Dalit student didn't get fellowship for past 7 months, says letter

Research scholar Rohit Vemula, who allegedly committed suicide in a room on the campus of the University of Hyderabad, had in a letter purportedly written by him said he was not getting his fellowship for past seven months. He had also said in the letter that he wanted to become a science writer like Carl Sagan. "If you, who is reading this letter can do anything for me, I have to get 7 months of my fellowship, one lakh and seventy five thousand rupees. Please see to it that my family is paid that. I have to give some 40 thousand to Ramji. He never asked them back. But please pay that to him from that (sic)," Rohit purportedly wrote in the letter. "I know some of you truly cared for me, loved me and treated me very well. I have no complaints on anyone. It was always with myself I had problems. I feel a growing gap between my soul and my body. And I have become a monster. "I always wanted to be a writer. A writer of science, like Carl Sagan. At last, this is the only letter I am getting to write," he further mentioned. He also apologised to his friend for using his room to take the extreme step. Rohit's body was found hanging in a hostel room on Sunday night. The student's grieving mother Radhika said none of the university officials informed her of Rohit's suspension. "My son was out in the open space for 13 days. The VC should come and tell me what mistake my son committed. I expected him to complete his studies by next year and get into a good job. Now that he is not there who will support me," Radhika, who supported Rohit's education by doing tailoring job in Guntur," had said yesterday. Rohit and four other students were earlier suspended from the university. Later the suspension was revoked. However, they were barred from accessing hostel facilities last month.