The Hindu : Man who sparked anti-Mandal agitation is dead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 25, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Man who sparked anti-Mandal agitation is dead

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, FEB. 24. Rajiv Goswami, the former Delhi University Students' Union president who set himself afire during the anti-Mandal agitation in 1990, died in a hospital here today. He was 33.

Rajiv had attempted self-immolation at Deshbandhu College in South Delhi when the anti-Mandal agitation over the reservation issue was at its peak, sparking off a series of self-immolations by students all over the country. Subsequently he was inducted into student politics and went on to become the Delhi University Students' Union president on a National Students' Union of India (NSUI) ticket.

But Rajiv gave up active politics due to health problems and set up his own business. In the years that followed he was frequently in and out of hospitals because of severe health complications dating back to his self-immolation bid.

A resident of Gomti Apartments at Kalkaji in South Delhi, Rajiv was taken to Holy Family Hospital at Okhla for treatment on the February13. He was declared dead this morning around 11-30 a.m. and his body was handed over to his relatives.

According to the director of Holy Family Hospital, Fr. Arthur R. Pinto, "Rajiv was being treated at the hospital since early this month and passed away today''.

His death has been attributed to kidney and liver failure.

He is survived by his wife and two children.

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