Panjab University has a 550 acre residential campus. Being a public funded institute, it gives a chance to many first learners in their families to join higher education. For many women, higher educational institutes are the ramp to take their flight to independence. Curfew rules, limited housing and institutional sexism inhibit the potential which a public infrastructure should otherwise nourish and produce. This further hardens the glass ceiling. These pictures are from a protest which started on 29th of october 2018 outside the main gate of the girls hostel and went on for 48 days. The struggle challenged the patriarchal setup inside the academic spaces. The victory was celebrated with happy tears and slogans.

“Rokey tenu kedha hai, sara ambar tera hai Agge nava sawera hai, sara ambar tera hai”

Translation: “Who’s stopping you, the whole sky is yours A new morning is ahead, the whole sky is yours”

Photo 1:

In the photograph is a research scholar studying on her laptop while her room sings of freedom fighters and struggle for liberation.

1 September 2017, Room no. 20, Kasturba Hall (Girls Hostel no.4) Panjab University, Chandigarh, India

Photo 2:

In the photograph is a poster pasted on the wall of makeshift home outside the Girls hosel. The slogan written in Punjabi reads “No one is going to give your rights on a plate, if you wish for freedom, come along and join the struggle!”

9 November 2018, Protest site, Outside Main gate Girls Hostel no. 4, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India