Jamia Journal Independent Student-run News Website of Jamia Millia Islamia (a Central University)
On Wednesday afternoon, Dec.19 — in response to the brutal rape that took place last Sunday — hundreds of students from several colleges and universities in Delhi gathered at India Gate to protest against the growing incidence of crimes against women.
Students were angry that crimes against women are on an increase while the police does little to curb this menace. Women are molested and raped everyday and the government is either to incompetent or lack the will to do anything about it. Criminals roam the street with virtual impunity, was the general sense among students at the protest.
There were voices that demanded justice for victims of rape, which for some meant castration of the rapists, while for others anything short of death by hanging was tantamount to a grave miscarriage of justice.
Comment by the Author
Although students from all major colleges and universities took part in the protest, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students comprised the majority. It would not be wrong to say, the protest movement in Delhi is being spearheaded by the JNU Students Union.
It is difficult for me to comment on the representation of students from other universities, but what I can comment on is representation by Jamia students. It is with great disappointment that I have to say that representation by Jamia’s students was practically non-existent at the protest. I could only recognize three students from Jamia. It is likely there to have been more, but they were so few that they could not get their presence registered. And unfortunately, this is usually the case. I’ve been to many student-led demonstrations in Delhi before but I rarely see any significant student representation from Jamia.
I believe the apathy displayed by Jamia students towards contentious social and political issues in our society is a cause for serious concern. How is it that students, especially students of social science, spend years studying society and its problems, and yet be so inactive and indifferent to the problems around them. What could be the reason for such a lack of interest in society I wonder.
Scenes from the Event:
Pictures:
*click on an image to enlarge.
Video:
Watch a short video of the protest on Youtube here:
Dear Khalid,
We have students “discussing over” google groups why DSSW has been inactive in these protests? Please read this with all the satire you could muster up. I mean, the protests are happening right here in your own city for Christ’s sake. Get out and participate. So, I empathize with you.