From Shadows to the Stars: Honoring Rohith Vemula’s Legacy

Rohith Vemula was a 26-year-old Dalit PhD scholar, who was institutionally murdered on January 16, 2016 for resisting casteist policies at his campus at Hyderabad Central University in India.

Rohith Vemula’s life and legacy had an indelible impact on the global anti-caste movement. Millions of Dalit people around the world, including Yashica Dutt were galvanized to confront their own caste identity after encountering his heartbreak from fighting against an unjust system that Rohith left behind in his last letter. His life and legacy led to a new chapter in global awareness and visibility around caste, leading to caste protection policies across the US, UK and Australia.

Yashica Dutt, who wrote Coming Out as Dalit in part, inspired from Rohith’s life and legacy, decided to organize this event to honor his memory, and create a wider space for Dalit narratives in New York.

In the tenth year since Rohith’s passing, New York City has witnessed an unprecedented coalition of South Asian political power with the election of the city’s first South Asian Mayor, Zohran Mamdani. Meanwhile, in India there is a renewed call for necessary protections against the deaths of Dalit students on Indian campuses like Rohith.

This event marked the legacy of a Dalit icon who deserves rightful recognition and announced the presence of Dalit political power as a formidable force in New York City.