At India’s only university dedicated to Hindi, a 4-year-old dispute erupts into student protests, FIR

Abhijeet Dipke visited the protesting students on 19 Aug and extended support. (Express Photo)

Four years ago, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya (MGAHV) in Maharashtra’s Wardha shifted two of its departments to its regional centre in Prayagraj, saying it would boost enrolment and that the transfer was being done in “lokhit” (public good). Today, the move at the university — the only one in India dedicated to the promotion of Hindi, with the language the primary medium of instruction — is at the centre of a three-month-long protest, leading to an FIR against six students.

Now, the students have reached out to the Cockroach Janta Party, with its convenor Abhijeet Dipke telling the media that asking for essential amenities cannot be a criminal activity. “The students are fighting for their Constitutional Right to Education.”

The protests began on July 3, when over 250 students signed a petition and submitted it to the administration, seeking the reopening of the two departments — Women Studies and Film Studies — as well as the restart of PhD admissions frozen since 2022, and the revival of language programmes. The protesters also want the university to reinstate its discontinued diploma and certificate courses, such as language programmes for English, French, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish and Urdu.

A notice stuck to the door of hostel room of Rahul Kumar Thakur named in the FIR. The notice barred him from entering his room. (Express photo)

On August 20, the protesting students converged near the university’s administrative building. The same night, an FIR was filed against Rajesh Kumar Yadav, Ramchandra, Niranjan Kumar, Rakesh Ahirwar, Rahul Kumar and Shiv Pujan, on charges of wrongful restraint, obstructing a public servant and common intention.

As per the complaint, the students locked all entry and exit gates of the university, confining officials inside, and stopped Vice-Chancellor Kumud Sharma’s vehicle as she was leaving. The university also alleged that the students did not seek permission for the protest. Incidentally, the university came out with its rules concerning protests on August 31.

“The university’s Discipline Committee has recommended an independent inquiry, pending which six students/research scholars have been barred from entering the campus. The students will be given an opportunity to present their case,” the administration said in a statement to The Indian Express.

Officers at Wardha’s Ramnagar Police Station said the university has submitted photos and videos as proof. “We have given them a notice and let the students go. All of these are bailable offences, and we are not treating them as criminals,” a senior police official said. The police officials also informed that the university employees had to call on 112 (an emergency helpline) after the students locked the building.

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Students protesting at the protest site, Gandhi Putla Protest Site in Wardha. (Express photo)

The demands

Founded in 1997 as a Central University, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya shifted two of its programmes in 2022 — all its Women and Film Studies courses — to its regional Prayagraj Centre.

According to faculty, the regional centre, one of three for the university, doesn’t have a full-fledged campus and has no facilities in Prayagraj. A notification ordering the move in 2021 said existing PhD students would continue to remain at the Wardha campus.

A year later, allegations of irregularities and ongoing litigation led to PhD admissions being frozen for the 2022-23 academic year. The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court allowed new admissions to resume in July this year, but admissions have started for the 2022-23 batch.

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When the departments were shifted, the university had over 16 students in Women’s Studies and 18 in Film Studies. The courses currently have a total of 14 students — seven students each for Film and Women’s Studies, both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. According to 2021-22 data, 15 students are pursuing PhD in both these courses — six in Film Studies and nine in Women’s Studies.

Meanwhile, the faculty — five teachers in Women’s Studies and Film Studies — were mostly based in Prayagraj.

For existing PhD students — who remained on the Wardha campus — this arrangement led to significant academic disruption.

“We thought the courses would run on both the campuses. But, over time, students figured out that the Wardha campus would not have these departments at all,” said Ramchandra, a PhD scholar of Women’s Studies since 2021-22 and one of the students facing the FIR.

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On the condition of anonymity, teachers admitted that the current arrangement makes little sense.

“Earlier, these courses had around 22 students each. But now, there are hardly four students in total,” said a teacher. Another one added: “For the film course, studios are locked because there’s no faculty. Existing PhD students suffer most: they tell us they want to study but don’t have the funds to travel (to Prayagraj).”

Students also accuse the university “of targeting students from outside Maharashtra”. The six students named in the FIR belong to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Vice-Chancellor Sharma accused students of creating “chaos” on August 20. While calling some of their demands “baseless”, she added: “Shifting departments back to Wardha would be a lengthy process as students have already been admitted in the new location.” On PhD admissions, she said the process would restart soon.

Ankita Deshkar is a Deputy Copy Editor and a dedicated fact-checker at The Indian Express. Based in Maharashtra, she specializes in bridging the gap between technical complexity and public understanding. With a deep focus on Cyber Law, Information Technology, and Public Safety, she leads "The Safe Side" series, where she deconstructs emerging digital threats and financial scams. Ankita is also a certified trainer for the Google News Initiative (GNI) India Training Network, specializing in online verification and the fight against misinformation. She is also an AI trainer with ADiRA (AI for Digital Readiness and Advancement) Professional Background & Expertise Role: Fact-checker & Deputy Copy Editor, The Indian Express Experience: Started working in 2016 Ankita brings a unique multidisciplinary background to her journalism, combining engineering logic with mass communication expertise. Her work often intersects regional governance, wildlife conservation, and digital rights, making her a leading voice on issues affecting Central India, particularly the Vidarbha region. Key focus areas include: Fact-Checking & Verification: As a GNI-certified trainer, she conducts workshops on debunking deepfakes, verifying viral claims, and using OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) tools. Cyber Law & IT: With postgraduate specialization in Cyber Law, she decodes the legalities of data privacy, digital fraud, and the evolving landscape of intellectual property rights. Public Safety & Health: Through her "The Safe Side" column, she provides actionable intelligence on avoiding "juice jacking," "e-SIM scams," and digital extortion. Regional Reporting: She provides on-ground coverage of high-stakes issues in Maharashtra, from Maoist surrenders in Gadchiroli to critical healthcare updates and wildlife-human conflict in Nagpur. Education & Credentials Ankita is currently pursuing her PhD in Mass Communication and Journalism, focusing on the non-verbal communication through Indian classical dance forms. Her academic foundation includes: MA in Mass Communication (RTM Nagpur University) Bachelors in Electrical Engineering (RTM Nagpur University) Post Graduate Diploma (PGTD) in Cyber Law and Information Technology Specialization in Intellectual Property Rights Recent Notable Coverage Ankita’s reportage is recognized for its investigative depth and emphasis on accountability: Cyber Security: "Lost money to a scam? Act within the 'golden hour' or risk losing it all" — A deep dive into the critical window for freezing fraudulent transactions. Public Health: "From deep coma to recovery: First fully recovered Coldrif patient discharged" — Investigating the aftermath of pharmaceutical toxins and the healthcare response. Governance & Conflict: "Gadchiroli now looks like any normal city: SP Neelotpal" — An analysis of the socio-political shift in Maoist-affected regions. Signature Beat Ankita is best known for her ability to translate "technical jargon into human stories." Whether she is explaining how AI tools like MahaCrimeOS assist the police or exposing the dire conditions of wildlife transit centres, her writing serves as a bridge between specialized knowledge and everyday safety. Contact & Follow X (Twitter): @ankita_deshkar Email: ankita.deshkar@indianexpress.com   ... Read More

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