JNU's Central Library Faces Severe Neglect, Students Raise Alarm
New Delhi: The Dr BR Ambedkar Central Library at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is reportedly in a state of disrepair, with broken windows patched with cardboard sheets, crumbling ceilings, and dusty, deteriorating books scattered across tables. Recent images circulating online have drawn attention to what the students' union describes as "administrative apathy," highlighting a crisis in one of the university's key academic facilities.
Survey Reveals Disturbing Conditions
In a comprehensive survey conducted by the JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) across all nine floors of the library, students found that nearly 99% of the windows are damaged. Temporary fixes using cardboard panels and sticks have left the space vulnerable to dust, moisture, and bird intrusion, endangering valuable book collections. The union's statement detailed that open windows allow birds to enter, while books on shelves are exposed to elements, causing them to fall apart. Additionally, several piles of books in extremely bad condition remain uncatalogued on tables, further exacerbating the neglect.
Administrative Failures and Campus Tensions
Students have also raised concerns about administrative lapses, noting that the position of chief librarian has not been permanently filled for seven years, with an acting librarian currently overseeing operations. There has been no immediate response from JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit or Acting Librarian Manorama Tripathi regarding these allegations. The issue gained prominence on April 2 when students organized a poster-making session outside the library to protest broken infrastructure, lack of access to journals, and inadequate seating capacity. The union alleged that while students were prevented from pasting posters on library walls, advertisements for a private coaching institute were displayed, adding to the controversy.
Background of Protests and Disciplinary Actions
The library's condition has been a focal point of campus unrest in recent months. Protests over access and surveillance intensified last year after the installation of a facial recognition-based entry system, which led to vandalism by union members and subsequent disciplinary action by the university. In February, after an inquiry, the administration rusticated several union members for two semesters and imposed fines, sparking fresh protests. Students accused the university of punitive measures against dissent. Later that month, rusticated students called for a march towards the Ministry of Education, citing alleged casteist remarks by the vice-chancellor and other campus issues. Clashes erupted as they attempted to leave campus, resulting in detentions and FIRs against multiple students, including union office bearers, who are now out on bail.
The ongoing neglect of the Dr BR Ambedkar Central Library underscores broader issues of infrastructure and governance at JNU, fueling student activism and highlighting the need for urgent administrative intervention to preserve academic resources and campus harmony.
