Now in his final year of PhD in African Studies, he is due to submit his thesis in July. Over the course of the last year, he wrote and published a book, From Bihar to Tihar, and travelled the country to participate in people’s movements. “It has become my responsibility to continue political activism. The battle has to be fought outside JNU now. We are recognised everywhere, so my public life has been affected. Doosron ke liye aazadi maangte maangte, khud ki aazadi chhin gayi,” he says.

Umar Khalid: Umar is in his final semester of PhD in History, scheduled to finish in July. After the February 9 incident, he and some others formed a political organisation called Bhagat Singh Ambedkar Students’ Organisation. “For many, the issue died down in March-April, but we are seeing the attack continue even now with admissions being stopped,” he says.