From Hunger Strike to Victory March: Jamia students celebrate breakthrough after 18-day protest

Students of Jamia Millia Islamia will hold a victory march on campus today to celebrate restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union (JMISU) after nearly 20 years. The march comes after the university administration accepted all three demands raised by protesting students, bringing an end to their 18-day agitation. The United Students of Jamia march will take place at Gulistan-e-Ghalib Lawn near Gate No. 7 of the university. The event is being organised to celebrate the students' collective struggle and reaffirm their commitment to student unity, democratic rights and campus democracy.

The announcement comes after the university administration's October 29 order approving the implementation of students' union constitution, setting May 15, 2027, as the deadline for its completion. The administration has also agreed to conduct student union elections within six weeks of the commencement of the next academic session, in accordance with the Lyngdoh Committee guidelines.

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Jamia Registrar Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi said the draft constitution would include student representatives from every faculty, along with professors and legal experts. The draft will be reviewed by students and the university committee before being sent to stakeholders for comments, legal vetting, the Academic Council, the Executive Council and the visitor's nominee for final approval.

The university has also agreed to revoke ongoing show-cause notices, disciplinary inquiries, rustication, suspensions and campus-ban orders issued against students during the protest period.

Congress reacts to Jamia students' protest outcome

Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said Jamia students had won and that student power had prevailed. In a post on X, he said, "The students of Jamia Millia Islamia Central University have won!"

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Venugopal alleged that the BJP-controlled administration had attempted to divide and defame the students during the agitation. He also claimed that NSUI leaders were sent to Tihar Jail for participating in the protest. He praised the students for their non-violent struggle and said the outcome should serve as a lesson for those attempting to suppress the voices of young people.

Jamia to resume offline classes, exams from Nov 2

Meanwhile, the university has announced that offline classes and examinations for all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes will resume from November 2. All mid-semester, end-semester and other scheduled examinations will be conducted in physical mode, according to the registrar's notice issued on October 29. The university had earlier extended online classes until November 24 and announced that practical and viva examinations for the odd semester would be held online amid the protests. Students have now been directed to attend classes regularly and appear for examinations according to their respective department and faculty schedules.

The agitation began on October 12, with students demanding the restoration of the students' union and a definite timeline for elections. The protest, which included a hunger strike, continued for 18 days as students pressed for an elected representative body after nearly two decades without union polls. The JMI administration had also alleged vandalism on campus during the agitation, claiming that gates and CCTV systems were damaged.