Radhika Vemula is an Indian activist for Dalit rights and against caste based discrimination.[1][2][3][4]
Radhika Vemula | |
---|---|
Born | Andhra Pradesh, India |
Occupation | Activist |
Children | Rohith, Raja, and Nileema |
She continues the work started by her son, Rohith Vemula (leader of Ambedkar Students' Association), who committed suicide in the University of Hyderabad in 2016 - an incident which sparked outrage across India and gained widespread media attention as a case of Dalit discrimination in Indian universities. During the protest at the University of Hyderabad, police had arrested Radhika Vemula and other students on the first death anniversary of her son. She is seeking to end caste discrimination in universities and other higher education institutions.[5] [6] However, the District Level Scrutiny Committee in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, which was reviewing the Dalit status of Rohith Vemula, submitted its final report to the government stating that neither Rohith nor his mother Radhika were Dalits.[7]
Family
editRadhika Vemula mothered three children, her older son Rohith(30/01/1989 to 17/01/2016),a younger son Raja, and her daughter Nileema.[1]
Conversion to Buddhism
editOn 14 April 2016, on the 125th Ambedkar Jayanti, Radhika Vemula, and her son Raja converted to Buddhism in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Babasaheb Ambedkar, initiated the conversion of Rohith's family to Buddhism at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhavan in Dadar, Mumbai.[8][9]
References
edit- ^ a b Minhaz, Ayesha (31 January 2016). "Born Dalit: Meet Radhika Vemula, Rohith's mother". Scroll.in. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ "A Year After Rohith's Death, Radhika Vemula Continues To Be Harassed And Humiliated". HuffPost India. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ "A mother's metamorphosis". The Week. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- ^ "Standing In Solidarity with Radhika Vemula on International Women's Day". Auburn Seminary. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- ^ Scroll Staff (20 September 2019). "SC agrees to hear plea of Payal Tadvi and Rohith Vemula's mothers, asks Centre to respond in 4 weeks". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ "Rohith Vemula's mother, students arrested as protest rocks Hyderabad varsity". Hindustan Times. Indo Asian News Service. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ "Rohith Vemula and mother Radhika are OBCs, not Dalits, says Andhra Pradesh government". Firstpost. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- ^ "रोहित वेमुला के परिवार ने अपनाया बौद्ध धर्म".
- ^ "रोहित के परिवार ने हिंदू धर्म छोड़ा, बने बौद्ध". 14 April 2016.