Akbar Chawdhary

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Akbar Chawdhary
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Born
Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
NationalityIndian
Alma mater
  • Aligarh Muslim University
  • Jawaharlal Nehru University
OccupationPolitical Activist

Akbar Chawdhary is an Indian political activist, who served as President of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union[1] (JNUSU) in 2013-14 and later taught at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)[2]. After working with Prashant Kishor in West Bengal elections, he started his own venture, Matrix Intelligence, a political consultancy credited with Congress’ win in Himachal Pradesh 2022[3][4]

Early Life and Education

Akbar Chawdhary was born in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh and being the child of an Air Force Officer, he has lived across the country. In Class 6th, he cleared the Common Entrance Test and interview for Rashtriya Military School Chail, Shimla, and spent his childhood in Himachal Pradesh. For Higher educational studies he joined Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), pursuing his Bachelor’s in History (Hons.) degree. After graduating, he went on to pursue a Master’s in International Relations from JNU. He pursued his PhD thesis on Amartya Sen and holds a Doctorate in Philosophy from JNU[5]. Whilst at JNU, Chawdhary was a member of AISA[6][7], CPI (M-L)’s student wing, he fought and won the JNUSU President Elections[8] with a landslide margin of 1317 votes[9][10][11].

Career

Chawdhary joined Aligarh Muslim University as an Assistant Professor in 2017 and taught there for two academic sessions. He also taught Indian Polity to student’s preparing for UPSC exams at RCA (Residential Coaching Academy) at AMU. Following this, he joined Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) in 2019 and worked with Prashant Kishor for West Bengal Elections in 2021. In 2022, Akbar Chawdhary initiated his own political consultancy under the banner of Matrix Intelligence. The company started it’s first campaign in Himachal Pradesh[12][13]. With popular campaigns like ‘Har Ghar Lakshmi’[14][15] and ‘Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot’, Congress returned back to power in the state[16][17][18]. The company also engaged with Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Uttar Pradesh. Currently they are working for Chhattisgarh Elections.

Activism

Hunger-strike

In 2013, before becoming the Union President, he led a 12 day hunger strike demanding the increment in merit cum means scholarship for poor students[19][20][21]. In lieu of these protests, the merit-cum-means scholarship amount was increased by the University.

24/7 Library

After assuming Presidency, the Chawdhary led Student's Union's first action was to remove timing restrictions in the University Library and make it 24x7[22].

Protests against UPSC

Chawdhary led JNUSU protests against changes in UPSC syllabus and the elimination of foreign languages such as Arabic, Persian, German, Russian etc.[23][24] from the entrance exams and the discriminatory nature of these changes[25][26][27].

Against Lyngdoh Committee Recommendations

Akbar led JNUSU protests against the Lyngdoh Committee Recommendations, in front of the Supreme Court of India[28]. He critiqued them as ‘anti-student politics’, and a stood against the cancellation of student body election in JNU on the basis of ‘non-compliance to LCR’.

FYUP in DU

Chawdhary actively participated in the protests against the Four Year Undergraduate Programme in DU[29], which finally forced the government to take it back the controversial reforms[30][31].

Protests Against Delinking of BA-MA Foreign language Programme

Chawdhary led student union protests against the JNU's decision to delink the BA-MA Integrated programme in foreign languages[32]. This decision was taken without the knowledge of the students and would change a 40 year old system. JNUSU conducted a referendum for the students' of JNU's School of Languages, Literature and Culture Studies, where 82% voted against the de-linking[33].

JNU Sedition Row

Chawdhary stood in solidarity with the then President Kanhaiya Kumar and the vice-president Shehla Rashid in the JNU Sedition Row. When Kanhaiya went to jail, he was an active part of managing all the protest meetings at the campus and outside[34].

Sexual Harassment Policy at JNU

Chawdhary was instrumental in leading students' union strikes and boycotts at JNU, demanding that people under investigation of Gender Sensitization Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) not be appointed or promoted to any important posts. The administration had agreed to the students demands[35].

Commercialisation of Campus Shops

In 2014, Chawdhary took up the cause of commercialisation of eateries and old timer shops in the University campus. Ganga Dhaba (est. 1985) was not just an eatery for students, but also a ‘debate centre’, as dubbed by regulars[36][37]. The protests maintained that the dhabba facilitated a safe space for students to gather, discuss and debate. It's demolition would lead to loss of the only income to the owners family as well[38][39].

Najeeb Ahmed’s Disappearance

In 2016, Najeeb Ahmed, a first year MSc. Biotech student from JNU went missing after an altercation with ABVP students[40][41][42]. Chawdhary accompanied Najeeb’s mother in all the High court proceedings and political rallies and was involved in the 'Chalo JNU' protests, demanding justice for Najeeb[43][44][45].

Solidarity Team to help Muzaffarnagar Riots Victim

The CPI (M-L) led a Solidarity Team to Muzaffarnagar after the riots

Controversies

Against Narendra Modi

DUSU President Aman Awana and JNUSU President Akbar Chawdhary were at loggerheads with each other as President of JNUSU decided to lead protests against BJP’s Prime Ministerial Candidate, Narendra Modi, in Varanasi in 2014[46]. He led a 14 member team from JNU that joined other institutions and student bodies like Delhi University and Banaras Hindu University to protest against Modi’s candidature[47][48]. ABVP President went to Banaras Hindu University to campaign for the then PM candidate Narendra Modi.

Sexual harassment allegations

In July 2014, a sexual harassment allegation was filed against Chawdhary and Joint Secretary of JNUSU, Sarfaraz Hamid to the JNU’s Gender Sensitisation Committee against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH).[47]

Chawdhary and Hamid stepped down from their posts to allow for fair inquiry[48]. Both were declared not guilty after investigations were conducted[49][50][51].

References

  1. ↑ "President/Secretaries | Welcome to Jawaharlal Nehru University". www.jnu.ac.in. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  2. ↑ "Dept. of Political Science, Aligarh Muslim University" (PDF). Aligarh muslim University. 2019. Retrieved 2023-03-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ↑ Menon, Aditya (2022-12-09). "Himachal Pradesh: How Priyanka Gandhi & Bhupesh Baghel Scripted Congress' Win". TheQuint. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  4. ↑ Live, A. B. P. (2023-01-04). "कांग्रेस कैसे बीजेपी को दे सकती है मात? जानें - क्या बोले पार्टी के रणनीति अकबर चौधरी". www.abplive.com (in हिन्दी). Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  5. ↑ "Registered PhD. Students 2016-17" (PDF). Jawaharlal Nehru University. 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ↑ "JNUSU 2013: Decisive Mandate for the Revolutionary Student Movement | Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation". cpiml.net. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  7. ↑ "AISA bags all four seats in JNU students' union polls". India Today. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  8. ↑ "Liberation Archive". Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist). Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  9. ↑ "AISA sweeps JNU student union polls". The Hindu. 2013-09-16. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  10. ↑ "AISA sweeps JNU polls, Akbar Chaudhary elected as president | ummid.com". ummid.com. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  11. ↑ "Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union", Wikipedia, 2023-04-19, retrieved 2023-04-30
  12. ↑ Menon, Aditya (2022-12-09). "Himachal Pradesh: How Priyanka Gandhi & Bhupesh Baghel Scripted Congress' Win". TheQuint. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  13. ↑ Live, A. B. P. (2023-01-04). "कांग्रेस कैसे बीजेपी को दे सकती है मात? जानें - क्या बोले पार्टी के रणनीति अकबर चौधरी". www.abplive.com (in हिन्दी). Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  14. ↑ "Himachal Congress: कांग्रेस ने शुरू किया 'हर घर लक्ष्मी' डोर टू डोर प्रचार अभियान". Amar Ujala (in हिन्दी). Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  15. ↑ "हर घर लक्ष्मी - Himachal Pradesh Congress". 2022-10-02. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  16. ↑ "Himachal Assembly Election Results 2022: Full list of winners, seat-wise winning candidates of AAP, BJP, Congress". Zee News. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  17. ↑ "Cohesion Versus Invisibility: The Contrast in Congress's Campaigns in Himachal and Gujarat". The Wire. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  18. ↑ Bhandari, Rahul (2022-06-18). "Eye on Assembly poll: Himachal Congress working on 'Mera Booth, Sabse Mazboot' drive". The News Himachal. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  19. ↑ "Struggle will continue: JNU students". The Hindu. 2013-08-24. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  20. ↑ "JNUSU protests for increase in poor students' scholarship". The Indian Express. 2013-08-19. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  21. ↑ "JNU students protest at Parliament, demand rise in scholarship". Hindustan Times. 2013-08-26. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  22. ↑ "JNU's gift to students: A library that will stay open 24×7". The Indian Express. 2014-01-30. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  23. ↑ "Changes likely in UPSC main exam from 2013". The Times of India. 2011-12-08. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  24. ↑ "Change in the UPSC exam pattern over the years". The Indian Express. 2018-03-18. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  25. ↑ "JNU students' union protests against changes in UPSC syllabus". The Economic Times. 2013-11-07. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  26. ↑ "(News) JNUSU is running a campaign against changes in UPSC syllabus | IAS EXAM PORTAL - India's Largest Community for UPSC Exam Aspirants". iasexamportal.com. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  27. ↑ Standard, Business (2013-11-07). "JNU students' union protests against changes in UPSC syllabus". www.business-standard.com. Retrieved 2023-04-30. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  28. ↑ "Review Lyngdoh panel proposals: JNUSU". The Hindu. 2013-11-14. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  29. ↑ -. "On FYUP in Delhi University". Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist). Retrieved 2023-04-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ↑ "FYUP fracas: Detained Delhi University students to continue protest at UGC at 4.30 pm". Rediff. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  31. ↑ "Protests in Delhi University". frontline.thehindu.com. 2013-09-04. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  32. ↑ JNUSU protesting against De-linking in School of languages (JNU), retrieved 2023-04-30
  33. ↑ "82% students vote against JNU reform in referendum". The Times of India. 2013-10-09. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  34. ↑ "Sedition Charges a 'Desperate Attempt' to 'Discredit Dissent': Ex JNU Student Leaders". The Wire. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  35. ↑ "Won't promote staff members facing sexual harassment inquiry: JNU". The Indian Express. 2014-03-12. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  36. ↑ "बंद होगा JNU का 'डिबेट सेंटर' कहा जाने वाला गंगा ढाबा". आज तक (in हिन्दी). 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  37. ↑ "Uncertainty over iconic Ganga Dhaba, JNU students protest". Hindustan Times. 2016-08-19. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  38. ↑ "Students of jnu went on a protest march at 4 pm today from ganga dhaba to the slum dwellings at priya to protest against the social discrimination during the commonwealth games". The Times of India. 2010-10-13. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  39. ↑ "Protests in JNU as Ganga Dhaba faces 'shutdown'". The Indian Express. 2016-08-20. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  40. ↑ Bhandari, Hemani (2017-10-08). "Waiting for the 'JNU boy' Najeeb Ahmed, who went missing without a trace in 2016". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  41. ↑ admin (2016-10-19). "Najeeb Ahmed Kidnapped from JNU Campus: Admin and Police keep mum". Muslim Mirror. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  42. ↑ "Probe finds ABVP member guilty of assaulting Najeeb". The Hindu. 2016-11-20. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  43. ↑ "Students participated in "Chalo JNU" demonstration despite administrations advise against it". The Times of India. 2016-11-15. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  44. ↑ "'Chalo JNU' fails to attract crowd". The Times of India. 2016-11-16. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  45. ↑ "Remove your uniforms and join me in the protest, says missing JNU student's mother outside CBI office". DNA India. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  46. ↑ -. "JNU students' union takes campaign against Modi to Varanasi". Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist). Retrieved 2023-04-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  47. ↑ "Sexual harassment complaint against two JNU students". The Hindu. 2014-07-29. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  48. ↑ "Sexual harassment case: Accused JNU students' union members resign-Delhi News , Firstpost". Firstpost. 2014-08-05. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  49. ↑ "JNU ex-prez found not guilty in sexual harassment case". Hindustan Times. 2016-05-28. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  50. ↑ "Clean chit for former JNUSU leader in sexual harassment case". The Hindu. 2016-05-30. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  51. ↑ "Clean chit for former JNUSU leader in sexual harassment case". The Hindu. 2016-05-30. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-05-02.

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