Caste Discrimination: How Pune's Modern College's Credential Verification Refusal Cost Dalit Youth His London Airport Job

Pune- In a shocking tale of systemic caste bias, Prem Birhade, a recent graduate from the prestigious University of Sussex, has lost his coveted job opportunity at London's Heathrow Airport. The 24-year-old Dalit from the impoverished tribal district of Nandurbar in Maharashtra alleges that his alma mater, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce in Pune, denied verification of his academic credentials solely due to his caste, despite providing all necessary documents.

Prem's emotional Instagram video, filmed outside the company building as he returns his ID badge, has gone viral, igniting fury across social media. "I was working here, but Pune's college has cost me my job," he says in the clip, highlighting the irony: the same college issued two recommendation letters for his UK studies but now questions his enrollment during job verification. "They don't want us to move forward," Prem adds, pointing to deep-rooted discrimination.

The video has sparked widespread outrage online, with users slamming the college for perpetuating caste inequality and demanding justice for marginalized students.

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) leader and MP Prakash Ambedkar amplified the issue with a powerful X (Twitter) post. He wrote: "Prem Birhade, a young Dalit who recently graduated from the prestigious University of Sussex, was forced to forfeit a hard-earned employment opportunity at Heathrow Airport in London. The reason? His former college, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce in Pune, refused to verify his academic credentials, despite him submitting all required documentation. Why? Because Prem is a Dalit!"

Ambedkar targeted the college principal, Dr. Nivedita Gajanan Ekbote, who also serves as Maharashtra Vice-President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), BJP's youth wing. "Given her political and ideological alignment with the Manuwadi BJP, one can only imagine the extent to which caste prejudice must have shaped her actions against SC, ST, OBC students," he stated, calling it a glaring example of how caste discrimination crushes Dalit aspirations even after overcoming massive barriers.

Prem's journey from a tribal backwater to the UK was no cakewalk, marked by immense social and economic hurdles. Notably, the college verified his documents for study abroad but inquired about his caste when he sought the same for employment.

This incident highlights persistent biases in Indian education, with no response yet from the college fueling public anger. VBA demands immediate accountability, emphasizing that Prem's story echoes the struggles of countless Dalit youth.