Key takeaways
The protest began on 21 September 2026 when suspended MA Urdu student Yasir Fahad started a hunger strike at the Duck Pond.On day 19, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Naima Khatoon met the strikers, ended their fast and announced that all demands were accepted.Suspensions, the hunger strike, wider student support, disrupted classes and the approach of Sir Syed Day were among the reported reasons.After a 19-day protest, Aligarh Muslim University accepted all student demands, including restoring the Students’ Union and holding its first election in about eight years. Amar Ujala’s Aligarh edition published an analysis on 10 October 2026 of why the protest succeeded. Here is a summary.
How the protest unfolded
- 21 September 2026: Yasir Fahad, a suspended MA Urdu student, began a hunger strike at the Duck Pond on campus.
- During the protest: Students were suspended and an FIR was registered, which hardened positions on both sides.
- Day 19: At about 12:45 pm, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Naima Khatoon went to the protest site, offered juice to end the fast and announced that all demands were accepted. She was accompanied by Pro-VC Prof. Mohammad Mohsin Khan, Registrar Prof. Asim Jafar, Dean Students’ Welfare Prof. M. Athar Ansari, the new Proctor Prof. Mohammad Nafees Ahmad Ansari and OSD Prof. Asfar Ali Khan.
The 10 reasons
- Suspensions and FIR: Students saw these as action against those who spoke up, which reduced space for dialogue and drew more students in.
- The hunger strike: Yasir Fahad’s fast, with a clear demand for an election date, pushed the administration to find a quick solution.
- Refusal of hospital care: Fahad declined admission to JN Medical College, which drew attention to his health.
- Student solidarity: A small demonstration grew into a wider movement, with Women’s College students and other groups joining.
- Regional lobbying claims: Talk of a regional lobby influencing decisions circulated during the protest. These claims are unproven.
- Outside support: Backing from civil society groups and political leaders took the issue beyond the campus.
- Disrupted classes: Students who were not involved also wanted the deadlock to end.
- Closed gates: All campus gates were closed for a period, which showed the dispute was affecting the university’s daily running.
- Public criticism: Coverage in the media and on social media questioned the administration’s handling of the strike.
- Sir Syed Day: With Sir Syed Day on 17 October approaching, continued unrest risked disrupting the university’s biggest annual event.
What happens next
The election schedule has been announced: voter lists on 26 October, nominations on 29 October and voting and counting on 5 November. Read our full AMUSU election 2026 schedule and our report on the new Proctor and the four demands accepted.
Based on reporting by Amar Ujala, Aligarh. The reasons are the newspaper’s assessment.
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