Not Just A Chair: 20 Years of Caste Oppression Against a Dalit Professor in Andhra's Veterinary University
Geetha Sunil Pillai | 27 June 2025 | The Mooknayak
Tirupati- The photograph that surfaced June 20, from Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University's Dairy Technology College in Andhra Pradesh captured more than just an image—it exposed the deep-rooted caste discrimination still plaguing India's educational institutions. Dr. V. Ravi Varma, a Dalit assistant professor, sat on the floor of his office, working with his computer, surrounded by scattered papers. His chair had been removed by Associate Dean Ravindra Reddy, who claimed it "belonged to another department."
For Dr. Ravi, a contractual faculty member, the missing chair was merely the latest insult in a 20-year struggle for dignity, equal pay, and fair treatment in an institution that has repeatedly denied him his rights—despite court orders, UGC regulations, and even a plea to the President of India…