A young man named Prem Birhade made a video claiming that he lost his job offer in England because of caste-based discrimination by Pune’s Modern College — and the video went viral. The media picked up the story and began presenting it as if it were 100% true.
Whenever a case involves a Dalit person aligned with a particular political ideology, the media and public’s sense of judgment and fact-checking seem to vanish instantly.
This “selective outrage” superpower of the media appears to apply only to a specific section of Dalits whereas many genuine Dalit atrocities go unnoticed.
Identity more important than issue?
We’ve seen a similar episode earlier — when Rohith Vemula, a student, committed suicide. The narrative then too was built around unverified news. Instead of discussing his tragic death, the focus shifted to his caste. Ironically, many of those who screamed about his caste were the same ones preaching about ending caste divisions.
Later, it was revealed that Rohith Vemula was not actually a Dalit, and suddenly the media and activists lost all interest in his case. Yet, during that period, false stories about “Brahminical systems,” “Manuwad,” and “Sanatani oppression” had already been milked for political mileage.
Now, the Prem Birhade case seems to be following the same path.
No student, regardless of caste, should lose a job due to a college’s inefficient administration. Prem’s experience is unfortunate and deserves empathy — but the claim that it happened because of his caste needs evidence and context.
Prem himself said in two videos that the college had issued him two recommendation letters.
If the entire Modern College were truly casteist, then how were these letters issued?
What proof exists that his verification was stopped due to his caste?
The college, on the other hand, claims his job was not even lost.
Wouldn’t it then be fair for Prem to show the termination letter, the emails exchanged, and the exact communications before making such a grave accusation?
Does simply making a reel of allegations prove injustice?
In his second video, Prem is seen briefly flashing WhatsApp chat printouts, but he doesn’t hold them before the camera for even a second. He claims his caste was asked on the phone, and when he questioned the relevance, he was told it was “for verification.”
Even then, shouldn’t the media present the other side’s point of view too — of the person who asked that question?
According to the college, the details were uploaded after 2–3 reminders.
This kind of careless delay happens in many colleges, where bureaucratic inefficiency and lack of sensitivity are common.
Such experiences, though frustrating, often arise not from caste bias, but from staff negligence.
Every year, many poor and Dalit students face delays in processing their scholarship applications.
Institutions like BARTI, meant to help them, remain busy doing Constitution Dindi propaganda instead of assisting students.
But no one ever demands an inquiry into BARTI, because that issue genuinely concerns Dalit students’ welfare — and it offers no political mileage involving Brahmins, Marathas, Hindus, or Sanatanis.
However, when there’s a chance to politicize such matters, so-called Dalit saviors suddenly awaken.
They care less about solving the actual issue and more about advancing their activism careers.
(Activism has now become a form of employment.)
If Prem had shared his painful experience as it was — simply saying, “My job was lost due to the college’s inefficiency” — with supporting documents, he would have received widespread sympathy.
But the trend of saying “You people can’t stand to see us progress” in every matter is a growing psychological disorder.
Instead of ending injustice, we are glorifying caste angles to gain bigger attention — perhaps even creating such situations ourselves.
If it is indeed true that other students of different castes were easily helped, while Prem alone was obstructed due to caste, then the burden of proof lies on Prem.
He should make public the relevant chats, company emails, and communication proofs.
At the same time, the college must be allowed to present its own side.
If any official intentionally discriminated with caste bias, strict action must be taken.
But if this was not caste-motivated, then should there not be action against irresponsible activists and media outlets that spread unverified caste-based stories and disturb social harmony?
Shouldn’t Prem himself be counseled if he misunderstood or deliberately painted a caste angle to his personal experience?
Such selective outrage only deepens division between communities, while the real issues get sidelined — people from both sides get busy hurling caste abuses at each other.
There can be no greater misuse of the freedom of expression granted by the Constitution.
Furthermore, fake Dalit activism that only involves abusing Hinduism and so called castes, and resorting to reverse casteism, also goes against the principle of equality enshrined in the Constitution.
Out of nearly a thousand caste groups that have faced historical injustice, only a few keep stoking hatred — while the genuine concerns of hundreds of others remain unheard.
Therefore, even the non dalit people must not generalize or develop prejudice against truly marginalized individuals just because of a few “activist” examples.
They should hold patience until truth and verification emerge.
— Pratham Uvaach
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