Declaration of Emergency in JNU overturned

The Declaration of Emergency in JNU overturned by Students’ Struggle to Uphold Freedom of Expression on Campus

Behind the ‘democratic’ and ‘liberal’ mask of the UPA regime is its true face — its authoritarian colors which stand in favour of nothing but corporate interests. In universities and academic institutions the UPA seeks professions of loyalty rather academic quality. They speak of academic ‘excellence’ and ‘merit’; they speak of ‘world class’ universities. But what they actually want is that universities should become enclaves for the wealthy or else institutes preparing semi-skilled workers for sweatshops. Through the Lyngdoh Recommendations, they sought to do away with student unions. And now, even our basic political and cultural rights of debate and discussion are being snatched away.

The footfalls of such neoliberal censorship have recently come knocking at the doorstep of JNU. A recent circular issued by the JNU Administration tried to lay down a “Format for Seeking Permission For Booking Hostel Premises For Film Screenings, Public Meetings And Cultural Activities”. In the name of official procedure, it sought to implement a regime of fascist cultural censorship, regulating and dictating terms for the conduct of political and cultural activities on campus. Some of the highlights of this circular included:

• Public meetings on campus involve debates that often continue into the early hours of the morning. But the administration wanted the applicant to specify in advance the ‘start-time — end time’ of the event as well as “an approximate number of persons expected to turn up”. What else does this show but complete ignorance of how JNU’s democratic culture works?

• The circular even went to the ludicrous extent of asking students to specify “whether the event will be followed by talk/discussion”. But unlike the calculated applause manufactured on official functions, the students of JNU have always left open the space to question, discuss and even contradict.

• Applications seeking permission were supposed to be submitted “at least one week in advance”. But what of meetings that are held in response to pressing national issues or for groups or individuals who may be in the city for a short while?

• The circular states that “No film/documentary can be screened without Censor Board certification”. But JNU is not a commercial theatre. Films screened here are often those that the state would not “deem fit for viewing” because they expose the true face of the state in all its hypocrisy, violence and brutality.

• And we save the best for the last. The circular says that “Any talk/meeting that may be sensitive to national integration/ national harmony  and may have implication for national security will not be permitted.” And who will define what is “sensitive” (a rather vague term in itself) to national integration/harmony/security? This right-wing administration that has perpetually allowed venomous communal pamphlets to go unattended? If this circular is implemented then JNU would no longer raise its voice against the status quo but sing only whatever tune the political powers-that-be are singing.

This perverted definition of ‘student welfare’ seeks to transform students from sensitive, concerned and questioning citizens into automatons looking for approval certificates. The present circular is the most shameful expression of this design.

Throughout their tenure, the present JNU VC and administration have cultivated a most hostile atmosphere towards the student community through draconian punishments, refusal of dialogue, and ignoring all genuine demands. They have tried at every point to curb JNU’s democratic culture and its democratic spaces. The present circular is the latest and most naked expression of this repressive agenda. Having tried to change JNU’s democratic ethos in every possible manner, the present administration is now trying to perpetuate its repressive regime by changing the very act and statutes that govern JNU, so as to give the present Vice Chancellor a second term!

This series of orchestrated measures was meant to turn a vibrant campus like JNU into a campus like BHU where all democracy is dead. For three consecutive days, the students of JNU came out agaisnt the illogical, arbitrary and high handed JNU administration and their attempts to curb the cherished spaces of film screening, public meetings and other cultural activities.

Due to the united effort of the student community more than 1000 protest signatures were collected against the circular in less than 24 hours since last night. During the protest demonstration on 7th April students also burnt a copy of this fascist circular. Following the demonstration, a joint delegation of students met the Associate Dean in whose name the circular was issued. The Associate dean agreed to take back the present circular and stick to prevailing norms of holding programmes followed in Tapti hostel. Students have also demanded that due flexibility should be given to hold programmes on emergency basis with a short notice as well.

Voices speak freely in JNU which have been stifled elsewhere. Without students’ rights to free expression, to film screenings, public meetings and cultural programmes, JNU will lose its vitality. It might remain a campus, but it will not be worthy of being called a ‘university’.

AISA congratulates all those progressive sections of the campus community, students and teachers alike, who spontaneously rose up in protest and through their large participation in the demonstration forced the JNU administration to roll back its draconian circular.