Dilshada, first Muslim woman, to helm UoH students’ union
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) candidate defeated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) candidate Naresh P by a margin of 451 votes to become president of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) student union. Before Dilshada, Albeena Shakil, who contested as a candidate of the SFI-AISA coalition, had won the student union presidency at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in 2001.
Speaking to TOI after her victory, Dilshada said the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)’s Jantar Mantar protest had played a significant role in the Left alliance’s victory at UoH. “Two things worked in our favour: the unity of Left organisations and the anti-BJP and anti-ABVP sentiment, which only increased after the Jantar Mantar protest,” said Dilshada, a research scholar at the School of Humanities. A BA graduate from Govt Brennen College, Thalassery, where she served as joint secretary of the student union, Dilshada said the alliance’s election campaign had focused on addressing basic issues faced by students. On mess fees, we will ensure hostel elections are held on time and set up separate mess committees with students, workers, the chief warden’s office and vendors,” she said. Speaking about her decision to align with Left organisations, Dilshada said she chose to work with them because “they are more visible on the ground and work for change”. I refused and told them nobody had the right to dictate what I wear,” said the newly-elected student union president.
“Menstrual leave, lab charges and fellowship increases are policy-level issues, for which we will fight in the academic council. “I remember I was asked to wear a parda at college by some seniors.