New Delhi: Student activist Umar Khalid has spoken publicly from jail for the first time since his arrest in 2020. In an interview conveyed through family members and friends to The Guardian, he reflected on nearly six years in prison without trial and described the emotional and mental impact of prolonged incarceration.
Khalid said evenings inside Delhi’s Tihar prison are the hardest part of each day. He recalled reading prison writings by Fyodor Dostoevsky and said both shared similar feelings at sunset, when another day in custody comes to an end.
He said prison life has affected his mind and body. He added that public perception has reduced him to an image rather than a person. According to Khalid, this has made it difficult to preserve his sense of humanity while facing years behind bars.
Khalid, who rose to national prominence through student politics and protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in 2019, remains in jail after his arrest in September 2020. Authorities accused him of being a key conspirator in the Delhi riots and charged him under anti terror laws. Khalid has denied the allegations and described the charges as “dystopian.”
He also criticised what he described as growing hate speech and increasing hostility toward Muslims. He expressed disappointment over what he viewed as limited public support from opposition parties, civil society groups and activists for political prisoners.
Khalid said repeated delays in bail hearings have weakened his hope of release. He remains in custody while the investigation continues, with no trial date announced.
Despite years in prison, Khalid said he continues to draw strength from words written on his cell wall, including a quotation by Bhagat Singh about remaining free in spirit despite captivity.
