(Image source from: Dalit student’s mysterious death eight years back})

The family of P. Senthil Kumar (28), who had a mysterious death eight years back, lives in memory of the research scholar at the University of Hyderabad. He was the first one to pursue education among their family.

Senthil’s parents Palanisamy (60) and Deivanai (51) lives in Jalakandapuram. They earn their livelihood by rearing pigs. His parents borrowed money for Senthil’s studies and he even pursued a Ph.D. in Physics in Hyderabad Central University. It was then that their dreams collapsed with the news of suicide of their son on 24 February 2008.

Mr. Palanisamy now has very little money for the treatment of his heart ailment. According to him, Senthil has never talked about caste discrimination on the campus at home. He said, “For our family, it is an irreparable loss. We were informed about his death after a week — that too not by the university authorities.”

Remembering Senthil, former councillor in the Jalakandapuram town panchayat, Deivanai said that Senthil was a studious boy who always dreamt of becoming a scientist like A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. “He was an outstanding student in the three colleges he studied in. We did not think he would take his own life,” she said.

Ms. Deivanai alleged quoting Senthil’s friend, that no supervisor was not allotted to him and was asked to sit on the floor, moreover his submissions were not evaluated as he was a Dalit.

-Sumana