Hyderabad University Students Boycott Classes on Rohith Vemula’s 10th Death Anniversary
On Saturday, a group of students at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) boycotted classes and marched across the campus to mark the 10th death anniversary of research scholar Rohith Vemula. Vemula died by suicide on January 17, 2016, inside a hostel room on the university premises. His death triggered nationwide outrage and led to widespread protests highlighting issues of caste discrimination in higher education institutions.
Students Gather at Veliwada to Demand Justice
According to Dushyant, vice president of the UoH Ambedkar Students’ Association (ASA), students voluntarily skipped their academic sessions and assembled at Veliwada (North Shopcom) to express solidarity with the ongoing ‘Justice for Rohith Vemula’ movement. The gathering marked a decade since what the association describes as the institutional killing of Vemula, while also drawing attention to the continued lack of accountability in the case.
Tribute Ceremony and Candlelight March
As part of the day’s events, Radhika Vemula, Rohith’s mother, along with Gujarat Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani and several students, paid floral tributes at the Rohith Stupa located at Veliwada. Later in the day, hundreds of students participated in a candlelight march across the campus, reiterating their demand for justice in Vemula’s death.
The ASA emphasized that the observance of ‘Rohith Martyrdom Day’ serves as a powerful reminder of resistance, resilience, and remembrance. The occasion brings together voices from Dalit, Bahujan, and Adivasi communities who have lost their lives within academic spaces, while also reinforcing the broader movement for Dalit self-respect and dignity.
A Decade On, No Accountability
In a statement, the association noted that despite ten years having passed, neither the University of Hyderabad, the Ministry of Education, nor the Government of India has accepted responsibility for Vemula’s death. The student body asserted that Vemula remains a symbol of resistance and that the struggle he came to represent will only intensify until caste is completely eradicated from educational institutions.
The protest comes amid renewed conversations around caste-based discrimination on university campuses across the country. Students and activists have repeatedly called for systemic reforms, including stronger anti-discrimination mechanisms and greater transparency in institutional governance.
While the university administration has yet to issue an official response to Saturday’s events, the demonstrations reflect a continuing pattern of student activism that has defined the discourse around social justice in Indian academia since Vemula’s tragic death.
