Panjab University Protest

Chandigarh: The recent Panjab University (PU) protest, originally a fight by students for democratic governance, has dramatically morphed into a volatile collision of academia and radical identity politics. What began as a demand against the Central government’s move to dismantle the elected Senate and Syndicate—the university’s highest decision-making bodies—quickly saw the entry of Sikh and Panthic organizations, some with alleged pro-Khalistan leanings, fundamentally changing the nature of the agitation. The core student issue was the Ministry of Education’s notification seeking to replace the autonomous, elected governance structure with a largely nominated one. Student unions united under the banner of the Panjab University Bachao Morcha to defend the university’s 143-year-old democratic tradition. The Ideological Bridge: Autonomy and Identity The student cause created a perfect ideological opening for Panthic and separatist groups to mobilize. Here is why these external forces became involved: 1. Framing the Fight as an Attack on Punjabi Identity Panjab University, established in Lahore in 1882, holds immense historical and emotional significance for Punjab. The move by the Central government to unilaterally restructure its governance was widely perceived as a direct assault on the institution’s autonomy and, by extension, on Punjab’s claim and influence over the institution (especially since Chandigarh remains a contested Union Territory). Panthic and Sikh organizations, including those that champion the cause of greater Sikh autonomy, immediately seized on this narrative. They framed the defense of the Senate not merely as an academic issue but as a crucial battle to protect a key Punjabi cultural and political asset from perceived “Central domination.” Slogans quickly shifted from campus-specific demands to political cries of “Panjab University Punjab Di” (Panjab University belongs to Punjab).   2. High-Profile Mobilization and Religious Symbolism The sheer scale of the student mobilization provided a powerful, high-visibility platform for these external groups. Key Figures: Prominent figures associated with radical and separatist movements joined the protests. This included Tarsem Singh, the father of jailed pro-Khalistan activist and MP Amritpal Singh. Panthic Outfits: Groups like the All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) played a significant role in escalating the protest. Members of the AISSF, led by figures like Kanwar Charat Singh (grandson of a former Damdami Taksal chief), were reportedly seen pushing past police barricades and storming the university gates. Symbolic Slogans: The shift in focus was most evident in the slogans raised, such as “Raj Karega Khalsa” (The Khalsa Shall Rule), which tied the democratic student demand to a radical political and religious identity. The sight of a Nihang on horseback entering the campus—as witnessed during the peak of the unrest—added a dramatic, martial, and explicitly religious dimension to what began as a university protest.   3. Leveraging Anti-Establishment Sentiment Student groups, particularly those on the left, are inherently anti-establishment, especially when opposing government measures that impact their democratic rights. Groups with a pro-Khalistan ideology share a fundamental anti-Centre and anti-establishment stance. This shared opposition to the ruling government at the Centre created an immediate, albeit temporary, alliance where the external groups could lend manpower and political weight to the agitation. Conclusion: A Crisis of Governance While the initial trigger for the protest—the dissolution of the Senate—had broad support across the political spectrum in Punjab, the involvement of radical elements turned it into a crisis of law and order and identity politics. The presence of these groups suggests an opportunistic move to leverage a mainstream grievance for their own political objectives, projecting an image of organizational strength and pushing their specific ideology onto the national stage. The result is a university campus that has become the latest battleground for a decades-old regional political struggle. Police Deployed as Students Stage Protest Over Senate Elections at Panjab University: Police Deployed as Students Stage Protest Over Senate Elections at Panjab University. This video shows the security arrangements and the scale of the protest demanding Senate elections at Panjab University.  

Chandigarh: The hallowed grounds of Panjab University (PU) in Chandigarh recently transformed into a theatre of confrontation, witnessing one of its largest mobilizations in decades. What began as a student hunger strike quickly escalated, culminating in thousands of protestors—including students, political leaders, and social activists—breaching campus gates in a forceful assertion of dissent. While the immediate flashpoint was the clash between protestors and police, the real story brewing on the PU campus is not just about a local law-and-order situation. It is a critical battle for the soul of Indian public higher education, touching upon issues of institutional democracy, federal balance, and the alarming erosion of student voices nationwide.   The Spark: An Attack on Autonomy The current turmoil is rooted in two key administrative moves, both perceived as an attempt to centralize power and suppress dissent:   1. The Undermining of Governance The most significant issue was the Union Ministry of Education’s notification to radically restructure the University’s apex governing bodies: the Senate and the Syndicate. The Senate’s strength was set to be drastically reduced from 91 to 31. The elected nature of the bodies, which ensures representation for students, faculty, and alumni, was to be replaced with a system dominated by nominated and ex officio members. Protestors argued this move effectively dismantled the 59-year-old democratic structure of PU, stripping the university of its unique autonomy and converting it into a centrally controlled entity.   2. The Affidavit of Silence A secondary, though equally controversial, demand was the withdrawal of a mandatory ‘no-protest affidavit’ required from students. Students condemned this as an “undemocratic” attempt to criminalize and pre-empt legitimate student activism and dissent on campus. The student movement achieved an early victory when the university was forced to formally withdraw this controversial affidavit. The Clash: A Political Show of Force The student-led ‘Panjab University Bachao Morcha’ (Save Panjab University Front) called for a campus shutdown, which quickly drew support from outside. On the day of the escalation, a massive crowd—swelled by representatives from Punjab-based political parties, farmer organisations, and Sikh groups—stormed the gates. Barricades were pushed aside, and Gates No. 1 and 2 were breached. The Vice-Chancellor, Renu Vig, publicly lamented that the situation had ceased to be a student issue and had turned into a “political mobilisation by external elements,” warning against turning the academic institution into a “theatre for power contests.” This dramatic physical confrontation brought the crisis into the national spotlight, demonstrating the scale of popular resistance against the proposed administrative changes.   The Bigger Issue: Why PU is a National Microcosm The Panjab University saga is a reflection of three crucial national challenges facing public higher education: 1. The Battle for Institutional Democracy The attempt to replace the Senate’s elected majority with nominated members is symptomatic of a broader trend of “de-democratisation” in higher education across India. By reducing the size and elective strength of governing bodies, critics argue the government is implementing governance reforms suggested by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in a way that minimizes independent oversight and consolidates control under central authorities, stifling the collective voice of the academic community. 2. Federal Tussle and Regional Identity Panjab University holds a unique position as an inter-state body corporate, funded by the Centre and the state of Punjab. It is viewed by many as a symbol of Punjab’s historical and cultural legacy. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was vocal in his opposition, labelling the Central government’s notification as “unconstitutional” and an infringement on the state’s rights. The protest, therefore, became a demonstration of regional pride and federal resistance against perceived central overreach into an institution intrinsically linked to the history of Punjab. 3. The Crisis of Public Funding Beneath the governance issue lies the chronic financial instability of PU, which struggles with a significant deficit. Critics argue that moves toward centralized control often pave the way for a shift in funding models—potentially leading to higher fees, reduced access for economically weaker sections, and a move toward privatization. Students fear that a nominated body, insulated from the needs of the stakeholders, will be more inclined to enforce unpopular decisions like fee hikes to manage the funding crunch imposed by constrained Central grants. Conclusion: A Temporary Retreat, A Continuing War Following intense criticism and mass protests, the Union Ministry of Education was eventually compelled to rescind the notification that immediately brought the Senate amendments into effect, effectively putting the changes on hold. This is a victory for organized student dissent and the coalition of forces that supported the ‘Panjab University Bachao Morcha’. However, the substance of the amendments remains drafted, and the underlying issues—PU’s funding crisis and the national debate over autonomy versus centralization in higher education—are far from resolved. The events in Chandigarh serve as a stark reminder that the fight for affordable, accessible, and democratically governed public universities is an ongoing struggle across India, one that extends far beyond the perimeter of the Panjab University campus.