Recently, India has witnessed a surge in student protests, each driven by a unique cause yet unified in the call for justice, safety, and fairness. From the tragic death of a trainee doctor in Kolkata to the outcry against stringent attendance policies in Guwahati, students have demonstrated their power to demand change. These protests have not only highlighted systemic issues within educational institutions but also triggered significant consequences, from resignations of key officials to national debates on policy and practice.
Telangana Tribal Welfare School Protest: A Stand Against Harassment
On September 12, 2024, students of the Tribal Welfare Residential School & College (Girls) in Thangallapalli, Telangana, staged a protest against their physical education teacher, Jyotsna, whom they accused of harassment and indiscriminate beatings.The students, who sat on the road in front of the school, raised slogans demanding her suspension and even showed video evidence of the alleged abuse to the authorities.
The protests were successful in prompting a swift response. Mandal Education Officer Raghupati assured the students that the teacher would be relieved of her duties, leading to the protest being called off. This incident underscored the power of collective student action in bringing about immediate administrative changes.
IIT Guwahati Protest: A Cry Against Strict Policies
At the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, student unrest erupted following the deaths of two students within a month. On September 9, 2024, a third-year computer science student was found dead in his hostel room, marking the fourth student death at the institute that year. The student’s suicide, following a similar incident on August 9, 2024, ignited outrage over the institute’s strict 75% attendance policy, which many students blamed for contributing to undue stress and mental health challenges.
Protests began immediately on September 9, 2024, with thousands of students boycotting classes and staging demonstrations. The protests reached a turning point when, on September 11, 2024, Professor Kanduru V Krishna, a dean at the institute, resigned. This resignation helped to momentarily calm the protests, although underlying grievances about mental health support and institutional policies remain hot topics for debate.
RG Kar Medical College Incident: A Call for Justice
On August 9, 2024, a horrific incident occurred at R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata, West Bengal, when a trainee doctor was raped and murdered in a college building. The victim’s body was discovered in a seminar room, sending shockwaves through the campus and sparking outrage across the country. The brutal nature of the crime prompted immediate protests, with students and faculty demanding justice and better security measures on campus.
The outcome of these widespread protests was swift. On August 12, 2024, just three days after the incident, Sandip Ghosh, the principal of RG Kar Medical College, resigned, reflecting the intensity of public pressure and the demand for accountability within the institution. The resignation served as a critical moment in the unfolding story, symbolising a push for change in the aftermath of a tragic event.
Hijab Row in Karnataka: A Fight for Religious Freedom
Last year, Karnataka became the epicentre of a national debate on religious freedom in educational institutions when a dispute arose over Muslim students’ right to wear hijabs in a junior college. The controversy began when Muslim students were denied entry into classes for wearing hijabs, citing the college’s uniform policy. The policy also applied to students of other religions, sparking a widespread protest across the state and the nation.
The outcome of this protest had significant political and social ramifications. The Karnataka government decided to “put on hold” a Teacher’s Day award for BG Ramakrishna, the principal of the college in Udupi district, which had become the epicentre of the controversy. This move was seen as a response to the protests and the subsequent legal and public scrutiny.
Final Words
These protests from Kolkata to Telangana represent more than just isolated incidents. They reflect the power of student movement across India, be it for justice and accountability, or for change in educational institutions. Each protest, driven by its unique local circumstances, has had a significant impact while it comes influencing policy measures and demanding institutional reforms.
Telangana Tribal Welfare School Protest: A Stand Against Harassment
On September 12, 2024, students of the Tribal Welfare Residential School & College (Girls) in Thangallapalli, Telangana, staged a protest against their physical education teacher, Jyotsna, whom they accused of harassment and indiscriminate beatings.The students, who sat on the road in front of the school, raised slogans demanding her suspension and even showed video evidence of the alleged abuse to the authorities.
The protests were successful in prompting a swift response. Mandal Education Officer Raghupati assured the students that the teacher would be relieved of her duties, leading to the protest being called off. This incident underscored the power of collective student action in bringing about immediate administrative changes.
IIT Guwahati Protest: A Cry Against Strict Policies
At the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, student unrest erupted following the deaths of two students within a month. On September 9, 2024, a third-year computer science student was found dead in his hostel room, marking the fourth student death at the institute that year. The student’s suicide, following a similar incident on August 9, 2024, ignited outrage over the institute’s strict 75% attendance policy, which many students blamed for contributing to undue stress and mental health challenges.
Protests began immediately on September 9, 2024, with thousands of students boycotting classes and staging demonstrations. The protests reached a turning point when, on September 11, 2024, Professor Kanduru V Krishna, a dean at the institute, resigned. This resignation helped to momentarily calm the protests, although underlying grievances about mental health support and institutional policies remain hot topics for debate.
RG Kar Medical College Incident: A Call for Justice
On August 9, 2024, a horrific incident occurred at R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata, West Bengal, when a trainee doctor was raped and murdered in a college building. The victim’s body was discovered in a seminar room, sending shockwaves through the campus and sparking outrage across the country. The brutal nature of the crime prompted immediate protests, with students and faculty demanding justice and better security measures on campus.
The outcome of these widespread protests was swift. On August 12, 2024, just three days after the incident, Sandip Ghosh, the principal of RG Kar Medical College, resigned, reflecting the intensity of public pressure and the demand for accountability within the institution. The resignation served as a critical moment in the unfolding story, symbolising a push for change in the aftermath of a tragic event.
Hijab Row in Karnataka: A Fight for Religious Freedom
Last year, Karnataka became the epicentre of a national debate on religious freedom in educational institutions when a dispute arose over Muslim students’ right to wear hijabs in a junior college. The controversy began when Muslim students were denied entry into classes for wearing hijabs, citing the college’s uniform policy. The policy also applied to students of other religions, sparking a widespread protest across the state and the nation.
The outcome of this protest had significant political and social ramifications. The Karnataka government decided to “put on hold” a Teacher’s Day award for BG Ramakrishna, the principal of the college in Udupi district, which had become the epicentre of the controversy. This move was seen as a response to the protests and the subsequent legal and public scrutiny.
Final Words
These protests from Kolkata to Telangana represent more than just isolated incidents. They reflect the power of student movement across India, be it for justice and accountability, or for change in educational institutions. Each protest, driven by its unique local circumstances, has had a significant impact while it comes influencing policy measures and demanding institutional reforms.
