Tezpur University witnessed an intense day of student mobilisation as nearly 200 protesters called off a nine-hour hunger strike, even as their wider agitation against the administration showed no signs of easing. The fast ended peacefully, but students made it clear that the movement would continue with renewed determination until concrete action is taken on their demands.
The hunger strike, held on campus, drew large participation and turned university grounds into a focal point of dissent, marked by placards, speeches and overnight protests despite harsh weather conditions. Students said they decided to suspend the fast after receiving fresh assurances from the Ministry of Education that a detailed inquiry into the ongoing controversies would be formally announced by Friday.
Student leaders stressed that ending the hunger strike did not signal an end to the agitation. They said the protest had merely entered a new phase, as confidence in earlier assurances had eroded after a previous deadline for announcing an inquiry passed without action. The hunger strike itself was launched following a visit by a senior Ministry of Education delegation, including the secretary and joint secretary, whose earlier commitment to initiate an inquiry had not materialised.
The current unrest is part of a broader movement that has gripped the university since late November. An academic boycott that began on November 27 continues to disrupt normal functioning across the 4,000-student campus, with classes remaining suspended as both students and sections of the faculty press for accountability and reforms. Protesters have repeatedly demanded the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Singh, alleging administrative opacity and irregularities.
Since the vice-chancellor’s absence from campus in September, students have intensified their agitation through a series of symbolic actions, shutdowns and coordinated online campaigns that have drawn attention beyond Assam. As the hunger strike concluded, protesters reiterated that the boycott would remain in force until the promised inquiry is officially announced, signalling that pressure on the authorities is set to continue in the days ahead.
