Why JNU’s abrupt U-turn on hostel for North East students is causing concern

For nearly a decade, students from the North East looked forward to having a dedicated hostel for them at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi.

In 2016, the university had signed an agreement with the central government’s North East Council, which promotes the development of India’s northeastern region, to build a new hostel on campus, primarily for students from the North East.

The council funded the construction of Barak hostel, named after a river that flows through Manipur, Mizoram and Assam.

However, when the new hostel was inaugurated earlier this month, the students received an unpleasant shock.

The university’s vice-chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit declared that there would be no reservation in the hostel for students from the North East. “JNU believes in unity,” the vice-chancellor is heard saying in a video shared by students. “It doesn’t believe in isolating any community on the campus.”

She added, “JNU follows the Constitution of India. No separation of any identity on this campus.”

Further, she said, “tomorrow if Maharashtra wants to give or if Tamil Nadu gives, then we cannot set up a hostel just for students from that state.”

But students point out that the memorandum of understanding that the university signed with the North East Council in 2016 stated, “JNU will ensure that the seat...

Read more

News