By Shashank Pasupuleti
September 26, 2024 – Hyderabad
Protests Erupt at Dr. BRAOU university
Outrage is mounting at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) as students, professors, and staff stand united against the Telangana government’s controversial decision to allocate 10 acres of the university’s land to the Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University (JNAFAU). Protests erupted on September 25, 2024, with cries of injustice filling the campus, as the decision is viewed as yet another step in a worrying trend of government disregard for public education.
The once expansive 53-acre campus of BRAOU, a critical educational institution serving over 1.25 lakh students, has been steadily shrinking under the pressures of government land appropriation. The latest allocation to JNAFAU has triggered intense anger, with many questioning the government’s priorities.
Government Encroachment and Broken Promises
Over the years, successive governments have chipped away at BRAOU’s land for various projects—ranging from the construction of a cable bridge to the establishment of the T-SAT educational channel. The university now sits on just 35 acres, an alarming reduction that has crippled its ability to serve its predominantly socially and economically disadvantaged student body. Protestors argue that the Telangana government is sacrificing vital public educational resources in favor of urban development, all while ignoring the mounting infrastructural needs of BRAOU.
Faculty and student leaders have pointed out that the university, which primarily serves students from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, urgently requires more classroom buildings, multimedia centers, and examination halls. Instead, the government has continued to erode its land, leaving students and staff to cope with increasingly inadequate resources.
Callousness Toward Marginalized Students
The stakes are especially high for BRAOU’s students, with nearly 87% of them hailing from socially marginalized and economically disadvantaged communities. Many professors and protest leaders argue that the government’s actions reflect a lack of empathy for these voiceless students, whose educational opportunities are being undermined by the very institutions meant to uplift them.
“This is not just about land. This is about the future of thousands of students who depend on this university for education and advancement,” said Pallavi Kabde, Assistant Professor of Sociology and a leader of the Joint Action Committee (JAC). “The government’s decision is insensitive and callous, especially towards the marginalized students who will bear the brunt of these cuts.”
Vaddanam Srinivas, Senior Lecturer in Political Science and JAC member, expressed similar concerns. “We are watching the government erode a public institution that is meant to serve the underprivileged. This is a violation of the rights of the students, and we won’t stand by in silence.”
Maheshwar Goud, JAC leader and a faculty member in the Department of Public Administration, added, “The students of Dr. BRAOU are being pushed into a dependency model, where their education relies on other institutions. How can we expect them to succeed if they are continually deprived of resources?”
A Call for Action
As protests intensify, there are growing calls from academics and civil society for the government to reverse its decision. Several professors have called on students from across Hyderabad and Telangana to join the movement, denouncing the government’s disregard for public education and labeling it an “attack on the most vulnerable.”
This latest move, seen as part of a larger pattern of undermining public educational institutions, has sparked a broader debate about the state’s commitment to equitable education. Critics argue that while flashy urban projects move forward, the needs of institutions like BRAOU are continually pushed to the side.
The government’s silence on the matter has only fueled further discontent, with demands for accountability growing louder by the day. Many now wonder whether the voices of thousands of students, faculty, and staff will be heard—or if they will once again be silenced by the government’s indifference.
As protests continue, the future of Dr. BRAOU and its students hangs in the balance, with education advocates urging more support and attention to this critical issue before irreversible damage is done.
