A palpable tension hangs in the air at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), where students are rallying against what they see as an oppressive clampdown on their right to protest. The spark? The university administration’s upcoming review of two PhD students accused of orchestrating “Jamia Resistance Day” in 2024, an annual commemoration of the intense 2019 anti-CAA protests. This action is viewed by many as part of a larger effort to suppress student activism and stifle dissent on campus.
Echoes of 2019: The Roots of Resistance
The current unrest is deeply intertwined with the events of December 2019, when Delhi Police entered the Jamia Millia Islamia campus, allegedly in search of “outsiders” during the widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). Reports of students being beaten inside the library ignited a firestorm of outrage, fueling protests across the nation.
Now, students fear history is repeating itself as the Jamia Millia Islamia university administration targets those who keep the memory of 2019 alive. “Jamia Resistance Day” has become a symbol of defiance, a way to remember and reflect on those tumultuous times. But the university’s response to the 2024 commemoration has triggered a new wave of resistance.
Students of Jamia Millia Islamia Take a Stand: Voices of Defiance
Driven by a sense of injustice, students launched a sit-in protest on February 10, demanding that the university revoke the show-cause notices issued to the accused students and put an end to what they see as a systematic attack on campus democracy. Student organizations, including the All India Students Association (AISA) and the All India Revolutionary Students Organisation, are at the forefront of these demonstrations, raising slogans and brandishing posters that declare, “Restore Campus Democracy” and “Without Dissent, There Is No Jamia”.
Saurabh, a PhD scholar and member of AISA who is facing disciplinary action, stated that the administration is accusing them of disrupting campus order and pushing a political agenda. Jyoti, another PhD scholar facing disciplinary action, condemned the administration’s response as “inhumane and unjust”.
Silencing Voices: Restrictions on Protest
Adding fuel to the fire, students of Jamia Millia Islamia point to a circular issued on November 29 that explicitly bans protests, dharnas, and slogans against the administration. They argue that these restrictions are a direct assault on their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and assembly. Some students have also alleged inhumane tactics by the administration, such as cutting power, locking washrooms, and shutting down canteens, in an attempt to break up their protest.
Sonakshi, a member of AISA, told PTI that the protesters have key demands, including revoking the show-cause notices, repealing the 2020 Office Memorandum that restricts protests on campus, scrapping the fine for graffiti and posters, and ensuring no future disciplinary action against students for participating in protests.
A Question of Legacy: The Importance of Student Politics
Many students believe that student politics is an integral part of the university experience and should be encouraged. They argue that students have a crucial role to play in society, and that activism is a natural extension of their engagement with the world around them.
Arpan, a member of AISA, stated that they observed Resistance Day in 2023 without facing any disciplinary action, but in 2024, students received notices and inquiries were initiated.
Demands for Change: A Path Forward
As the disciplinary committee meeting on February 25 looms closer, students are standing firm in their demands. They are calling for the immediate suspension of disciplinary actions against the accused students, the withdrawal of all show-cause notices issued to protesting students, and the repeal of restrictive memorandums that limit their right to protest.
Sakhi, President of SFI Jamia Unit, informed that the progressive student groups on the campus are carrying out a sit-in protest against the non-democratic campus laws, and the student body’s key demands include an end to the administrative crackdown on student activism and a guarantee that no future punitive actions will be taken against students exercising their fundamental rights to peaceful protest and free expression.
The administration has remained unresponsive to calls and messages. As tensions continue to rise, the students of Jamia Millia Islamia university remain determined to fight for their rights and reclaim their voices. Their struggle is a reminder of the vital role that students play in holding power accountable and shaping the future of their institutions and their nation.
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