Students at the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) have reported that the administration barred them from hosting an event focused on political prisoners in India, specifically those detained under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The administration described the event as “anti-government” and referred to the individuals featured in the program as “rioters.”
The planned event, in collaboration with the Progressive Reading Circle and the Fraternity Movement, was intended to commemorate Jatin Das Martyrdom Day and Political Prisoners Day. However, it was prohibited after the administration denied permission and allegedly threatened students with disciplinary actions.
Organizers noted that seeking permission for such open programs is uncommon, except when hall arrangements are required. “When we announced the program, the administration summoned us to the proctor’s office, claiming it was ‘anti-governmental’ and requested a letter submission via the student union,” said one organizer from the Fraternity Movement.
On the day of the event, further meetings with the proctorial board, dean of students, and deputy dean of student welfare took place, where they reiterated the refusal to allow the program, referring to the individuals in the promotional materials as “rioters.”
The posters for the gathering included the names of various UAPA prisoners, such as anti-CAA activists Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fathima, Umar Khalid, and Khalid Saifi, as well as human rights activist Jyoti Jagtap and several others.
Students indicated that despite pointing out that similar events had proceeded at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Hyderabad Central University (HCU), the EFLU administration maintained its stance, issuing threats of disciplinary action through a show-cause notice under university regulations. Allegedly, the administration employed surveillance to prevent the event from occurring.
One organizer from the Progressive Reading Circle remarked that “democratic spaces in central universities like EFLU are diminishing, enforced by the administration under state guidance.” He highlighted the suppression of student dissent on politically relevant topics.
A joint statement by the Progressive Reading Circle, Fraternity Movement EFLU, MSF EFLU Hyderabad, and NSUI EFLU denounced the administration’s decision, asserting it revealed the “undemocratic nature” of the leadership and raised alarms about the decreasing space for democratic discussions.
“While we honor revolutionaries like Jatin Das and their fight against injustice, we must also discuss contemporary activists who endure imprisonment for questioning state actions,” the statement added. The groups emphasized that as dissent is increasingly classified as unlawful, fostering discussions becomes essential to maintain democratic engagement.
Participants called on the student community to oppose what they termed arbitrary decisions by the EFLU administration. One student accused the same administration of organizing an exhibition on Partition Remembrance Day, which some viewed as promoting anti-Muslim sentiment by framing Partition as the fault of Jinnah’s Muslim League.
The student also noted that last year, an event related to Palestine during Solidarity Week faced administrative pushback, while the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a pro-Hindu nationalist student group, is frequently granted permissions without restrictions.
This discrepancy underscores concerns that university spaces are becoming extensions of a “Hindutva agenda,” with systematic suppression of dissent. The students contend that academic environments are increasingly influenced by Hindu nationalist ideologies, warning that stifling dissent undermines democratic principles.
They concluded by emphasizing that the denial of dissent is part of ongoing efforts to saffronize university campuses.
Tags: EFLU, political prisoners, student gathering, administration censorship, anti-government event
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