Campus violence in India

Student violence has become a serious issue for universities and colleges of India. The type of student violence can vary from political rivalries to shootings to sexual harassment.

Incidents

Delhi, 1990

In 1990, a student from Delhi called Rajiv Goswami self-immolated himself to protest against the reservations for the backward classes. This incident led to countrywide agitations against the then Prime Minister V.P.Singh.[1]

Kerala, 2007

On 27 October 2007, Hindu right-wing students killed a police officer during a student clash inside the NSS Hindu College in Changanassery, Kerala. The officer was hit by a wooden plank by the students.[2]

Kerala, 2018

In July 2018, an Islamist student leader stabbed and killed a communist student leader in Maharajas College, Kochi, Kerala. The incident took place when the two groups of students had a quarrel about displaying posters inside the campus.[3] In March 2018, communist student activists attacked the residence of the principal of the MES Asmabi College, Kerala and wounded the principal seriously. The attackers were not arrested because they immediately escaped to some foreign country.[4][5]

Mahatma Gandhi Central University (MGCU), 2018

On 13 September 2018, Shakti Babu, is an undergraduate student of BA (Hindi Honours) at Mahatma Gandhi Central University was thrashed by some unidentified people as he was part of the students' core committee who were protesting against the MGCU Vice-Chancellor (Arvind Agarwal) for his removal from university. He received internal injuries during the attack and was referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital for further treatment.[6] He was getting threat calls for two days for raising voice against the Vice-Chancellor. A F.I.R was lodged against the Vice-Chancellor including the chief proctor and administrative secretary of university for the attack on him. [7]

Kerala, 2019

On 12 July 2019, communist students stabbed a student inside the University college campus in Thiruvananthapuram. The attack was carried out for the reason of "singing songs inside the campus along with lady students."[8]

In Kerala Varma College, Thrissur, the principal had to leave his job when the Hindu right wing students created an issue about the communist students defiling Hindu gods in a campus poster.[9]

As the political rivalries between the communist parties and the Hindu right wing students have disrupted the smooth running of the educational organizations all over the country. The issue is a bit more serious in southern states like Kerala where some students even resort to attacking the teachers and principals of the colleges.[9][4]

Jamia Millia Islamia, 2019 Attack

On December 15, the Delhi Police entered the Jamia Milia Islamia University campus and allegedly assaulted several students after a mob of unidentified people set a few public buses on fire nearby. While police claimed they entered the campus to identify the agitators, several ground reports and eyewitnesses indicate that there was a brutal crackdown by Delhi Police on the Jamia campus.[10] The testimonies from those present in Jamia Milia Islamia University on Sunday, suggest that the police targeted individuals indiscriminately, even entering the mosque on campus and hurting a local cleric.[11]

JNU, 2020

On 5 January in the evening a masked mob with iron rods attacked the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi and injured students and teachers.[12]

Gargi College molestations, 2020
Main article: Gargi College molestations

Beneficial Agitations

According to Ratnadeep Chakraborty banning student unions alone cannot solve the issue of campus violence. Karnataka had tried banning students unions during 1989-90 and that didn't help.[13]

Student agitations can help the good movements of society as well. In August 2011, large number of students from different campuses of Delhi bunked classes and joined the anti corruption agitation of Anna Hazare.[14]

In December 2012, student protests became widespread all over the country when a 21-year-old student was gang raped in a Delhi bus.[15] Student politics is closely intertwined with Indian politics. In the 1920s a large number of students participated in the freedom fight against the British rulers. During Indira Gandhi's rule, student leaders were suppressed and 60 students from JNU were imprisoned for one year. Many Indian universities banned student organizations in this period.[13]

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References
  1. "The man who sparked anti-Mandal agitation - Hindustan Times". 30 August 2011. Archived from the original on 30 August 2011.
  2. "Student politics: cop killed in Kerala campus violence". News18.
  3. "A dangerous pattern of campus violence in Kerala". Sify.
  4. "കോളജ് പ്രിൻസിപ്പലിനെ ആക്രമിച്ച കേസിലെ രണ്ട് പ്രതികൾ വിദേശത്തേക്ക് കടന്നു". Manoramanews.
  5. "2018-09-13 Mahatma Gandhi Central University". Scholars at Risk. 13 September 2018.
  6. "Bihar varsity student assaulted for 'criticising' vice-chancellor". The Indian Express. 14 September 2018.
  7. "2018-09-13 Mahatma Gandhi Central University". Scholars at Risk. 13 September 2018.
  8. ThiruvananthapuramJuly 12, Press Trust of India; July 12, 2019UPDATED; Ist, 2019 23:37. "Violence erupts in University college campus in Thiruvananthapuram; student stabbed". India Today.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. "Row erupts over controversial Lord Ayyappa poster in Kerala college". India Today. 25 June 2019.
  10. "Jamia University slams Delhi Police over December 15 violence, demands high-level probe". India Today.
  11. "Jamia ground report: Police entered mosque, beat up imam and me, claims former armyman". India Today.
  12. "Masked Mob Attacks JNU; Around 40 Including Students, Teachers Injured". NDTV.com. 5 January 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  13. "Banning Student Politics Is Not A Solution To Campus Violence In India". Youth Ki Awaaz. 22 June 2018.
  14. "Students bunk classes, throng Freedom Park". Deccan Herald. 17 August 2011.
  15. Baruah, Joyshree (7 April 2018). "A look at some of the powerful protests that shook India". The Economic Times.
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