Protest Against Caste Discrimination at IIM Bangalore: Activists Demand Institutional Reforms

New Delhi- In a significant development highlighting ongoing concerns about caste discrimination in India's premier educational institutions, the All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA) and Dr BR Ambedkar National Association of Engineers (BANAE) have announced a peaceful demonstration at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, scheduled for November 20. The protest aims to address what activists describe as systematic discrimination and constitutional rights violations at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM-B).

Speaking to The Mooknayak, AIOBCSA President Kiran Kumar Gowd revealed that recent Right to Information (RTI) applications filed by the association have uncovered concerning patterns in several premier institutions, including IIMs and IITs.

"Our investigations through RTI have exposed serious violations of reservation policies and roster implementation," Gowd stated. "The situation at IIM Bangalore is particularly alarming, with multiple reports of caste-based discrimination against faculty members and students."

The demonstration's primary demands include the immediate removal of key IIM-B leadership figures, including Board Chairperson Mr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Director Mr. Rishikesha T Krishnan, and Dean (Faculty) Mr. Dinesh Kumar, who are accused of failing to address discrimination against oppressed communities, specifically Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).

Institutional Reforms Demanded

The protesters are calling for several structural changes at IIM-B:

1. Establishment of dedicated SC/ST/OBC cells to support students and staff from marginalized communities

2. Implementation of protective measures for faculty members who speak out against caste-based discrimination

3. Immediate filling of reserved faculty positions for SC, ST, and OBC candidates with transparent roster maintenance

4. Reconstitution of IIM Bangalore's Board of Governors under the IIM (Amendment) Act 2023 to ensure better representation of marginalized communities

"The current leadership has consistently failed to address the systematic exclusion of oppressed communities," Gowd explained. "We're demanding transparency in faculty recruitment and an end to the harassment faced by those who raise their voices against discrimination."

The demonstration has garnered support from various Ambedkarite and progressive organizations, with representatives from multiple institutions expected to participate. The organizers emphasize that the protest will be peaceful and focused on achieving concrete institutional reforms.

This protest comes at a crucial time when India's premier educational institutions face increasing scrutiny over their commitment to diversity and inclusion. The RTI findings referenced by AIOBCSA suggest that the issues at IIM-B may be indicative of a broader pattern across elite educational institutions in India.

The protest organizers have called for support from intellectuals and students from marginalized communities, emphasizing that the demonstration represents a crucial step in the ongoing struggle for social justice in Indian higher education.