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Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
The university system in India has a caste problem. A bit of empathy will go a long way
Written by Vidyasagar Sharma The recent Bangalore University controversy, where a group of Dalit faculty have written to the Vice-Chancellor and threatened to resign, has again cracked open how caste operates across academics. They alleged systemic caste discrimination in the delegation of everyday university affairs, including biased appointments and denial of service-related benefits. Such incidents, where faculty and students from Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backwards Class (OBC) and religious minorities are being treated differently from their privileged counterparts, is becoming increasingly common. Within India's current political situation, academic practices are redefined and reconstructed by the state. For instance, the faculty oriented to Marxist and anti-caste thinking has apparently been targeted by the university administration. Here, I attempt to highlight two sets of dominant practices in the Indian university system that are constructing a new kind of 'outcast' in higher education. University as a site of un-belonging Noted sociologist Nira Yuval-Davis has argued that the sense of belonging is not just about including someone, but about the politics of belonging, performed through various mechanisms which often manifest as boundaries ('us' and 'them'). These boundaries are constantly negotiated and contested by the people who create them and those who seek to dismantle them. Within India's university landscape, elite public institutions are becoming spaces that practice homogenisation, thereby producing experiences of 'un-belonging' for marginalised groups who do not fit within dominant cultural, ideological, and social practices. Universities, while often imagined as liberal and critical spaces, frequently operate through hidden scripts of academic practices that silence diversity and inclusiveness under the guise of 'neutrality' and 'merit.' The recent efforts to change the syllabus in the Department of Political Science at Delhi University are just one of many interventions to silence diverse voices. Teaching critical topics such as Hindu nationalism, Dalit subjectivity, and social exclusion makes those engaging with such subjects be seen as outsiders. I categorise them as 'academic outcasts'. Over the last decade, rather than being emancipatory spaces, Indian universities have functioned as a site of epistemic and social violence, where ideological and social homogenisation has become an academic practice. Practice of exclusion In Indian universities, social identities become an essential attribute for marginalised faculty and students who are tacitly classified as undesirable and un-belonging. The everyday labelling and stigmatisation of these groups force them into dissociation from peers, colleagues, and social groups, hampering their ability to develop a sense of belonging on university campuses. Many empirical studies based on university-level data show that marginalised social groups suffer from a lack of systemic support in university spaces and are under-represented in most academic bodies and programmes. Indian sociologists, Geetha B Nambissan and Srinivasa Rao, in their work 'Sociology of Education in India,' pointed out that structural inequalities, cultural diversity, and the identities of different social groups mediate institutional learning practices at various levels of education. Institutions often uphold unwritten rules that negatively identify individuals and groups labelled as disadvantaged by their structural location and status. For instance, candidates from OBC communities are often identified as 'Not Found Suitable – NFS' in the recruitment of faculty in central universities. Empathy: The only way forward We must focus on the process of building an academic space where faculty and students from marginalised backgrounds can foster their sense of belonging in everyday university life. To do so, empathy is essential. Through this practice, we can reimagine university space as more liberal and critical. Empathy in this context is not merely a passive emotion but an active process of speaking and listening to each other, with a sense of political commitment and engaging with difference. Such a practice requires institutions and allied stakeholders to recognise structural inequalities with a sense of moral accountability and create an ecosystem where marginalised voices are not merely included for the sake of representation, but to be part of every aspect of university life. Therefore, only through empathetic engagement can we build a university as a site of belonging. The writer is a research scholar at the Faculty of Sociology, University of Bielefeld, Germany
Hindustan Times
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
‘Saroja Devi's performances left an indelible mark across generations': PM Modi pays tribute to ‘Abhinaya Saraswathi'
Veteran actor B Saroja Devi's death was mourned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi talked about her legacy that spans over six decades in Indian cinema. PM Narendra Modi stated that she will be remembered as an "exemplary icon" of Indian cinema and culture. She died in Bengaluru on Monday at the age of 87. PM Narendra Modi shared a post for 'Abhinaya Saraswathi' Saroja Devi. PM Modi pays tribute to B Saroja Devi PM Modi talked about Saroja Devi's work in films that spanned different languages and covered different themes. "Saddened by the passing of the noted film personality, B Saroja Devi Ji. She will be remembered as an exemplary icon of Indian cinema and culture," PM Modi wrote on X. "Her diverse performances left an indelible mark across generations. Her works, spanning different languages and covering diverse themes, highlighted her versatile nature. My condolences to her family and admirers. Om Shanti", he added. About Saroja Devi's career Known for her versatility and range, she acted in over 200 films across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Sinhalese languages. Saroja Devi began her acting career at the age of 17 with the Kannada film Mahakavi Kalidasa in 1955. She quickly rose to fame with her performances in various languages, starring alongside legendary actors like MG Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, and NT Rama Rao. More about her work across different film industries She made her Telugu film debut with Pandurang Mahathyam (1957) and acted in several successful films until the late 1970s. The Tamil film Nadodi Mannan (1958) established her as one of the top actors in Tamil cinema. After her marriage in 1967, she remained the second most sought-after female actor in Tamil films until 1974. She continued to be a top female actor in Telugu and Kannada cinema from 1958 to 1980. She also acted in Hindi films, starting with Paigham (1959) until the mid-1960s. She acted in 161 consecutive films as the female lead between 1955 and 1984. Saroja Devi honours Saroja Devi was awarded the Padma Shri in 1969 and the Padma Bhushan in 1992. She also received an honorary doctorate from Bangalore University and the Kalaimamani Award of Tamil Nadu. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. with ANI inputs
Deccan Herald
14-07-2025
- Health
- Deccan Herald
BBMP's chicken rice plan for strays sparks cheers, criticism
Every day for the last six years, promptly at noon, 37-year-old 'Protein' Prabhu has sat with a basket of bananas at the entrance of the sprawling Indian Institute of Statistics campus, adjacent to the Bangalore University campus, feeding the monkeys that live in and around the area. Prabhu also feeds about 30 dogs in the vicinity, but he waits until nightfall to avoid agitating neighbours who object to feeding strays. He is happy that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has decided to feed chicken and rice to street dogs across all eight zones—around 4,000 in total—at an estimated cost of Rs 2.8 lakh. "This is a great step to control dog aggression, and a huge relief to people like me who spend from our own pockets. I spend about Rs 2,500 daily on chicken and rice for the dogs, and another Rs 2,000 for 50 kg of bananas that I feed to monkeys and cows," Prabhu told PTI. According to BBMP's tender document, the civic body plans to feed around 440 dogs in each zone. Each day, at about 11 am, a 400 gm meal of chicken and rice—providing roughly 750 calories—will be served at designated feeding points, it added.
NDTV
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"Exemplary Icon Of Indian Cinema": PM Modi Condoles B Saroja Devi's Death
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condoled the demise of veteran actor B Saroja Devi, at the age of 87, leaving behind a legacy that spans over six decades in Indian cinema. Known for her versatility and range, she acted in over 200 films across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Sinhalese languages, earning her a special place in the hearts of audiences nationwide. In his 'X' post, PM Modi stated that she will be remembered as an "exemplary icon" of Indian cinema and culture. PM Modi mentioned that Saroja Devi's works spanned different languages and covered different themes, which also highlighted her versatile nature. "Saddened by the passing of the noted film personality, B Saroja Devi Ji. She will be remembered as an exemplary icon of Indian cinema and culture. Her diverse performances left an indelible mark across generations. Her works, spanning different languages and covering diverse themes highlighted her versatile nature. My condolences to her family and admirers. Om Shanti", PM Modi wrote on 'X'. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah paid tribute to the late actress in his post, "The news of the passing of senior Kannada actress B Sarojadevi has caused deep sorrow. She had acted in approximately 200 films across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema, earning fame as the goddess of acting. The moment one mentions Sarojadevi, her captivating performances in films like Kittur Chennamma, Babruvahana, and Annathangi come to mind," he wrote on X. Siddaramaiah added, "Her departure, having entertained audiences for decades through refined films, is a significant loss to Indian cinema. I pray that Sarojadevi's soul finds peace. My condolences to her grieving family and fans," he wrote on X. Born on January 7, 1938, in Bengaluru, Saroja Devi began her acting career at 17 with the Kannada film "Mahakavi Kalidasa" in 1955. She quickly rose to fame with her performances in various languages, starring alongside legendary actors like MG Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, and NT Rama Rao. She made her Telugu film debut with Pandurang Mahathyam (1957) and acted in several successful films until the late 1970s. The Tamil film Nadodi Mannan (1958) established her as one of the top actresses in Tamil cinema. After her marriage in 1967, she remained the second most sought-after actress in Tamil films until 1974, while she continued to be a top actress in Telugu and Kannada cinema from 1958 to 1980. She also acted in Hindi films, starting with Paigham (1959) until the mid-1960s. She acted in 161 consecutive films as the female lead between 1955 and 1984. Saroja Devi was awarded the Padma Shri in 1969 and the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1992. She also received an honorary doctorate from Bangalore University and the Kalaimamani Award of Tamil Nadu. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
India Gazette
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Gazette
"Exemplary icon of Indian cinema, culture": PM Modi condoles demise of B Saroja Devi
New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condoled the demise of veteran actor B Saroja Devi, at the age of 87, leaving behind a legacy that spans over six decades in Indian cinema. Known for her versatility and range, she acted in over 200 films across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Sinhalese languages, earning her a special place in the hearts of audiences nationwide. In his 'X' post, PM Modi stated that she will be remembered as an 'exemplary icon' of Indian cinema and culture. PM Modi mentioned that Saroja Devi's works spanned different languages and covered different themes, which also highlighted her versatile nature. 'Saddened by the passing of the noted film personality, B Saroja Devi Ji. She will be remembered as an exemplary icon of Indian cinema and culture. Her diverse performances left an indelible mark across generations. Her works, spanning different languages and covering diverse themes highlighted her versatile nature. My condolences to her family and admirers. Om Shanti', PM Modi wrote on 'X'. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah paid tribute to the late actress in his post, 'The news of the passing of senior Kannada actress B Sarojadevi has caused deep sorrow. She had acted in approximately 200 films across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema, earning fame as the goddess of acting. The moment one mentions Sarojadevi, her captivating performances in films like Kittur Chennamma, Babruvahana, and Annathangi come to mind,' he wrote on X. Siddaramaiah added, 'Her departure, having entertained audiences for decades through refined films, is a significant loss to Indian cinema. I pray that Sarojadevi's soul finds peace. My condolences to her grieving family and fans,' he wrote on X. Born on January 7, 1938, in Bengaluru, Saroja Devi began her acting career at 17 with the Kannada film 'Mahakavi Kalidasa' in 1955. She quickly rose to fame with her performances in various languages, starring alongside legendary actors like MG Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, and NT Rama Rao. She made her Telugu film debut with Pandurang Mahathyam (1957) and acted in several successful films until the late 1970s. The Tamil film Nadodi Mannan (1958) established her as one of the top actresses in Tamil cinema. After her marriage in 1967, she remained the second most sought-after actress in Tamil films until 1974, while she continued to be a top actress in Telugu and Kannada cinema from 1958 to 1980. She also acted in Hindi films, starting with Paigham (1959) until the mid-1960s. She acted in 161 consecutive films as the female lead between 1955 and 1984. Saroja Devi was awarded the Padma Shri in 1969 and the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1992. She also received an honorary doctorate from Bangalore University and the Kalaimamani Award of Tamil Nadu. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. (ANI)
