CleanupBot II at 05:20, 14 August 2023

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The '''Banaras Hindu University Students' Union''' generally abbreviated as "'''BHU Students' Union''' or '''BHUSU'''", was the [[students' union]] of [[Banaras Hindu University]]. The Students' Union had been responsible for representing students, both within the University and externally for all academic, non-academic and student welfare purposes.<ref name="Students' Union">{{cite news|title=Students' Union|publisher=[[Banaras Hindu University]] website|accessdate= 1 September 2015|url=http://www.bhu.ac.in/StuentsCouncil/stutencon.php}}</ref>

==History==
'''Banaras Hindu University Students' Union''' was established in the early 20th century (exact year not known). In its entire existence, the Students' Union has been suspended and banned several times. Its structure has also been changed from [[Students' union]] to [[Students' council]] and [[vice versa]]. The Students' Union in the [[Banaras Hindu University]] has a precedence of violence, strikes, [[lockdown]]s, [[Expulsion (education)|expulsions]], rioting and deaths.<ref name="Students' Union"/><ref name="ViolenceErupts">{{cite news|url=https://www.saddahaq.com/five-hostels-evacuated-after-violence-erupts-again-in-banaras-hindu-university|title=Five hostels evacuated after violence erupts again in Banaras Hindu University|publisher=saddahaq.com|accessdate=1 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="University Education Administration and the Law. (page 270) / ({{ISBN|978-8176292726}})">{{cite news|title=University Education Administration and the Law. (page 270) / (ISBN 978-8176292726)|via=[[Google Books]]|accessdate=1 September 2015|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5vFJ9EDadugC&pg=PA270}}</ref><ref name="VC shuts down BHU">{{cite news|title=VC shuts down BHU|work=[[India Today]]|accessdate=1 September 2015|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/v-c-shuts-down-banaras-hindu-university-sine-die-to-clean-up-institution/1/372019.html}}</ref>

===1958–1966===
In 1958, The Banaras Hindu University witnessed a students' strike. This resulted in banning the Students' Union for a period of eight years; from 1958 to 1966.<ref name="University Education Administration and the Law. (page 270) / ({{ISBN|978-8176292726}})"/>

===Early 1990s===
In the early 1990s, when professor R. P. Rastogi was the [[List of Vice-Chancellors of Banaras Hindu University|Vice-Chancellor]] of the Banaras Hindu University, a [[student strike]] took place which resulted in banning of the Students' Union.<ref name="University Education Administration and the Law. (page 270) / ({{ISBN|978-8176292726}})"/>

===1997–2010===
The student union was banned abruptly when large-scale violence paralyzed the university campus on 20 February 1997. A student was killed during a blatant display of firearms while an election rally was underway at the amphitheater ground.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/crime/story/20000612-mysterious-disappearance-of-banaras-hindu-university-dean-gives-rise-to-rumours-allegations-777704-2000-06-12|title=Mysterious disappearance of Banaras Hindu University dean gives rise to rumours|last=12 June|first=SUBHASH MISHRA|last2=June 12|first2=2000 ISSUE DATE|website=India Today|accessdate=1 March 2020|date=24 December 2000}}</ref> The then Vice-Chancellor of the University Dr. [[Y. C. Simhadri|Y.C. Simhadri]] ordered an indefinite ban on union elections within the campus and disbanded the student wings of political parties (ABVP, SFI, NSUI, etc.). In order to curb the violence and lawlessness, the VC appointed Professor Omkar Nath Singh of Department of Geography and empowered the proctorial office by tripling the amount of funds it was allocated. To this date, an ordinary student at the university associates the student union with utter lawlessness and pompous display of power which serves no apparent purpose.<ref name=ViolenceErupts/><ref name="University Education Administration and the Law. (page 270) / ({{ISBN|978-8176292726}})"/> VC Simhadri introduced new practice where professors were asked to sign to their presence in the attendance register everyday because some were working elsewhere despite being on the payroll of the university. He also expelled more than 50 students (many of whom were even gold medalists) on criminal charges.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/crime/story/20000612-mysterious-disappearance-of-banaras-hindu-university-dean-gives-rise-to-rumours-allegations-777704-2000-06-12|title=Mysterious disappearance of Banaras Hindu University dean gives rise to rumours|last=12 June|first=SUBHASH MISHRA|date=12 June 2000|website=India Today|accessdate=1 March 2020}}</ref> The University did not witness any violence, stirke or dharnas since then. Shakti Sharan Singh was the last student union leader .

===2011===
In 2011, the Students' Union was replaced by a "Students' council". '''Vikas Singh''' was elected as '''First General Secretary''' of BHU Students Council.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/news/UP-bhu-reinstates-students-council-general-secretary-3213967.html|title=BHU reinstates students council general secretary|date=4 May 2012|newspaper=DailyBhaskar|accessdate=6 January 2017}}</ref> He was removed on 7 April 2012 from his post for allegedly giving false information in his affidavit during university elections.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/BHU-admin-suspended-student-council-general-secretary-in-war-of-words/articleshow/12585947.cms|title=BHU admin, suspended student council general secretary in war of words|newspaper=The Times of India|accessdate=6 January 2017}}</ref> On 30 April 2012 university reinstated Vikas Singh as the Students Council General Secretary following an order by the '''Allahabad High Court.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://elegalix.allahabadhighcourt.in/elegalix/WebShowJudgment.do?judgmentID=1838731|title=Security Code Check for Accessing Judgment/Order|website=elegalix.allahabadhighcourt.in|accessdate=6 January 2017}}</ref>'''

Unlike the Students' Union where the president was elected directly, in the Students' Council, every class elected its representative and the elected representatives in-turn elected the General Secretary (and other office bearers).<ref name="Students' Union" />

=== 2012–2016 ===
In Aug 2013, the Students' Council was disbanded and the University administration; based on the directions of [[Supreme Court of India]] (which was based on recommendations from "Lyngdoh committee" section 6.2) decided to re-introduce the "Students' Union".<ref name="Students' Union" /><ref name="Lyngdoh Committee report">{{cite news|url=http://www.ugc.ac.in/oldpdf/students_pdf/lyngdoh_committeemhrd2712.pdf|title=Lyngdoh Committee report|publisher=[[University Grants Commission (India)|University Grants Commission]]|accessdate=1 September 2015}}</ref>

In Oct 2014, some students went on [[hunger strike]], demanding student union elections. Instead of union election council election dates were subsequently announced on 11 November 2014 and the process was due to be completed by 30 November 2014. However, the elections had to be cancelled and the Students' Council had to be kept on hold due to violence, arson and clashes between students and police.<ref name="ViolenceErupts" /><ref name="Campus differs on Student’s Union issue">{{cite news|title=Campus differs on Students' Union issue|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=1 September 2015|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/BHU-campus-differs-on-Students-Union-issue/articleshow/45224401.cms}}</ref>

Elections were not held in 2015 and 2016, following ban introduced in 2014.

== Banaras Hindu University Students Council ==
{{Expand section|date=January 2022}}
Currently, BHU does not have an active political student union, but an administrative student council called the '''Banaras Hindu University Students Council''' to represent and safeguard the interests of the students.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-10-03|title=BHU students face a long battle ahead for their union|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bhu-students-face-a-long-battle-ahead-for-their-union/story-6LoffR29DzUGbw7PQ9gw0H.html|access-date=2021-12-31|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=ORDINANCES GOVERNING THE STUDENTS COUNCIL OF THE BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY, 2012|url=https://bhu.ac.in/StuentsCouncil/ORDINANCESGOVERNINGTHECONTITUTIONOFBHUTUDENTSCOUNCIL2012.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notable student leaders==
* [[Manoj Sinha]], [[Governor of Jammu & Kashmir]] (formerly, [[Bharatiya Janata Party]])
* [[Mohd Zama Khan]], ([[Janata Dal United]])
* [[Manoj Sinha]], ([[Bhartiya Janata Party]])
* [[Rajesh Kumar Mishra]], ([[Indian National Congress]])
* [[Veena Pandey]], ([[Bhartiya Janata Party]])
* [[Mahendra Nath Pandey]], ([[Bhartiya Janata Party]])
* [[Anil Srivastava]], ([[Indian National Congress]])
* [[JPS Rathore]], ([[Bhartiya Janata Party]])
* [[Kedar Nath Singh]], ([[Bhartiya Janata Party]])
* [[Bharat Singh]], ([[Bhartiya Janata Party]])

==See also==
* [[Banaras Hindu University]]
* [[Delhi University Students' Union]]
* [[Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.bhu.ac.in/ BHU official website]

{{Banaras Hindu University}}
{{Varanasi}}

[[Category:Students' unions]]
[[Category:Students' unions in India]]
[[Category:Banaras Hindu University]]

Banaras Hindu University Students' Union - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 05:20, 14 August 2023