‘Want admin to listen when we approach them… not avoid us’: New JNUSU president

The first and most important thing we’ll do is ensure accountability in the recent incident where our president was beaten and casteist… slurs were hurled.

Second, basic infrastructure on campus is in terrible shape, the library ceilings have collapsed, fans in hostels have fallen…

JNU is a premier research university, but we still don’t have access to essential academic resources like JSTOR. The Means-Cum-Merit (MCM) scholarship must also be raised to Rs 5,000… the mess bills have gone up sharply while the scholarship has remained stagnant. And with 9,000 students but only about 1,000 library seats, the administration should be expanding facilities.

In her interview, Aditi discusses campus issues, Left unity, and her academic aspirations beyond student politics. Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal.

How has the relationship between the students’ union and the administration changed over the years?
There’s definitely more resentment now. During Comrade Nitish’s time, the administration ‘secretly’ set up a rationalisation committee to decide policies without consulting students. We had to fight to get that rejected.

There’s no real grievance redressal mechanism in place… students want accountability from professors and supervisors. We prefer not to take matters to court unless absolutely necessary. What we want is for the administration to listen. When we approach them, they should engage, not avoid us.

You’ve studied in BHU and Pondicherry University. How do you see JNU’s campus culture in comparison?
In BHU, libraries don’t function 24 hours and women have curfews. They can’t access libraries freely. But JNU and Pondicherry are different, there is women’s mobility, and 24×7 libraries.

The elections to the presidential seat saw a fierce triangular fight. What are your thoughts on new groups like the Progressive Students’ Association emerging in JNU’s political space?
It’s good that more organisations are participating in elections. That’s healthy for campus politics. But we must also understand their ideology clearly.

This time, ABVP (didn’t win)… that’s a good thing, because all votes that don’t go to the Left don’t necessarily go to them. Politics in JNU is never stagnant. It is free flowing. Time will tell how these new alliances shape up.

How was your campaign experience and interactions with students?
It was humbling. I remember a student from the Science School telling me, ‘I’ll vote for you. I don’t know political terminology, but I cleared IIT once and couldn’t afford it. I’ll support you if labs improve.’

These are research institutions… If Newton had worked for a corporation, would he have discovered gravity? We need space to think freely.

Students are kind and curious. Sometimes, they’d tell me, ‘Didi, we understand what you’re saying.’ There’s always more to learn from them… that’s the most beautiful part of JNU politics.

The Right-wing spread rumours that I’m the granddaughter of CPI(ML) leader Vinod Mishra, that my father is an RSS pracharak, that I sidelined more eligible comrades. It’s absurd. Instead of talking about issues, they resorted to slander. But JNU’s community knows better.

How has students’ reception to politics changed over the years?
Some students may lean towards the Right, but that’s largely due to the propaganda surrounding them… and, sometimes because it brings rewards. But most students understand the larger politics at play.

The idea that Gen Z doesn’t care about politics doesn’t apply to JNU. Here, even first-year students are passionate. They ask tough questions, and I enjoy sitting with them and answering. I am proud that I will be heading a Students’ Council that is diverse with women, Dalit and Muslim representatives.

After JNU, do you see yourself entering national politics, like many former JNUSU leaders have done?
Honestly, I love academics. I love sitting with my books. This one month of campaigning was really hard for me. I’m an ambivert, and I cherish quiet time… For now, I see myself as an assistant professor… and being closely linked to academics