In Cartoon: The Saga of JNU’s HLEC and Students’ Resistance

The beginning of winter semester in Jawaharlal Nehru University had witnessed unprecedented events including police crackdown and arrests of students, which snowballed into a massive student resistance for campus democracy and against state repression. After months of massive student-teacher protests, the academic activities in the campus were getting back to normal. It was the month of April with students in Jawaharlal Nehru University were getting ready for their final semester exams and rushing to complete their projects and assignments. This was the time for which JNU administration was waiting to drop another bomb on students with a hastily appointed and politically motivated High Level Enquiry Committee (HLEC) rusticating Comrade Umar, Anriban and Mujeeb. Also Comrade Kanhaiya, Ashutosh, Aishwarya and others were fined for their role in ‘indiscipline’ surrounding the February 9th incident.

Teachers and students of JNU in the beginning itself had rejected the HLEC accusing it of being politically motivated with its members belonging to right wing ideology. The HLEC punished all the students of vague terms of ‘indiscipline’ and based on evidences many of which has been proved doctored by Delhi Government’s magisterial enquiry.

The students decided to go on a hunger strike and fight back against the punishment imposed by HLEC. Just a few hours after the announcement of hunger strike by JNUSU, ABVP JNU Unit also decided to go on hunger strike to revoke fine imposed on its member and JNUSU Joint Secretary. ABVP tried to disrupt every cultural program conducted in solidarity with JNUSU hunger strikers and even brought in ABVP members from DU unit including the DUSU President Satinder Awana. While JNUSU was fighting against the HLEC and, insensitive and anti-student attitude by JNU Vice Chancellor, ABVP members abused and tried to provoke JNUSU and other left party members on hunger strike.

Meanwhile while the hunger strike was going on, the JNU Administration was busy printing more notices for proctor enquiry on previous issues including the screening of ‘Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai’ documentary. JNU students responded to this notice by organizing a public screening of the documentary at the famous Freedom Square in JNU.

Rather than coming forward and having dialogue with students, JNU VC decided to threaten students and teachers with ‘appeals’. The first one warned students against the continuing the hunger strike and termed it as ‘unlawful activity’. The second ‘appeal’ was for teachers warning them not to invite ‘outsiders’ (read as JNU alumni and civil society members) to campus. And in case they fail to follow VC’s order the ‘appeal’ threatened of forceful eviction of ‘outsiders’. On the very next movement, JNU Teachers Association decided to go on relay hunger strike against VC’s threat and in solidarity with students. Large number of JNU alumni members, mothers and grandmothers (on mother’s day), and civil society activists also joined in for a one day hunger strike.

Comrades from Bhagana struggle, trade unions and queer community also stood in solidarity with JNU’s hunger strikers. May 10th was the D-Day, the day of Academic Council meeting and also the 14th Day of hunger strike. Teachers and students were prepared to push the issue of HLEC in the academic council and force the VC to speak. One hour after the beginning of AC meeting, the VC ran away from the meeting accompanied by his loyal friend Hanuman Sharma, Controller of Examination.

It was later found out that VC had abruptly adjourned the AC meeting after finding him in minority and majority of teachers wanting to discuss the issue of HLEC in as an emergency agenda. For the first time in the history of an Academic Council the VC ran away from the meeting. The students and teachers couldn’t believe their eyes- they had just witnessed the most comic scene of the semester!

Meanwhile, the hunger strike entered its 15th day with student and teachers waiting for justice.

V. Arun Kumar is a political cartoonist and publishes his cartoon under the name Rebel Politik. He is also a research scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Twitter: arun_worldpeace

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