New Delhi: Scores of students at Jamia Millia Islamia staged a protest on campus on February 10 against the administration's crackdown on demonstrations, just days before the university's disciplinary committee is set to review the case of two PhD students accused of organizing a protest last year to commemorate the 2019 anti-CAA protests.
Raising slogans and carrying posters with messages like "Restore Campus Democracy" and "Without Dissent, There Is No Jamia", students gathered to oppose what they called the university's suppression of student activism. The protest was led by several left-affiliated student organizations, including the All India Students Association (AISA), and the All India Revolutionary Students Organisation, among others.
The disciplinary committee will meet on February 25 to examine the role of the two PhD students who allegedly organized "Jamia Resistance Day" on December 15, 2024, marking the anniversary of the brutal police crackdown on protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) five years ago.
On December 15, 2019, Delhi Police allegedly entered Jamia's campus and baton-charged students inside the library during protests against the CAA, which sparked nationwide demonstrations. Student groups argue such historical moments shape their demand for campus democracy.
During the protest, participants displayed banners with slogans like "Dissent is the legacy of Jamia", reinforcing their commitment to activism and the university's rich history of resistance. AISA member Sonakshi emphasized the importance of their demands, including the withdrawal of disciplinary actions and the repeal of restrictive policies limiting protests.
Students during the protest expressed grave concerns about the administration's increasing authoritarian measures, including turning off campus lights and locking bathrooms to disrupt their gatherings. "These tactics are not only strategic but also reveal the university’s attempt to control our voices," stated Saurabh, a PhD scholar who has faced disciplinary actions and expects to fight against the committee's decisions.
Jyoti, another PhD student, echoed these sentiments, condemning the measures as "inhumane and unjust" and reinforcing students' determination not to back down even when faced with expulsion for their protests. Meanwhile, Sakhi, President of SFI Jamia Unit, outlined the progressive groups’ key demands, including immediate revocation of punitive measures against students.
While these protests highlight the students' commitment to uphold their right to free expression, they also reflect the growing tensions between the university administration and students who accuse it of aligning with state interests to stifle dissent. The crackdown seen this year has been interpreted as part of broader efforts to secure campuses as places of compliance rather than sites of debate and contestation.
Arpan, another member of the AISA, pointed out how the current administration has worsened restrictions, observing, "Last year, we faced no disciplinary action during Resistance Day. This time, the climate has drastically changed, and our efforts to memorialize the fight for our rights are met with hostility."
The protests at Jamia Millia Islamia are not just about the past events of 2019; they symbolize the current struggle for student rights and democratic spaces within Indian universities. The history of student movements has often shaped social and political landscapes, and students remain resolute, determined to continue pushing back against what they perceive as repression and control.
This current moment encapsulates the fight for not just recognition but the restoration of democratic ideals within academic institutions, as students vow to resist measures undermining their rights to assemble and voice dissent. Ensuring their legacy of resistance continues, students articulate their resolve to fight for what they believe makes Jamia Millia Islamia not just another university, but rather, a bastion of student activism and intellectual engagement.