January 28, 2026, marks the sixth year since Sharjeel Imam, a Jawaharlal Nehru University research scholar and key figure of the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act, was arrested and jailed under draconian laws, including sedition and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
In India’s diverse anecdotes, Sharjeel Imam’s story stands out for its complexities of disagreement, religious bias, and the complex legal system. The 33-year-old used to work as a software engineer, dealing with computer codes, but he ended up caught in the complicated world of politics and protest.
In the soil of Bihar, with its undemanding beauty and simplicity, Sharjeel Imam grew up to take an unexpected journey from computer science to the complexities of political talk. He started higher education at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT), and this set the stage for the unfolding chapters of his life.
In 2013, Imam went to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), hoping for a place with progressive ideals. However, he encountered what he saw as ‘Islamophobia of the Left’ during his time there. Disappointed with the left-leaning forces’ response to the disappearance of Najeeb Ahmad, he distanced himself from the All India Students Association (AISA) in 2016.
As he moved away from established political groups, Sharjeel Imam’s voice became more prominent. The shift from a disillusioned student to a vocal political dissenter was happening.
The roar of disagreement against the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) gave Imam a platform to express his beliefs. Shaheen Bagh, the center of the protests, saw Sharjeel Imam emerging as a symbol of resistance against what he viewed as unfair policies. His speeches resonated with the people, advocating for a peaceful protest against what he saw as an attack on the rights of the Muslim community.
January 28, 2020, marked a turning point in Sharjeel Imam’s journey. Arrested for his speeches during the anti-CAA protests, he found himself caught in a legal storm. Accusations ranging from sedition to terrorism and conspiracy cast a shadow over his activism.
In Sharjeel Imam’s evolving story, we find echoes of a bigger debate—a debate that goes beyond individual experiences and delves into the nuanced dance between disagreement and establishment. The pages of his story are still being written, and the ink continues to dry on the pages of India’s ever-evolving socio-political landscape.
