Democracy Is Dying Quietly at Aligarh Muslim University

Aligarh Muslim University, one of India’s most prestigious and historic educational institutions, is undergoing a silent transformation — not one of progress, but of suppression. Once a proud space of intellectual debate, political consciousness, and democratic participation, AMU is now increasingly resembling a controlled zone, where questioning the authorities can lead to punishment, abuse, and intimidation.

The recent debarment of three students and suspension of six students and the lodging of FIRs against them has shocked the student body and alumni community alike. Their crime? Peacefully demanding the restoration of the AMU Students’ Union — a platform that once served as the heartbeat of student democracy on campus — and raising valid concerns about arbitrary attendance policies that disproportionately affect many.

Instead of engaging these students through dialogue, the administration chose the path of criminalization. FIRs, meant to deal with criminal offenses, are now being used as tools of fear to suppress basic rights of expression and organization. Students who once looked up to their university as a space for growth and leadership now live in fear of expulsion or arrest for speaking their minds.

From Protest to Punishment

The students demanding a union were not inciting violence or disrupting the academic environment. Their protest was rooted in the university’s democratic traditions. The AMU Students’ Union has historically been an essential body, nurturing generations of socially conscious individuals who have gone on to contribute significantly to Indian society. Its absence since 2018 has left a vacuum—not just structurally but ideologically.

But rather than acknowledging this vacuum and responding with empathy, the administration reacted with institutional violence — debarment, FIRs, and public shaming. This act of silencing sets a dangerous precedent: that students exist only to obey, not to participate.

Abuse of Power in Hall

The situation becomes more disturbing when we examine life inside AMU’s residential halls. In Mohammad Habib Hall, the provost has reportedly been using abusive language and threats to control student behavior. Multiple student accounts suggest that any dissatisfaction or grievance is met with hostility and humiliation.

Such behavior by a hall authority is not merely unprofessional — it is unacceptable. The hostel is not a detention center, and students are not inmates. Threatening them with consequences for simply voicing concerns is not administration; it is intimidation. That it occurs without oversight or accountability reflects the culture of impunity that has taken root within the institution.

Mishandling of Female Students

Even more egregious are the incidents coming out of Women’s College, where the proctorial team has reportedly been targeting protesting female students and allowing male security staff to physically intervene in spaces meant to be safe for women.

Several students have testified to being manhandled or aggressively confronted by male guards — a clear violation of not only university protocol but also basic principles of gender sensitivity and safety. This kind of behaviour deeply undermines the trust between students and the administration, and causes psychological harm that cannot be easily repaired.

The most shocking display of administrative aggression came when the Deputy Proctor was caught on video openly threatening female students in front of media personnel. Eyewitnesses say the official used coercive language, publicly humiliating students for speaking up. This incident, caught on camera, is now doing rounds on social media — a damning indictment of the culture of intimidation that female students are being subjected to.

The targeting of female students also suggests a troubling pattern: that surveillance and control disproportionately affect women, especially those who assert themselves or resist arbitrary authority. It raises an essential question: does AMU prioritize discipline over dignity, and obedience over rights?

A Culture of Fear and Silence

All these incidents — FIRs, debarments, abuse in hostels, and gender-based targeting — are part of a larger pattern. AMU, like many universities across the country, is becoming a place where students are expected to conform, not question; to obey, not organize.

This culture of fear is antithetical to the very purpose of higher education. Universities are meant to be laboratories of critical thought, spaces where dissent is not just allowed but encouraged. Without debate, protest, and disagreement, learning becomes indoctrination, not education.

Why the Silence?

The administration’s silence in the face of mounting allegations is telling. There has been no transparent inquiry, no acknowledgment of student grievances, no platform for open dialogue. What does this say about AMU’s leadership? When did preserving institutional image become more important than protecting student rights?

Equally troubling is the national silence. The media, civil society, and educational authorities must ask: why are India’s leading universities — especially minority institutions — increasingly being run like corporate or military outposts?

AMU’s Legacy Demands More

Aligarh Muslim University has a rich history. Founded on the principles of reform, progress, and self-respect, it has long been a space where young minds were encouraged to think freely, speak boldly, and act justly. From its role in India’s freedom movement to its legacy of producing scholars, jurists, and leaders, AMU has stood for something far greater than academic degrees.

Today, that legacy stands at risk.

Suppressing student voices, mishandling protests, and abusing power do not align with AMU’s values. They mark a betrayal — of the founders’ vision, of alumni pride, and most importantly, of the student community that forms the living spirit of the university.

Syed Abid Haider is a student of Political Science and Human right. His interest include democratic rights, campus politics and Social Justice. He can be reached at [email protected]