Dalit girl denied music lessons in AU

By SNV Sudhir/Visakhapatnam

A Dalit girl’s dream to become a good classical singer was shattered after joining the music Department of Andhra University. University teachers mostly belonging to upper castes always kept avoiding this dalit girl, who came all the way from Vijayawada in desperation to learn classical music.“ I used to feel shy to sing in public though I had a strong desire to become a singer. To overcome that fear and to learn more in music I came all the way from Vijayawada to learn music” says Sunitha.The professors of Music Department of Andhra University often tell Neelam Sunitha a second year MA music student that music should be in the genes of people and it depends upon one’s varna. She was silently bearing the mental torture for the past one year.“Sangeetham anede genes lo vundalamma avi varnathaha vasthayi” (music remains in the genes of the people. It traditionally comes to upper castes only). These were the words Sunitha heard from her Professors. Sunitha’s father died and she was left with a sister and a brother who are younger to her. Her younger sister got married, but Sunitha remained unmarried determined to learn music. When this correspondent met her, Sunitha who could not bear the torture anymore wept and said, she was the only student from Dalit community to join the music department in the last 16 years. She says that these professors appreciated her when she recited Sankarabharanam at the time of selection for the admission into MA music. But soon started avoiding her after a month, when the professors came to know that she was an SC girl.She took this issue to the head of the department several times but that was of no use.“I thought lot many times to leave the campus and go away to my place .” Frustrated Sunitha said. She also attempted to kill herself by taking an overdose of sleeping pills on June 9, but survived as her family members immediately attended her. She says that she was misguided by her professors during her record work and made other students to do the same. Hence she attempted to kill her self.“I don’t know whether I’m fortunate or unfortunate by not dying” Suintha says. They used to say she was not aware of basics and insisted her to learn them first.Sunitha did a five year course in Carnatic music at the Ghantasala government music college at Vijayawada. She also simultaneously did a four year course at a music college at Vijayawada affiliated to Gandharva university of Mumbai. Such keen she was to learn music.She also had to hear from her teachers that one couldn’t learn music simply enrolling in varsity. In many words they keep telling her that music was taught and learnt by people belonging to upper castes. Two days back Sunitha approached the Principal of College of arts and commerce of Andhra University and gave a written representation to him hoping the professors may change their attitude towards her.“I did not give representation for my benefit alone. Other Dalit girls should not face this sort of embarrassing situations” says Sunitha. But she is feared that her Professors may fail her in the coming examinations as they did the same in the first year examinations. They even failed her in her optional subject.