“Modi bowed down”: Panjab Uni protesters declare victory against government

The Panjab University Bachao Morcha (Save Panjab University Protest) movement concluded last week after demonstrators declared victory, with one lead figure saying “Modi has bowed down in front of Punjabis for the second time within the last five years”.

The announcement of the demanded senate election dates on 27th November ended the month-long movement, which once again showed India the might of Panjabi resistance in the face of subjugation. The election dates finally put an end to a central government attempt to remove democratic student-led governance of the institution.

Read more on why the protest started back in November here.

The protest is seen as another major victory against the “saffronisation” of Panjab, a term which refers to Hindutva (Hindu extremist) overreach into indigenous culture and education across India, such as through implementation of Hindi as a national language and a more diluted approach to Indian history.

The largely Sikh-led protest – which also included many non-Sikh leading figures involved too – demonstrations began with an ardas (Sikh prayer) and langar (Sikh communal kitchen practice) was seen as a vital tool to ensure the protest remained active over weeks, especially after attempts by authorities to lock protesters of campus sites.

Student protesters were praised for a mass clean-up operation of the university after their month-long demonstration, in what became viral footage.

As one reporter said of the protest: “This student protest raised significant questions – about the university’s Punjabi identity, Punjab’s claim over Chandigarh and much more. But, essentially, the idea of a democratic space for students, and which speaks to the students, held the heart of the movement.”

Just a week into what seems a new era for Panjab University, a ruling also saw the end of “colonial” ceremonial gowns as mandatory wear for formal student events, now allowing traditional Panjabi wear for men and women.