A portrait of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a controversial figure linked to the Hindutva ideology and a key influence on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was installed in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Students’ Union Office on May 28, sparking tensions on campus over both protocol violations and political symbolism.
The move was carried out by Vaibhav Meena, Joint Secretary of the JNU Students’ Union and member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), as part of ongoing celebrations marking Savarkar’s birth anniversary and the RSS’s legacy. ABVP members also shared photographs of the event, showing councillors and student leaders posing in front of the newly mounted portrait, with slogans praising Savarkar echoing through the room.
Meena credited the act to ABVP’s presence in the union, saying such representation made the recognition possible. However, the unilateral installation has sparked backlash from other student groups and members of the Students’ Union.
The JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) leadership, including President Nitish Kumar and Secretary Munteha Fatima, issued a joint statement denouncing the installation, arguing that no prior consultation or Council resolution was made—requirements typically mandated for such decisions. They emphasized that any addition to the Students’ Union Office must follow due process and democratic deliberation.
In response to the controversy, JNUSU announced new procedural safeguards via a notice on their official X (formerly Twitter) account. Moving forward, all bookings of the Students’ Union Office must be recorded in a register, with full details provided to the security guard, including the name, purpose, and time of use, in order to prevent further disputes.
Savarkar, known for his advocacy of Hindutva and role in the Hindu Mahasabha after his release from British colonial imprisonment, remains a deeply polarizing figure in Indian political discourse.
The incident also reignites longstanding ideological tensions between ABVP and other student groups on campus. Clashes between these factions have frequently escalated, with past incidents involving allegations of violence by ABVP members against dissenting students.
