DUSU and DUTA Protest Together- A Combined March Initiative

The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) and the Delhi University

Students’ Union (DUSU) planned to hold a joint student-teacher protest against

the semester system on the 24th of September, Friday. For the first time in the

history of Delhi University, the two major bodies had scheduled a combined

protest along with a joint interactive session in order to censure the undemocratic

implementation of the Semester System. The march began in front of the

Vivekananda statue in the Faculty of Arts College, ending in front of the Vice

Chancellor’s office.

It was open for all the students who felt for the cause and were willing to protest

against the same. The main aim of the DUTA behind holding the session was to

make the students conscious of the existing situation all over DU. The teachers

believe that participation of both the bodies together would leave a deeper

impact. Moreover, they feel that a student’s opinion is also necessary for the

teachers to remain fixed on an initiative without imposing themselves on the

students.

“The question isn’t really whether the students will be a part of the strike or not.

The question is whether they equally feel for the cause as much as the teachers

do. If they do, then they have all their rights to stand up and protest for it,” Said

Mrs. Monica Singh, the HOD of mathematics department, LSR College.

However, the Babri Masjid verdict, which was to come out on the same day,

had been a major cause of worry for the students. “We wish to attend the

joint interactive session because even we feel that DU will be at a loss with

the semester system. But the Babri Masjid verdict might hamper social and

communal peace all across the city. We can’t put our lives at risk just to attend

the session. I’m in two minds,” said a 2nd Year student of DU.

It is evident that both the student-teacher bodies are quite firm on their resolve.

Strategies as far as boycotting the semester exams are being discussed over.

The teachers and students are planning to conduct their usual pattern of annual

examinations with mid-terms during the month of December-January, against the

Vice Chancellor’s orders.

Anisha Banerjee

[email protected]