Breaking free: Fighting against hostel curfew at Delhi University

It was not an ordinary night in North Campus. Hundreds of students across Delhi University (DU) were on roads to stage protest against curfew in college hostels.

The streets of North Campus in DU were filled with resounding cries of ‘shame’ and ‘Hamko Chaiye Azaadi’ as students of DU and other universities held a night march, that started at 8pm and went on till midnight.

Hundreds of students gathered outside Arts Faculty, North campus to stage a protest against the curfew at DU hostels and other issues.(Amal KS/HT Photo)

Organised by Pinjra Tod, a women collective body across universities in Delhi, the evening saw a gathering of around hundred students who protested against stringent rules such as early curfew timings at college hostels, and paying guests.

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Not just girls, even boys actively participated as well.

Akash Bhattacharya, a student of JNU and a DU graduate says, “Men should come forward for women’s movements. As far as this specific movement is concerned, it’s a very important step for democratisation of the university space.”

The march started from Arts Faculty in DU, covered various girls’ hostels in North Campus and the by-lanes of Kamala Nagar and Vijay Nagar. areas replete with PG accommodation. “They are not five-year-old kids, and should be given their freedom and space,” says Vijay Chaudhary, DU student. Many attended just to add to the numbers.

Students knocked the hostel doors and asked other students to join them. (Amal KS/ HT Photo)

“Girls pay more hostel fee than boys, then why such a difference? They have to follow particular timings and their night outs are noted. If they ask for extra night outs, hundreds of questions are raised. They are not five-year-old kids, and should be given their freedom and space. I am here to raise my voice with them,” says Vijay Chaudhary, a DU student.

Pinjra Tod covered hostel and PG area raising slogans of freedom from the harsh rule. (Amal KS/HT Photo)

While some were present for the cause, there were others who were merely present to add to the numbers. “Itni bheed dekhi to socha chalo join kar lo, vaise hame pata nahi hai ki ye kya hai, par ek student agar doosre ke kaam nahi ayega to kaun aayega,” says Sandeep Kumar who joined the movement with his group of four friends.