Campuses in Struggle, Unions in Power: How Do Indian Universities Speak?
Ramadas Prini Sivanandan
In the shifting landscape of Indian higher education, we are witnessing a dangerous assault on student democracy. Across campuses, a large number of institutions do not have student unions, and, on the other hand, existing elected student unions have been suspended or rendered defunct. Dissent is criminalized, and student voices are pushed to the margins by authoritarian administrations aligned with the right wing. In such times, defending the very idea of a student union becomes not just a political demand but a democratic necessity
This issue of Student Struggle brings together stories from campuses where SFI has been at the forefront of that defence. In many of these universities, elections did not resume on their own, they were won back through sustained struggles led by politically conscious, organised students. Hunger strikes, protest marches, sit-ins, and everyday resistance made possible what administrations long denied: the right of students to elect their own representatives.
These unions, now led by SFI members in campuses from Pondicherry to Delhi, are not mere symbolic structures. They are living, breathing spaces of resistance, inclusion, and accountability. They challenge the politics of muscle and money, confront caste and gender injustice, and demand that universities belong to students, not bureaucracies. In doing so, they offer alternative models of campus democracy- ones that center student welfare, academic freedom, and political participation.
These are incomplete stories- snapshots of ongoing struggles, victories, and challenges. But we hope they serve as an introduction, a spark, for comrades across universities to reflect, connect, and be inspired. On behalf of Student Struggle, we are proud to bring a few of these experiences together, and we look forward to amplifying many more voices from the frontlines of student activism.
The fight for campus democracy is far from over. But these unions- and the students who lead them- remind us that it is a fight worth waging, and one that can be won.
Pondicherry Central University
🧾 Aijaz Anand
🏫 Male Executive Council Member
🟥 SFI holds 14 out of 15 council members, an alliance with BSF
🗳️ SFI in Union Since: 2019; elections held after 5 years
Last year, Pondicherry University witnessed a landmark student-led struggle. On October 31, 2024, SFI spearheaded the Admin Chalo protest demanding the rollback of fee hikes, improvement in infrastructure, reconstitution of the ICC, and most critically, the revival of student council elections after five years. Over 150 students marched to the VC’s office, launching an indefinite sit-in after he refused to engage. Despite facing administrative threats, intimidation by professors, and withheld conduct certificates, students stood their ground. The protest space became a site of political education with Study Circle sessions and movie screenings. After nine days of indefinite protest—including a 28-hour hunger strike—the administration finally initiated dialogue, and elections were announced in December.
Repression, however, hasn’t ceased. On August 12, peaceful protests were met with physical assaults, particularly against women students, by male security personnel, reportedly encouraged by senior officials. Beyond overt violence, subtle forms of repression persist: delays in council file movements and unexplained cancellations of events like a football tournament. The presence of RSS affiliates in other clubs/initiatives further adds to a climate of intimidation.
While many students remain apolitical, frustrated yet disengaged, there is a politically conscious section that believes deeply in the importance of an active union. Aijaz finds his joy in solidarity: “It was never about individual glory. The collective strength of comradeship made every effort meaningful.”
University of Hyderabad
🧾 Nihad Sulaiman M
🏫 General Secretary, Students’ Union
🟥 SFI holds 2 key positions (General Secretary and ICC-GSCASH PG Rep)
🗳️ SFI in Union Since: 2008
Hyderabad Central University witnessed one of the most politically charged student struggles in recent years. When the Telangana Government planned to sell 400 acres of university forest land to private entities, a massive agitation erupted, led by the Left-Ambedkarite panel in the students’ union. The administration’s silence pushed students into action, and soon the protests targeted the Congress-led state government as well. The campus became a flashpoint: 54 students were detained, two scholars were charged with inciting riots, and the Telangana CM publicly vilified protesting students, calling them “cunning foxes” while his IT cell ran a smear campaign. Despite these attacks, the movement’s legal success, with the Supreme Court staying the land transfer, marked a major win.
Last year, the administration abruptly dissolved the union without a General Body Meeting, circulating the notice at 5 AM. SFI resisted, but elections were rushed through to suppress dissent. The ABVP also attempted to hijack teacher-led protests, further polarising the campus.
While many students remain committed to the legacy of activist unions since the 1990s, a segment now views the union as merely an event-hosting body. Nihad reflects on the movement with pride: “Seeing the whole campus community rise together, students, teachers, workers, was powerful. The Supreme Court victory was ours.”
English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad
🧾 Aardra A
🏫 Vice President, Students’ Council
🟥 SFI holds 2 core posts and 7 councillor positions
🗳️ SFI in Union Since: 2024
EFLU’s student politics took a decisive turn following a campus-wide protest in October 2023, after the sexual assault of a female student. Outraged by the administration’s inaction, students mobilised en masse, demanding accountability, safer infrastructure, and functional redressal mechanisms. The sustained protests led to the conduct of long-pending student union elections as well as the election of ICC student representatives. This movement transformed the campus climate, with students witnessing tangible improvements in safety and institutional responsiveness, a testament to the power of collective resistance.
However, the administration’s retaliation was swift. Several students were detained, and FIRs continue to be filed against many who participated in the protest. Repeated appeals to drop these charges have been ignored, revealing an increasingly common trend in Indian campuses, where students raising legitimate concerns are criminalised rather than heard. Legal intimidation has become a tool to suppress dissent, eroding the very ethos of democratic education.
While a large number of students remain politically disengaged, many now understand the significance of having a functional student council and ICC representation. Aardra recalls one moment of transformation: “Our open amphitheatre wasn’t accessible to many differently abled students. Getting ramps installed and seeing them participate in campus events, sometimes for the first time-was deeply fulfilling.”
University of Delhi
🧾 Mehina Fathima Shihab
🏫 Student Representative, DU ICC
🟥 SFI holds 1 out of 3 elected student ICC seats
🗳️ SFI in Union Since: 2024
A major student-driven campaign that shook Delhi University last year was SFI’s push for a Concessional Metro Pass for students. The initiative, backed by over 60,000 student signatures and multiple protests, gained traction across campuses and even drew a favourable response from Delhi’s outgoing Chief Minister. The demand remains active, and the campaign continues to galvanise student voices.
While DUSU elections are notorious for money, muscle, and caste-based politics, a shift is emerging. SFI’s clean, issue-based campaign won it 9,000 votes in the 2024 elections, despite lacking the resources or backing enjoyed by dominant student groups. This shift signals growing disillusionment among students and a slow turn towards progressive alternatives.
Campus democracy in DU, however, remains under attack. Reading circles are violently disrupted, and student activists are subjected to police surveillance and harassment. The ABVP operates with impunity, promoting an aggressive saffronisation agenda and routinely using violence to crush dissent.
Despite this, students are recognising the need for genuine representation. “In the ICC, I’m proud that students now feel safe to file complaints,” says Mehina. “We’ve been able to raise issues around gender neutrality and trans inclusion. But the goal remains a full return to a GSCASH-like system.”
Kerala University of Health Sciences
🧾 Febin John
🏫 Chairperson
🟥 SFI holds all 16 union seats
🗳️ SFI in Union Since: Inception of the University
In the most recent elections, SFI secured victories across the Executive Council, Students Council, and Senate, defeating UDSF. However, the union faces serious challenges from the university administration. The Vice Chancellor, with known Sangh affiliations, has been directly interfering in student matters- deliberately targeting SFI’s functioning and attempting to delegitimise its role.
The repression is not limited to one-off incidents. A recent directive issued by the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) banned political activities in SIMET Nursing Colleges, reflecting a broader attempt to curtail student politics across affiliated institutions and reduce SFI’s growing influence.
Despite this, students across KUHS recognise the importance of an active, accountable union. The University Union is deeply embedded in student life and has earned trust by intervening effectively in day-to-day issues. “One of my happiest moments,” recalls Febin, “was helping 60 PG students at Government Medical College, Trivandrum, resolve issues around thesis submission. The relief on their faces was priceless.”
B. Borooah College (Autonomous), Assam
🧾 Alok Narah
🏫 Assistant General Secretary
🟥 2 SFI Members in Union
🗳️ SFI in Union Since: 2023 (After 17 Years)
B. Borooah College, under Gauhati University, is witnessing a slow but significant political shift on campus. After a 17-year absence, SFI re-entered student union elections and secured two key positions. While there were no major protest movements within the college itself, the union has been actively responding to broader educational crises: delays in result publication, the imposition of FYUGP, NEP-related disruptions, faculty shortages, and the rollback of scholarships. SFI organised protests and student surveys across Gauhati and Dibrugarh Universities to unify student concerns.
Despite this activism, SFI members at the college face systemic discrimination. The administration has blocked visits from SFI leaders while giving ABVP a free hand. During one membership drive, Alok and another comrade were verbally abused and manhandled by ABVP leaders, reflecting an increasingly polarised and repressive campus climate.
Still, Alok finds meaning in the solidarity of students during events: “Their support keeps us going,” he says, even as they battle bias within a union dominated by ABVP and overlooked by the administration.
Ambedkar University Delhi
🧾 Sharanya
🏫 Treasurer
🟥 SFI holds 24 of 44 council seats
🗳️ SFI in Union Since: First election, leading the union for all three terms
At Ambedkar University Delhi, the fight to bring back student union elections stands out as a defining struggle. After six years of administrative silence, the SFI unit initiated sustained campaigns demanding the restoration of student democracy. What followed was three months of intense mobilisation meetings, posters, petitions, and protests-ultimately compelling the administration to restart elections. The SFI-led panel won an overwhelming majority in the polls.
Victory, however, came with backlash. Just a day after the results, three SFI activists were suspended without any notice or inquiry. When students protested this high-handedness, five more activists, including two elected union representatives, were suspended after being assaulted by university security for seeking a meeting with the Vice Chancellor.
Despite repression, the campus has become more politically active. Many students, previously unfamiliar with union structures, are now engaging. Sharanya reflects on a powerful moment: “When over 150 students joined our ‘March for Justice’ in solidarity with suspended comrades, it was a reminder that student unity can’t be suppressed. The class boycott and the cultural day of solidarity that followed made us believe that AUD’s student community stands tall- together.”
Kerala University
🧾 S. Ashwin & Govind A V
🏫 Chairman & General Secretary
🟥 SFI holds 24 out of 37 seats
🗳️ SFI in Union Since: Continuing in office for Decades now
Kerala University’s student union was elected last year as a historic all-women panel, but the administration, under a Sangh parivar-associated Vice Chancellor and the then-Governor’s intervention, barred the union from assuming office. The swearing-in ceremony was not allowed, funds weren’t released, and for an entire year, the elected representatives were denied their democratic rights. SFI led relentless agitations: protests, arrests, and legal battles, with some comrades jailed for 33 days. Only after a High Court order and sustained pressure resulted in another election, and a union could finally begin functioning on April 10, 2024, though under restrictive conditions.
The administration’s repression continued as withholding certificates (even for cultural events), delaying student welfare files, and sabotaging union activities. The absence of a full-time VC and the current VC’s RSS affection exacerbate the crisis. Despite this, students increasingly recognise the union’s necessity, especially after SFI’s campaigns highlighted issues like scholarship delays, infrastructure neglect, and political victimisation. While political engagement had declined, SFI’s struggles have reignited belief in collective action. Students now see the union not as a luxury but a necessity. The union, once suppressed, is now a living force, proving that even the most entrenched repression can be overturned.
For Ashwin and Govind, the struggle is deeply personal. “Seeing comrades jailed for demanding basic democratic rights was painful, but the solidarity kept us going,” says Ashwin. Govind adds, “When we resolved a hostel water shortage or fought for delayed exam results, the relief on students’ faces made us feel worth fighting.” The union’s very existence today is a testament to protests and legal resistance; a model of how to reclaim campus democracy from authoritarian forces.
Ramadas is a Central Executive Committee Member of SFI and an Editorial Board Member, Student Struggle.