JNU could have become one of the world’s best universities, but successive governments have failed us, says Aishe Ghosh, President, JNUSU, who is pursuing MPhil in international relations at the university. Excerpts:
Why are the students angry?
What you see is a few years of pent-up anger triggered by the huge fee hike. Seat cuts, disappearance of student Najeeb Ahmed, dismantling of the gender sensitisation committee, impunity for Atul Johri (a professor accused of sexual harassment) and fund cuts are the other issues we have been raising. And this vice chancellor was never a VC of the students. He hasn’t met us even once. He hasn’t even come to the campus in the past month and a half.
What’s your main grouse with the government?
This government has not increased the education budget even by 1 per cent in the past five years. Moreover, the National Education Policy 2019 heralds a deep economic crisis for universities across the country. JNU could have become one...