Binesh Balan
Binesh Balan is a member of the Mavilan tribe from Kolichal, Kasaragod district, Kerala, India, who is known for contesting an official decision that denied him the opportunity to study for a master's degree at a foreign university, allegedly on the basis of his low caste. He is a member of a Scheduled Tribe.[1]
Balan had been a student at the University of Kerala.[2] He satisfied the criteria for the Government of India's national overseas scholarship programme[3] and applied for funding to undertake a master's degree in anthropology.[2] He was offered a place on a course by the University of Sussex, England, in 2014. He was granted funds to take up the place by P. K. Jayalakshmi, the then Minister for Tribal Affairs in the Government of Kerala, but bureaucrats subsequently refused to issue the money. An offer of a place at the London School of Economics (LSE) in 2016 was also thwarted by the failure of government funding to materialise. Finally, in 2017, he was able to begin studies at the LSE following a change of government in Kerala and with the support of A. K. Balan, the Minister for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The minister had initially agreed a state grant of 27 lakh rupees, as had been initially offered in 2014, but civil servants cited legal issues which would prevent it; consequently, A. K. Balan authorised 1.5 lakh to be given to enable the course to be started, with Binesh Balan finding further funds via a loan and donations.[3] The delay in obtaining funds meant that his offer at the LSE lapsed but he was able to obtain a place at the University of Sussex.[2]
Balan became the first member of the Mavilan tribe to be admitted to a foreign university.[3] Soon after arriving in the UK, he named two official whom he alleged had been instrumental in obstructing his funding and also claimed that he had been assaulted by activists from the Students Federation of India while studying at the University of Kerala. The officials denied his allegations, saying that the value of his initial grant application was unprecedented for someone from a tribal community and that it had necessitated them sending his file to the central government, leading to delays.[2][4]
References[edit]
- ↑ "He overcame hunger and humiliation to study at the LSE". rediff. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Tribal student Binesh Balan takes it on Kerala government officials". Deccan Chronicle. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Tribal student makes it to London for study". Deccan Chronicle. 30 July 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
- ↑ "London-based tribal Keralite student accuses SFI leaders of assault". Malayalam Manorama. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
Further reading[edit]
- "Living a dream: Kerala tribal scholar to present thesis at Oxford". Malayalam Manorama. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
- "Kasargod tribal student: The story of dreams, struggles and accomplishment". The New Indian Express. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
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