Research scholar's suicide: Rohith Vemula didn't get fellowship for the past seven months

Protesting HCU students demand justice for Vemula at Tank Bund on the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad yesterday.

Hyderabad: Research scholar Rohith Vemula, who allegedly committed suicide in a hostel room on the campus of the Hyderabad Central University (HCU), is believed to have mentioned in a letter that he had been denied fellowship for the past seven months. Rohith also mentioned that he wanted to become a science writer like Carl Sagan.

Protesting HCU students demand justice for Vemula at Tank Bund on the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad yesterday. Pic/PTI

"If you, who is reading this letter can do anything for me, I have to get 7 months of my fellowship, Rs 1.75 lakh. Please see to it that my family is paid that. I have to give some Rs 40,000 to Ramji. He never asked them back. But please pay that to him from that (sic)," Rohith 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. Rohith's body was found hanging in a hostel room on Sunday night.

Rohith's mother Radhika said none of the university officials informed her of Rohith's suspension. "My son was out in the open space for 13 days. The V-C 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 Rohith's education by doing odd tailoring jobs in Guntur, had said yesterday.