Navigating & Democratizing the Savarna Academia | Prof. Ravikant Kisana | Buffalo Intellectual

The so called academia is still very steeply dominated by the upper castes. APPSC RTIs, amongst many other things, have been consistently pointing out the lack of representation for SC/ST/OBCs in faculty positions as well as in PhD seats in many “premium” institutions in the county. And even for those from the marginalized communities who make it to these positions, navigating the savarna dominated academic space is a tedious task. Even for the faculty members, it seems they live with a perpetual insecure feeling of having to justify their presence here. In the recently concluded convocation ceremony of IITB, some graduates spoke up about the difficulties they faced in this “premium” institution while pursuing their degrees. Terming it “a difficult experience.”

Prof Kisana has been talking about his own (bitter) experiences in academia mediated by caste, through his stand up shows as well as his writings and podcasts. It would be interesting and valuable to know his take on why academia continues to remain a hostile space to the Bahujans, and what can be collectively done to democratize it.