Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. NEW DELHI: The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Saturday welcomed the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union, describing it as a historic triumph for student democracy and a powerful testament to the courage, determination and collective strength of students who fought a prolonged battle to reclaim their democratic rights after nearly two decades.
The Association said the university administration’s decision to concede to the demands of protesting students marks a significant milestone in Jamia’s institutional history and reaffirms the power of peaceful, sustained and collective democratic resistance. It said the restoration of the Students’ Union is not merely an administrative decision but a recognition of students’ legitimate right to representation, participation and a meaningful voice in university governance.
National Convenor of JKSA, Nasir Khuehami, said that after 18 consecutive days of an intense and determined hunger strike, the university administration finally agreed to recognise and restore the Students’ Union, paving the way for the revival of an elected representative body at the university.
"This victory has not come easily. It has been earned through immense sacrifice, determination, courage and perseverance. Despite intimidation, restrictions and repeated attempts to weaken their movement, Jamia’s students stood their ground and remained steadfast in their democratic demands. Their 18-day hunger strike and sustained agitation compelled the administration to acknowledge the legitimacy of their struggle. Those who underestimated the strength of collective resistance and student unity have witnessed what determined students can achieve when they stand together for their rights," Khuehami said.
He observed that the struggle and sacrifices of Jamia’s students, along with their unwavering commitment to democratic principles, would always occupy a special place in the university’s history. Their perseverance, he said, has once again underlined the importance of student representation, democratic participation and institutional accountability in institutions of higher learning.
Khuehami further pointed out that the movement had endured an extraordinary series of challenges, including show-cause notices, disciplinary proceedings, suspensions, campus restrictions, locked gates, restricted access, disruption of academic activities, police intervention, detentions, registration of FIRs and judicial proceedings. Several student leaders were also sent to judicial custody during the course of the agitation.
"They barricaded our gates, but could not barricade our voices. They attempted to restrict our movement, but could not restrict our aspirations. Jamia has won. Its students have won. This is a victory of courage over intimidation, unity over division and democratic aspirations over every attempt to silence student voices," he remarked.
Congratulating the entire Jamia fraternity, Khuehami said the restoration of the Students’ Union should not be viewed merely as a step towards holding elections or establishing an elected representative body; rather, it represents the reclamation of an essential democratic space within the university.
He emphasised that an elected Students’ Union serves as a legitimate institutional platform through which students can articulate their concerns, represent their interests, engage constructively with the university administration and participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their academic and campus lives. Student representation, he added, is fundamental to building a vibrant, inclusive, transparent and accountable university environment.
The JKSA National Convenor expressed hope that the restoration would usher in a new chapter in Jamia’s institutional history, rooted in dialogue, mutual respect, democratic engagement and the recognition of students as equal and important stakeholders in university governance.
"This victory belongs to every student who stood firm, every voice that refused to be silenced, every comrade who stood shoulder to shoulder with the movement, and every individual and organisation that extended solidarity during its most difficult days. It transcends organisational and ideological affiliations and belongs to the entire Jamia fraternity. The students have not only reclaimed their democratic space but have also reaffirmed that unity, perseverance and collective action remain the strongest instruments of democratic struggle," Khuehami added.
The Association said the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union sends a significant message to universities across the country about the importance of protecting democratic spaces, respecting student representation and ensuring that educational institutions remain centres of dialogue, inclusivity and democratic participation.
JKSA reiterated that student unions are an integral part of a healthy academic ecosystem and that the voices, aspirations and concerns of students must find meaningful representation in institutional decision-making.
