On January 17th 2016, Rohith Vemula committed suicide. He had been facing opposition and even harassment at the hands of his university administration because he belonged to a particular caste and his active role in Dalit politics on campus.

With his demise, a wave of protests swept across the country. The state tried to and succeeded in suppressing many of them. Amongst these was a candle light vigil organised at India gate in Rohith’s memory led by his mother, Radhika Vemula and attended by students from all over the country, and his contingent university, University of Hyderabad. Surprisingly, the state didn’t allow this peaceful vigil either.

All the attendees including Radhika Vemula were detained by the police and taken by to a nearby police station in DTC buses, normally the public transport vehicle of the city, which were marked ‘00 Special Service’.

This is a film by ujjwal utkarsh, it is a reflection on the series of events that took place during the peaceful candlelight vigil meant for Rohith Vemula's suicide, symbolically trying to light the candle that wasn’t lit on that day.

Details about the film maker:

ujjwal utkarsh's films have been showcased in various national and international festivals. He has been experimenting with his own practice and loves to dabble in other forms like photography, sound installations and theater/performing arts.  Over the years, ujjwal has been involved in several projects and fellowships. He has been trying to develop his own form out of the observational cinema tradition. One of the themes that constantly pulls him is to look at labour at work, in an observational mode and especially looking at peculiar farming techniques.

Lately he has been interested in the idea of protest and the performity of various protests and the idea of dissent in the present condition/situation of things.