Students’ Union president and general secretary say no portrait can be installed without the council’s approval
NEW DELHI – A fresh controversy has erupted at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in the national capital after a portrait of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was installed inside the office of the university’s Students’ Union without formal approval. The move has led to strong opposition from students, sparking yet another ideological clash on the campus.
On 28 May, the birth anniversary of Savarkar, Joint Secretary of the JNU Students’ Union, Vaibhav Meena, installed his portrait inside the union office. Meena, who is the only representative from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), in the current union, said the installation was symbolic of a “new representation” that ABVP has brought to the campus.
“After years, ABVP has a presence in the union, and we are only doing what others did when they were in power,” said Meena. “Savarkar played an important role in India’s freedom movement, and he deserves space here too.”
But this act has drawn sharp opposition from the majority leadership of the JNU Students’ Union, which is controlled by the United Left Alliance. JNUSU President Nitish Kumar and General Secretary Fatima Manthai issued a joint statement condemning the act, calling it “unauthorised” and “against the democratic process.”
“We have come to know that portraits are being installed in the JNUSU office without prior consultation in the council meeting,” said the statement. “As per the long-standing tradition of JNUSU, no portrait can be installed in the office without a resolution passed in the council meeting.”
They added, “The attempt to install Savarkar’s portrait without approval is not only disrespectful to the union’s democratic structure but also to the values that JNU stands for. We oppose any effort to saffronise the union space.”
At present, the JNUSU panel includes four members — three from the Left-backed alliance and one from the ABVP. The portrait installation was not discussed or agreed upon in any council meeting.
Savarkar remains a divisive figure in the country’s political history. While he is praised by right-wing organisations like the RSS and BJP for his early resistance to British colonial rule, critics often point out that he softened his stand against the British after his release from the Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands.
Savarkar later joined the Hindu Mahasabha and openly advocated for a Hindu Rashtra. His critics also question his silence during major anti-Muslim events in history and his alleged ideological influence in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Though he was acquitted in court due to a lack of evidence, the suspicion has not fully faded.
Many Muslim students and others on campus view the installation of his portrait as part of a larger attempt to insert Hindutva ideology into academic spaces, especially those like JNU, which have long been seen as bastions of progressive and secular thought.
Several students from the Muslim community also spoke out against the move. A political science postgraduate student, Aamir Rizwan, said, “This is not just about a photo. It is about bringing a particular ideology into a space that has always resisted it. Savarkar did not stand for inclusive nationalism. He excluded Muslims from his idea of India.”
Another student, Zainab Shaikh from the Centre for Historical Studies, said, “They are trying to overwrite history. Savarkar may have started off against the British, but he later begged for mercy from the British and was loyal to them. He also promoted hatred against Muslims. This is why we cannot accept his portrait in a shared space.”
JNU has seen several ideological battles over the years, especially between Left-wing student groups and the ABVP, which is affiliated with the BJP and RSS.
ABVP leaders have defended the act, saying Savarkar deserves the same recognition as other freedom fighters. “The Leftists have always dominated this campus. Now that a nationalist voice is present, they can’t accept it,” said ABVP Delhi Secretary Tarun Yadav. “Savarkar was a great freedom fighter. It is the Leftists who are trying to create division.”
Vaibhav Meena echoed the same view, saying, “We have started something that will continue. Those who oppose it are scared of the change. This university should reflect all views.”
Despite the defence by ABVP, the union leadership has called for the immediate removal of the portrait. “This is not just a procedural issue,” said JNUSU President Nitish Kumar. “We are talking about values. We will not allow any symbol of exclusion or hatred to be normalised in our space.”
JNUSU’s constitution does not provide for unilateral decisions about office decor or political symbols. Traditionally, any change in the office setup, especially involving portraits or memorials, must be cleared through council consensus.
The General Secretary, Fatima Manthai, also raised concerns about how decisions are being taken by bypassing democratic norms. “If we allow this, tomorrow any group will start putting up photos of their leaders without dialogue. This is not how democracy works,” she said.
As the issue grows, protests and meetings are being held on campus. Posters opposing the installation have appeared near the union office. Student groups, particularly Muslim students, feel this is another attempt to marginalise their identity.
“Savarkar openly promoted the idea that Muslims and Christians cannot be trusted in India. How can we accept his image here?” asked Samina Parveen, a sociology research scholar. “This is like saying our presence here doesn’t matter.”
The university administration has so far not reacted, calling it a matter internal to the students’ union.
However, students worry that silence from the administration may embolden more such actions. “This is how it begins — a picture here, a speech there — and slowly the entire narrative changes,” said Aamir Rizwan. “Muslim voices are already under pressure. Now our campus spaces are also being invaded.”
Observers believe this incident is part of a wider trend across the country’s educational institutions, where attempts are being made to change the intellectual environment through symbolic moves and the appointment of ideologically aligned individuals. For Muslim students, this adds to a growing list of concerns about safety, inclusion, and the increasing spread of right-wing ideology.
The student union plans to hold a public meeting next week to discuss the way forward and pass an official resolution demanding the removal of the portrait.
