Image Courtesy: deccanherald.com
Once again, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has brought together the whole of India to stand against injustice, mob violence, police excesses and inaction and the fascist policies of the government.
On the night of January 5, 2020, students and teachers were brutally attacked by masked goons who entered the campus to quash their protest against the fee hike imposed by the University administration. The JNU students’ union President Aishe Ghosh was badly injured on her head, Professor Suchitra Sen too was attacked and around 26 students were reportedly hurt.
The news of the attack spread like wildfire and an outpouring of solidarity came through from all over India. People from different states and universities marched in support of the students and condemned the violence on peaceful protestors.
Here is a round-up of how India stood for JNU.
1. Aligarh – Aligarh Muslim University – On Sunday, January 5, 2020 the students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) hit the streets with a peaceful candlelight march to protest against the violence at JNU and demanded that the perpetrators be booked for the violence.
https://twitter.com/MoazRamzi/status/1215215908949377024
Protest at #AMU
Live.@Maq_one @brumbyoz @tanwer_m @AdityaMenon22 pic.twitter.com/FlfadgMGGe— Moaz Ramzi | معاذ رمزي (@MoazRamzi) January 9, 2020
2. West Bengal – The outpouring of support from West Bengal has been heartening. Students and teachers from Jadavpur University joined hands to condemn the attack on JNU students. The rally held by the students’ union of the arts, science and engineering faculties saw slogans like “Awaaz do sab ek ho” and “Lathi goli ki Sarkar, nahi chalegi ab ki baar”.
https://twitter.com/TanveerAnas/status/1214804246606024704
Protest at Jadavpur University against #CAA_NRC_NPR & solidarity with JNU students.#BharatBandh2020 #MazdoorKisanStrike#IndiaStrikesAgainstModiGovt #CAAProtests #NPRisNRC #BharatBandh #CAA_NRC_Protest #IndiaAgainstCAA_NPR_NRC #IndiaAgainstViolencepic.twitter.com/pijwRL1Btd
— Tanveer (@TanveerAnas) January 8, 2020
Inspired by the women of Shaheen Bagh, women staged a sit-in leaderless and banner less protest at Kolkata’s Park Circus in solidarity with the women attacked at JNU, Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University.
https://twitter.com/search?f=tweets&q=women%20protest%20park%20circus&src=typd&lang=en
Just wow!!
Inspired by the women of #ShaheenBagh , women in Kolkata have started sitting in protest against CAA, NRC & NPR at Park Circus – Kolkata.
AND THE CHAIN WILL GO ON.. #ShaheenBaghProtest has been an inspiration..@IndiasMuslims @SidrahDP @deepsealioness @Ssaniya25 pic.twitter.com/uZ0YEWMJAe
— Saqlain Quadri™ (@ImSaqlainQuadri) January 7, 2020
Students from the Indian Statistical Institute formed a human chain and sang Jana Gana Mana on Wednesday afternoon to protest Sunday’s attack on students and teachers of Jawaharlal Nehru University. Reciting ‘Africa’ by Rabindranath Tagore and ‘Hum Dekhenge’ by Faiz at the ‘cultural assembly’, they spoke against the atmosphere of discrimination in the country.
https://twitter.com/anandavardhanan/status/1215106042956115968
Elo ora lohar hathkodi niye, nokh jader teekhno tomar nekrer cheye
And then they arrived, manacles in hand / Claws sharper by far than any on your wolves.
Tagore’s “Ode to Africa” at a cultural assembly at ISI Kolkata to protest the attack in/on JNU.https://t.co/2Ecr4IYUzO
— Anand (@anandavardhanan) January 9, 2020
3. New Delhi – The people of Delhi called people to join a protest against the JNU attacks starting from Mandi House. However, to quell the same, the Delhi Police imposed section 144 there. Yet, not cowered down by the police’s tactics, people sang and raised slogans condemning fascism.
https://twitter.com/Huzaifa_Aamir/status/1215245074251968512
Today Joined Citizens March From Mandi House to HRD Ministry against brutal attack of ABVP on #JNU studens and draconian laws CAA +NRC + NPR#CAA_NRC_Protest #JNUUnderAttack #IndiaAgainstCAA pic.twitter.com/D52EM275BN
— Huzaifa Aamir Rashadi (@Huzaifa_Aamir) January 9, 2020
After the attack on JNU students and faculty on the night of January 5, 2020, Delhi came together in condemnation of the shameful act. The protest continued at JNU, with actress Deepika Padukone standing in solidarity with the students at JNU.
https://twitter.com/Suresh_Mathew_/status/1214567803308523520
Actor @deepikapadukone meeting #AisheGhosh in #JNU. She’s at ground zero despite knowing the backlash it will receive from RW goons who will attempt to boycott her film which releases in two days. Coming from Deepika who has largely been silent on political issues this is BIG. pic.twitter.com/xaNTHpezfU
— Suresh Mathew (@Suresh_Mathew_) January 7, 2020
Even St. Stephen’s College, stood up for the students of JNU with students gathered under colourful umbrellas walking out of their classrooms, for the first time in 30 years, to actually take part in a protest, reported The Telegraph.
https://twitter.com/thefirstindia/status/1214897877199114240
The St Stephens College in Delhi joined other institutions in showing solidarity with other students in condemning the violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University.#StStephensCollege #JNUViolence #JNUSolidarity pic.twitter.com/D6rBOV9SN1
— First India (@thefirstindia) January 8, 2020
Thousands of students from Delhi University paid tribute to Swami Vivekananda and marched against the violence perpetrated on students and faculty members in universities across India in a silent protest.
https://twitter.com/sevadalBAK/status/1215173090256121857
Students of Delhi University pay tribute to Swami Vivekananda in a silent protest against violence perpetrated on students and faculty members in university campuses across India.
We salute these bravehearts. pic.twitter.com/DV5IhcXheL
— Banka Congress Sevadal (@sevadalBAK) January 9, 2020
4. Mumbai – Mumbai came to the streets immediately to condemn the attack on JNU students and teachers, starting with a peaceful protest at the Gateway of India.
https://twitter.com/ShifaShikalgar/status/1214838041694617600
Protest at Gateway of India from 6/1/20. Mumbai stand with Students of #JNU #AMU #JAMIA ??#StandWithJNU pic.twitter.com/3QBox3pTZb
— Shifa Shikalgar (@ShifaShikalgar) January 8, 2020
Bollywood celebrities staged a silent protest at Carter Road in Bandra to show their support for the JNU victims.
https://twitter.com/18AKGOYAL/status/1214739302858379264
Taapsee Pannu, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap & Other Bollywood Celebrities Join Mumbai Protest Against JNU Attack https://t.co/BM11rqwC6B
— ASHWANI KUMAR GOYAL (@18AKGOYAL) January 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/pencilpusher24/status/1214906947171999745
Some more visuals from the silent protest at Carter Road right now. pic.twitter.com/zFb4XyfEhi
— Gaurav Sarkar (@pencilpusher24) January 8, 2020
Thousands came out in support in various other areas like Mumbra with the hashtag #JNUWeWithYou.
https://twitter.com/Nafees1325/status/1215234741642973184
#JNUweWithYou students of mumbra and kausa protest in solidarity with JNU, JAMIA and AMU. pic.twitter.com/wbRNbvZXz4
— NAFEES AHMED SHAIKH (@Nafees1325) January 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/JD_Edits/status/1215261945256767488
Mumbra protest against jnu violence #JNUwewithyou #JNUTerrorAttack #JNUViolence pic.twitter.com/GLtZBaePpy
— J_Editsgfx (@JD_Edits) January 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/Saleh_Batlawala/status/1215255737875648512
9th January 2020
At Mittal Ground, Mumbra.
Students are like a complete body if one part is hurt the whole body will feel the discomfort.#CAAProtests #JNUweWithYou #NRC_CAA_Protests @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/94CVzGpIIF— Saleh Batlawala (@Saleh_Batlawala) January 9, 2020
Students of IIT Bombay too extended their support to JNU students and faculty.
https://twitter.com/couchbatata/status/1214428675736649728
IITB stands with #JNU pic.twitter.com/iT4p0XcgEP
— Divyanshu (@couchbatata) January 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/srivatsayb/status/1213885190872788992
And it begins..
Students of IIT Bombay protest against ABVP’s mob violence on JNU students. Several universities have started protesting across India
A NATIONWIDE STRIKE in solidarity with JNU must be called
Let every youth know what this govt is doingpic.twitter.com/hKq4jhughZ
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) January 5, 2020
https://twitter.com/IITB4Justice/status/1213889644258938881
Students of IIT Bombay in solidarity with students of JNU #JNUViolence #iitbwithjnu pic.twitter.com/Hpjltq19XA
— IITB4Justice (@IITB4Justice) January 5, 2020
5. Bangalore – Bangalore always showed up in solidarity with the people of India for the causes that mattered most. After heavily protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), students and various other professionals came out to voice their anger against the attack on the pupils of JNU.
https://twitter.com/TanuKul/status/1214049328366358528
Students of NLSIU and IIMB late on Sunday night had a candle light vigil against the brutal attack on students of JNU. More protests planned today @THBengaluru pic.twitter.com/VZgHC2eOrd
— Tanu (@TanuKul) January 6, 2020
https://twitter.com/AdityaJossen/status/1215245173183016960
Lawyers of Bangalore standing opposite the Vidhan Soudha, protesting against CAA & NRC and in solidarity with JNU. #bangaloreagainstcab #SolidarityWithJnu pic.twitter.com/CnrXP7TLPf
— Aditya Jossen (@AdityaJossen) January 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/iimb4justice/status/1214878719271038976
We, the members of IIM Bangalore community, strongly condemn the attack on the students and faculty of JNU. We extend our solidarity to JNU in this solidarity statement, signed by 271 members of IIMB Community. pic.twitter.com/wUFEJ5vlYy
— IC4J (@Ic4Justice) January 8, 2020
It’s true when they say that when it rains, it pours. The students of JNU who have been fighting for the longest time against the management’s decision to revoke the fee hike that if implemented, will lead to more than 40% of the students being bereft of quality education.
The dastardly attack by the alleged ABVP goons or the Hindu Raksha Dal which has claimed responsibility for the attack, has only brought together more people to support JNU’s cause. The attack which displayed the complicity of the police and the government, has today, once again brought together the future and the strength of India, its students, together to support inclusivity and foster democracy.
Related:
‘Killing Dissent’ – How the government has been silencing opposing ideas and voices
Police brutality in the wake of peaceful JNU protests
What Exactly Happened in JNU?