A Tale of Two Universities: Student Politics, Caste and Compromises 

“This is how it happens during elections,” Priya* tells us during an interview in Banda, Uttar Pradesh. She’s an MSc Physics graduate from Atarra College, Bundelkhand University, but as a Dalit, doesn’t feel she can speak freely without anonymity. “There’s some Panditji, and some Vermaji contesting”—she means a Brahmin and, in this area, a Dalit—“Panditji tells Vermaji, ‘Look, you know how it works. Go and sit down quietly. We’ll listen to your problems. But if you get too ahead of yourself, you’ll be kicked out of college.”   Priya continues, “Vermaji’s voice isn’t heard even outside the college. If he tries to go get some outside help, it isn’t going to happen. Chaturvediji, Dwivediji, they have the connections. We may