Nakshatra Dhoolu, Kannada, with English sub-titles A Play by Harshakumar Kugwe & Sanjyothi VK
Excerpts of the play
I am Rohith: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhRBt6lCYF8 In the opening of Kanada Play, Nakshatrada Dhoolu, Harshakumar Kugwe sets out the dreams and anxiety which formed the backdrop to Rohith Vemula's action
Roots of Resistance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAFBt6N4X9I Rohith Vemula draws his identity and meaning from his mother.
Wretched and Alone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koPR2K_m2dc The way Harshakumar sees it, Rohith Vemula, as a child, experienced both gender and caste oppression at the family level, and unlike most other Dalit kids, did not have peers in his part of the village, whom he could be share with.
Learning Resilience & Struggle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWDyjPX1imU how Radhika, Rohith's mother resists caste and gender oppression and empowers herself,
By hook or merit: https://youtu.be/Zj-lehQxcH4 Rohith Vemula got admission into HCU under merit. The scholarship that he was awarded was to help mitigate the tough conditions under which he actually got this far....
Contents of Modernity & Caste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7UXI_6mEZw Despite being a merit student, Rohith Vemula had to suffer stigmatisation, as a dalit. Harshakumar Kugwe & Sanjyothi V K explores this modern attempt to continue traditional hierarchies. Political self-assertion also draws heavy handed response.
Through Marx, Ambedkar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkokKq4X2kY Rohith Vemula was first a Science & Society Scholar, and his search took him to Marx, Periyar, and the entire gamut of social thinkers, till he found in Ambedkar a true reflection of his struggle and aspiration..
Technology & Prejudice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvzi5Jr4bJw Harshakumar Kugwe & Sanjyoti VK explors how prejudice find ways to perpetuate itself, in modern university which is suppose to include, and reach out to new truths.. Rohith Vemula , as a science and society scholar comes face to face with such prejudice.. perhaps that was the single most reason for his despair.. even as the political struggle was at its peak..
Velivada: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blVulp3DmeI Velivada became the symbol of the Dalit Students Association self-respect movement. But then the establishment ignored it, and the progressive forces have other projects perhaps...
Ignoring caste is Casteism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2efOh-zfBw4 Having joined the Dalit Students Association, Rohith finds that self-assertion particularly in an organised form, draws swift and merciless attacks from the Right. It is okay as long as you do not challenge either the party in power or the Social Hierarchy. But when both these are on platform...