Dalit Student Loses London Job As Pune College Refuses To Issue Reference Letter; “Disciplinary Considerations,” Says Principal
A promising young Dalit scholar from Maharashtra, Premvardhan Narottam Birhade, has reportedly lost a job offer at London’s Heathrow Airport after his former college in Pune allegedly refused to verify his academic credentials. The denial, reportedly made by Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, has triggered outrage across social media and drawn allegations of caste discrimination from political leaders and activists. Meanwhile, the principal in question Dr Nivedita Gajanan Ekbote, who also serves as Maharashtra vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, said in a statement that the decision to refuse to issue an Education Reference in this case “is purely based on institutional norms, disciplinary considerations, and professional ethics, and has no connection whatsoever with the student’s social or community background.”
Prem, a native of Nandurbar district and a recent graduate of the University of Sussex, had been selected for an employment programme at Heathrow following his postgraduate studies. According to posts shared by Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) president Prakash Ambedkar and also the videos posted by Prem himself, the opportunity fell through after the Pune college declined to confirm his educational background despite all required documents being submitted. In his public statement, Ambedkar accused the college’s administration of caste bias, alleging that the refusal was motivated by discrimination against Scheduled Caste students.
“The same college had verified his documents when he went abroad to study,” Ambedkar said, adding that the administration later questioned Birhade about his caste when he sought verification for employment. “Prem’s case symbolises the persistent shadow of caste prejudice that continues to haunt Dalit youth, even after they overcome the hardest social and economic barriers,” he remarked. Ambedkar, also the grandson of Dr BR Ambedkar, also pointed out that Modern College’s principal, Dr Nivedita Gajanan Ekbote, serves as Maharashtra vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, suggesting that her political links might have influenced institutional behaviour.
However, Dr Ekbote has firmly denied the allegations. In an official statement, she described the claims as false and defamatory, asserting that the college acted purely in accordance with institutional policy and disciplinary records. “The student completed his education prior to my tenure as principal, and I have never personally known or taught him,” she clarified. According to Ekbote, the college had already provided Birhade with three Letters of Recommendation and a Bonafide Certificate in the past, fulfilling its academic obligations. She said the refusal to issue another letter stemmed from “disciplinary considerations” related to his prior record, not his community background.
Ekbote further contended that Birhade’s social media posts had unfairly maligned the college’s reputation and amounted to harassment. “The refusal to issue an Education Reference in this case is purely based on institutional norms, disciplinary considerations, and professional ethics,” her statement read. She requested the authorities legal action against what she termed “false and inflammatory content” circulating online and reaffirmed that the institution “upholds the highest standards of equality, inclusivity, and respect for all communities.”
Prakash Ambedkar’s statement:
“Prem Birhade, a young Dalit who recently graduated from the prestigious University of Sussex, was forced to forfeit a hard-earned employment opportunity at Heathrow Airport in London.
The reason? His former college, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce in Pune, refused to verify his academic credentials, despite him submitting all required documentation.
Why? Because Prem is a Dalit!
The college’s principal, Dr. Nivedita Gajanan Ekbote, also serves as the Maharashtra Vice-President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of the BJP. Given her political and ideological alignment with the Manuwadi BJP, one can only imagine the extent to which caste prejudice must have shaped her actions against SC, ST, OBC students in her academic career.
The same verification was provided when Prem had gone to London to study. When Prem requested the same verification again for his job, the college’s administration enquired of his caste!
Prem’s journey from Nardubar, a poor Tribal district, to UK was not easy one. Prem’s case is a glaring example of how systemic caste discrimination continues to haunt Dalit youth, even after they break through enormous social and economic barriers.
This case demands urgent attention and accountability. Prem’s story is not just his own, it is the story of countless Dalit students whose aspirations are crushed because of caste-discrimination.”
Dr Nivedita Gajanan Ekbote’s statement:
“Respected Sir/Madam,
I, Prof. Dr. Nivedita G. Ekbote, Principal, Modern College of Arts, Science & Commerce (Autonomous), Shivajinagar, Pune – 411005, wish to bring to your kind attention a serious issue of harassment, defamation, and deliberate misuse of social media by a former student of this college, Mr. Premvardhan Narottam Birhade, who was admitted to the BBA program in June 2020 and passed in January 2024.
The said individual has been continuously posting false, misleading, and defamatory statements on social media, attempting to malign the image of the college, its staff members, and the Principal.
It is important to note that the student completed his education prior to my tenure as Principal, and I have never personally known or taught him.
Furthermore, the student has already been issued three Letters of Recommendation (LORs) and one Bonafide Certificate by the college administration in the past, thereby fulfilling all his legitimate academic documentation requirements.
Recently, he approached the college once again, demanding that an Education Reference for employment purposes be issued under my signature.
Considering his unsatisfactory conduct and disciplinary record during his tenure as a student, and as per institutional policy, the college decided not to issue any further recommendation or reference letter.
Following this, he began publishing false, defamatory, and inflammatory videos on various social media platforms, falsely alleging that the college, Dr. Anjali Sardesai (Vice-Principal, Academics), Prof. Lawly Das (Head, BBA Department), and the undersigned are discriminating against him on caste grounds.
I wish to categorically state that no such instance of caste-based discrimination has ever occurred. Neither the college nor any staff member has ever raised or discussed his caste identity at any time. The institution upholds the highest standards of equality, inclusivity, and respect for all communities, particularly students belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe
categories.
I also wish to place on record my deep respect for Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution. His ideals of equality, education, and social justice have profoundly influenced my personal and professional journey. It is because of the empowering constitutional framework envisioned by Dr. Ambedkar that I proudly serve today as the Principal of this reputed institution.
The refusal to issue an Education Reference in this case is purely based on institutional norms, disciplinary considerations, and professional ethics, and has no connection whatsoever with the student’s social or community background.
Through repeated online posts and videos, the said individual is spreading misinformation, misguiding the student community, and attempting to provoke unrest, thereby damaging the reputation of the college and its authorities. His actions amount to defamation, cyber harassment, and incitement through digital platforms.
I therefore request your kind office to take cognizance of this matter and initiate appropriate legal action under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act, to prevent further harassment, defamation of female staff members including the Principal, and disturbance to the peace and reputation of the institution.”
