The mob attack at students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi has sparked massive outrage across the nation with protests erupting at universities in several states against the violence.
Students, faculty, and employees of the Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc), Bangalore also protested in the IISc campus on 6th January 2020 condemning the attack on students in JNU and to express solidarity with JNU.
Students from varied disciplines gathered around Sarvam complex around dinner time in the campus mess. The students were joined by professors, staff members and their families.
Students enthusiastically prepared posters and placards on the spot to express their solidarity.
People of IISc had come together not just to condemn attack on JNU but also to oppose unconstitutional laws like the citizenship amendment act (CAA) and NRC.
The posters carried slogans condemning police brutality and attacks on many educational Institutes and Universities. The messages were very clear and against state-sponsored violence and terrorism.
The students did a rally in the IISc campus with energetic slogans demanding “Freedom for JNU and AMU” “Freedom from BJP and Amit Shah”, “Freedom from Police violence”.
Protestors read the preamble and explained Article 14 of the constitution and the need to protect the inclusive and humanitarian character of the country.
Prof. Venu spoke about the importance of civil disobedience during the current pressing times when democracy is under assault.
Dr. Tejal Kanitkar explained how student bodies throughout the nation have been a target for expressing dissent even for reciting “HUm Dekhenge” a poem by poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. She translated the poem and reiterated the value of the poem in the present context. She was joined by the protesters in singing the poem.
IISc also conducted a panel discussion today on “Citizenship through the prism of Constitution” to engage with the institute fraternity on the importance of constitutionality of the recent citizenship amendment act 2019.
The author is a Ph.D. scholar at the Indian Institute of Sciences.
