JNU students reclaim library, reading room spaces

Students of JNU, after days of requesting the administration to reopen libraries, have now protested and barged into the library on campus, to be able to complete their research work in time.

With the month of May approaching, students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University are nearing their deadline to submit thesis, dissertations and research papers. The students of JNU protested on the campus on Wednesday - after days of requesting the administration - to reopen libraries in the campus, so that they may be able to complete their research work in time. The BR Ambedkar library and reading rooms, have been one of the focal points of congregation for all research scholars on campus, who often head to these facilities for a study and research session in their day to day student life at JNU. “There was a demand of opening the library by the students since a long time. The need for the library and reading rooms has become urgent now because we have our NET and JRF papers by May and students also have to submit their thesis by then,” shares Qasim Masumi, an MPhil student who was one amongst the scores of students who had protested physically for the library to open. “Hundreds of students gathered, protested, entered and reclaimed the library premises at JNU today,” adds Masumi.

Students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University protested and reclaimed their access to libraries on the campus.

The students maintained all necessary precautions inside the library after reclaiming it while protesting.

The students protested and entered the library claiming myriad of reasons that have been impacting their studies. “Some students had left books and reading materials in library. How will we do our research work without access to the journals there? All students facing these problems united to protest along with the university’s student union. The guards were stopping us from entering the library but we managed to step in. We maintained all Covid guidelines inside the library. And now we are trying that the administration doesn’t shut the library down again, by studying there and we will make sure we use it so it’s not shut down. The library won’t be empty any time soon. We have our exams coming up and we need this space,” says Vasudev Chakravarti, a Master’s student.

Online classes aren’t much help to research scholars and students in the university and the need for books and reading rooms is felt by hostellers too. “Hostels don’t have proper reading rooms or places to study. If now the university doesn’t take regard of our needs then there will be drop outs. We are research students. We need access to reading material. Online classes and webinars won’t suffice. Students in JNU come from rural areas of our country and don’t have internet access or smart phones so it is a complete digital divide. We protested because we had no other choice,” says Harendra Sheshma, a PhD student at JNU.

Students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University had been facing academic problems in absence of access to library and reading room spaces.

Aishe Ghosh, president, JNUSU shares that many students had been reaching out to her regarding the problems they were facing in absence of access to libraries. “The JNUSU , time and again had reminded the JNU Administration, to re-open library along with seating capacity, which didn’t come to any conclusion. Today, we had given a call for a protest to study at library, thereby reclaiming the library which was forcefully locked for past one year,” she adds.

Author tweets @FizzyBuddha

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