The New Culture of Fear at Aligarh Muslim University
Aquib Raza | 14 May 2026 | Countercurrents
Aligarh Muslim University has historically occupied a unique place within India’s educational and intellectual landscape. Established with the vision of combining modern education with social reform, the university became known not only for academic excellence but also for cultivating political awareness, democratic participation, and critical debate among students. For generations, its campus culture symbolized discussion, dissent, and intellectual engagement.
In recent years, however, concerns regarding disciplinary culture and administrative centralization have increasingly shaped conversations within the university community. Among students and sections of the academic fraternity, phrases such as the “suspension era” are now frequently used to describe what they perceive as a growing reliance on punitive administrative measures. Repeated suspensions, disciplinary notices, inquiries, and restrictions affecting students from different faculties have contributed to an atmosphere many describe as uncertain and intimidating…