JNU students hold Umar Khalid book discussion outdoors despite venue cancellation

JNUSU held a discussion on Umar Khalid's book Fractured Communities outside SSS-II after JNU cancelled the original venue, citing undisclosed "full facts". Students, teachers, professors and activists attended the event.

In Short

• JNUSU held Umar Khalid's book discussion despite venue cancellation
• Original auditorium booking cancelled by university
• Professors and activists joined the event

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) on Monday went ahead with a scheduled discussion on a book by former JNU student Umar Khalid, with several students and teachers attending the event despite the cancellation of the original venue.

The discussion on Khalid’s book, Fractured Communities: Adivasi Histories and the Politics of Power, began around 3 pm as scheduled, outside the School of Social Sciences-II (SSS-II) building.

JNU CANCELS ORIGINAL VENUE

The discussion was originally scheduled to be held at the School of Social Sciences-I (SSS-I) auditorium. The event was planned to observe the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, according to the students' union, as reported by PTI.

The university cancelled the auditorium booking, saying that “full facts” about the programme had not been disclosed.

Following the cancellation, JNUSU termed the decision “arbitrary and authoritarian” and said the withdrawal of the venue would not stop the discussion.

“However, let it be clear: cancelling a room does not cancel a conversation,” the students' union said in a statement.

The union further said that no administrative order could suppress students’ right to “think, question, and discuss”.

DISCUSSION SHIFTED TO ALTERNATE VENUE

After the cancellation, JNUSU announced that the discussion would be held at an alternate venue outside the SSS-II building.

The union called upon students, faculty and staff to participate in the discussion, which proceeded at around 3 pm as scheduled.

The event focused on Khalid’s book Fractured Communities: Adivasi Histories and the Politics of Power.

PROFESSORS, ACTIVISTS ATTEND EVENT

According to the event poster, the discussion featured professors Prabhu Mahapatra and Uma Chakravarti, along with Shuddhabrata Sengupta and social activists Harsh Mander and Banojyotsna.

Several students and teachers attended the discussion despite the cancellation of the originally booked auditorium.

(With PTI inputs)

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