For 19 years Jamia Millia Islamia had no elected student union. For 13 days, five students ate nothing to bring it back. On Monday morning, October 26, the university blinked.
Registrar Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi issued a written order: "The Jamia Millia Islamia Students Union Election will be held after 15 days from the date of approval of the constitution." The order, issued after Sunday night meeting between officials and hunger strikers at Gate 7, also revokes suspension and show-cause notices issued during protest and constitutes a committee to inquire into security staff actions. Protesters, led by PhD scholar Sanam on indefinite sit-in at Gulistan-e-Ghalib lawns and four others — Jasim Khan, Ebin Basil, Faizan Haider, Rehan — agreed to call off hunger strike. In return, they will publicly apologise for offensive social media posts against administration.
The agitation began October 12 demanding restoration of JMISU dissolved in 2006 after campus violence. Last election was 2006; since then, Jamia, a central university with 23,000 students, had nominated office bearers, not elected. Students demanded direct democracy — the same demand that sparked Serbia's student movement that toppled Aleksandar Vucic this week, and Brazil's youth mobilisation for Lula.
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Jamia's response was textbook administrative lockdown. October 18 — high-level committee formed. October 21 — five-member committee under Dean Zubair Meenai to draft constitution under Articles 23(J)(K) of JMI Act 1988, referencing Lyngdoh Committee 2007, to submit draft by December 20, consulting stakeholders. October 24 — all classes shifted online until further notice for safety, Dr Zakir Husain Library and Old Library closed, heavy police at Gate 7. Two ambulances called to take away hunger strikers after security guards removed tents and banners near political science department. Law department students held black coat march October 23.
The university claimed Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Imran Masood visiting campus disturbed environment, filed complaint with Delhi Police. More than 1,500 staff marched October 25 from Ansari Auditorium to Gate 7 to urge protesters to end agitation. Students alleged force, vandalism of tents.
Why does Jamia's union matter? Jamia was epicentre of anti-CAA protests December 2019 — police entered library, beat students. Since then, administration has been wary of unions. Without elected union, students had no institutional channel to raise hostel, mess, fee, harassment issues. Rustication became tool — three students rusticated this week alone.
Analytically, agreement is partial victory. Constitution approval timeline not fixed — 15 days after approval means election may slip to March 2027 if draft delayed. Revoking suspensions is relief but apology clause shows power asymmetry — students must apologise for dissent.
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For Delhi University belt — DUSU held September, JNUSU April — Jamia's election restoration could rekindle campus democracy debate. If Jamia can hold free polls after 19 years, why not AMU, which hasn't held since 2018?
If administration honours written commitment, Jamia will breathe freely again, like Belgrade did Sunday.
*Tags:* #JamiaMilliaIslamia #JMISU #HungerStrike #StudentUnion #Gate7 #LyngdohCommittee #CampusDemocracy #MazharAsif #DelhiPolice #CAA