegedly by BHU PRO is circulating on the social media wherein the BHU administration denies allegations of discrimination, stating that the admission process is transparent and follows all rules and regulations.

According to the university, the RET Exempted category seats cannot be converted to the RET category after the counseling process has begun. According to the BHU supporters, “The admission process is conducted with complete transparency and fairness. The rules do not permit the conversion of RET Exempted seats to RET category seats once the counseling process has started. The allegations of caste-based discrimination are baseless.” The incident has drawn sharp reactions from political leaders and the public. The controversy has reignited the debate on caste-based discrimination in higher education, with many calling for systemic reforms to ensure equal opportunities for students from marginalized communities.