Pune college denies caste bias claim after ex-student alleges job loss over verification delay

Mumbai: The alleged caste bias by a Pune-based education institution against a former Dalit student has snowballed into a full-blown political issue in Maharashtra.

The student, Premvardhan Birhade, a graduate from the University of Sussex, lost a Heathrow job after Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce’ Principal Dr Nivedita Gajanan Ekbote allegedly refused to verify his document.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has slammed the Devendra Fadnavis-headed Maha Yuti dispensation over the issue.

Bhirade completed BBA in January 2024.

Dr Ekbote has denied the charges and citied disciplinary issues involving the student, who is now based in London.

The issue of Birhade was first flagged off by Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi founder and former MP Prakash Ambedkar, who is the grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.

“Prem Birhade, a young Dalit who recently graduated from the prestigious University of Sussex, was forced to forfeit a hard-earned employment opportunity at Heathrow Airport in London. The reason? His former college, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce in Pune, refused to verify his academic credentials, despite him submitting all required documentation. Why? Because Prem is a Dalit! The college’s principal, Dr. Nivedita Gajanan Ekbote, also serves as the Maharashtra Vice-President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of the BJP. Given her political and ideological alignment with the Manuwadi BJP, one can only imagine the extent to which caste prejudice must have shaped her actions against SC, ST, OBC students in her academic career,” said Ambedkar, a politician, lawyer and activist.

“The same verification was provided when Prem had gone to London to study. When Prem requested the same verification again for his job, the college’s administration enquired of his caste! Prem’s journey from Nandurbar district to UK was not an easy one. Prem’s case is a glaring example of how systemic caste discrimination continues to haunt Dalit youth, even after they break through enormous social and economic barriers,” he said.

Dr Ekbote said it is a serious issue of harassment, defamation, and deliberate misuse of social media by the former student. “He has been continuously posting false, misleading, and defamatory statements on social media, attempting to malign the image of the college, its staff members, and the principal,” she said.

"It is important to note that the student completed his education prior to my tenure as Principal, and I have never personally known or taught him. Furthermore, the student has already been issued three Letters of Recommendation (LORs) and one Bonafide Certificate by the college administration in the past, thereby fulfilling all his legitimate academic documentation requirements. Recently, he approached the college once again, demanding that an Education Reference for employment purposes be issued under my signature. Considering his unsatisfactory conduct and disciplinary record during his tenure as a student, and as per institutional policy, the college decided not to issue any further recommendation or reference letter,” Dr Ekbote said.

State Congress President Harshavardhan Sapkal said: "This incident clearly shows that in the Fadnavis government's youth policy, there is neither justice, nor equality, nor any consideration for the rights of the Bahujans.