New Delhi, August 12: A scheduled discussion on Umar Khalid’s book “Fractured Communities: Adivasi Histories and the Politics of Power” at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) faced significant disruption on August 10, 2026. The event, organized by students affiliated with the JNU Students Union, aimed to bring together various academics and social activists.
However, the JNU administration abruptly canceled the booking of the SSS-1 auditorium, citing a lack of complete information regarding the event and the concealment of certain facts.
Despite the cancellation, students remained undeterred and decided to hold the discussion at another location on campus. A large number of students attended the alternative venue, with the JNUSU asserting that the cancellation of the auditorium booking would not hinder discussions and dialogues among students. The discussion commenced outside the SSS-2 building around 3 PM on the same day.
The university administration clarified that both the approval and cancellation of the event were actions taken by the Dean of SSS, who also communicated the cancellation to Professor Avinash Kumar.
During the discussion at SSS-2, protests erupted, leading to a temporary halt in the proceedings. Reports indicated that while some students supported the event, others voiced their dissent through slogans.
The JNUSU organized this discussion in conjunction with the International World Indigenous Day. Seating arrangements for speakers were made in the SSS-2 auditorium, and a stall featuring Khalid’s book was set up outside the venue. The discussion focused on the themes of the book, tribal history, and questions of power.
This controversy is particularly sensitive as Umar Khalid, a former JNU student, is currently incarcerated and is an accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case. His book is based on his PhD thesis and discusses the tribal society of the Singhbhum region in Jharkhand, their history, and the power dynamics of that era.