What happens when a university meant to be a space for free thought and debate decides that protests are no longer allowed?
For generations, universities have been spaces where students question authority, engage in debate, and shape political and social change. But at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), that space is rapidly shrinking.
JMI imposed strict restrictions on student protests. A circular issued on November 29 explicitly banned protests, dharnas, and slogans against constitutional dignitaries within the campus, warning that disciplinary action would be taken against students who violated the order.
According to the students, the university then issued another circular on February 9, 2025 reinforcing that any protest, dharna, or sit-in within the academic area without prior approval would be considered illegal. This tightening of restrictions has left students questioning whether their right to protest even exists anymore.
The protest bans happened on December 15, 2024 where the university shut down the library and canteen on the anniversary of the anti-CAA protests. While the administration cited “maintenance” as the reason, students believe it was a deliberate move to stop gatherings and protests. Many students had planned to commemorate the events of 2019, but the shutdown made it impossible.
Why This Ban Matters
For students, a university is more than just classrooms and exams. It is a space where they learn to think critically, debate freely, and stand up for what they believe in. Across history, student movements have played a crucial role in shaping political and social change, from anti-colonial struggles to contemporary movements against discrimination and authoritarianism.
However, at Jamia, students now face a different reality. With the fear of disciplinary action hanging over them, many feel forced into silence. Self-censorship is becoming the norm, where students hesitate before voicing their opinions, worried that it might jeopardize their education or future.
“Student movements have historically shaped political and social change, but such bans weaken their ability to participate in these democratic processes. India already has a shrinking space for free expression, and universities were among the last remaining spaces for open discourse. Now, even within campus walls, students must tread cautiously.”, says Azhar
What Azhar highlights is not just about Jamia but about a larger pattern of suppressing free speech in India. Universities were once among the few places where open debate and political engagement were still possible. But now, even those spaces are under threat.
Another student, choosing to remain anonymous, spoke about how this ban is changing the very essence of student life:
“This ban changes how students experience university life. A campus is supposed to be a place where you grow, question, and engage freely. But when every expression of dissent feels like a risk, that sense of belonging starts to fade. Instead of open discussions, there’s hesitation. Instead of community, there’s caution. Students are losing the feeling that this space is truly theirs.”
When universities create an environment of fear, students stop seeing themselves as active participants in shaping society. Instead, they are expected to passively accept decisions without questioning them.
The Protest Bans Are Not Just Limited To Jamia
Jamia is not the only university where student protests are being restricted. In 2018, IIT-BHU banned protests and demonstrations on its campus, effectively shutting down any form of political discourse among students. Abhineet wrote in his article at YKA:
“Some students involved in these [demonstrations] were verbally warned by the administration. This is for the first time that a written notice has been circulated against demonstrations, dharnas and all.”— Third-year undergraduate student, IIT-BHU
The fear of student resistance is evident across campuses. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), long known for its student-led movements, has also seen increasing crackdowns on protests. Ishita, an ex JNU student wrote in her article at YKA.
“The recent news of JNU authorities banning protests on campus says a lot about the fear that authorities have when students expose the gaps and issues within the university space.”
The similarities between what’s happening at Jamia, IIT-BHU, and JNU make one thing clear, this is not an isolated incident. Across India, students are being systematically silenced.
A Shrinking Space for Resistance
For many students, protesting is not just about resistance, it’s about belonging. It’s about knowing that their voices matter, that they can shape change in their communities and their country.
Yet, with restrictions tightening, students are being forced to find alternative ways to express dissent. Some turn to social media, while others engage in symbolic acts of resistance, but these can never replace the power of collective action.
One student emphasized this growing challenge:
“Students will undoubtedly seek alternative ways to voice their dissent, whether through online platforms, independent discussions, or symbolic acts of resistance. However, the most powerful form of protest remains collective action. The real concern is the shrinking space for such dissent.”
This raises a crucial question, should students have to find loopholes just to express themselves? Should a university, which is meant to foster free thinking, be a place where students are afraid to speak out?
“When students know that standing up for their rights could cost them their education, it forces self-censorship, making the environment even more repressive. As one of the few minority institutions in India, Jamia should be a space for open discourse, but measures like these signal a shift toward caution and self-censorship. This decision reinforces the ongoing erosion of dissent, making it evident that critical conversations, even within academic spaces, are no longer welcome.” said Azhar.
The issue at Jamia is not just about one university’s decision, it is about the larger attack on student voices across India. It is about whether universities will remain places of debate, learning, and activism, or become spaces of compliance and silence.
For now, students will continue to find ways to resist. But the fact that they have to fight for the right to protest in the first place is a reminder of how much the landscape has changed. And unless this trend is challenged, the cost of silence will only grow.