Aligarh: Students of the Advanced Centre for Women’s Studies at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) formally inaugurated the Women’s Studies Forum on Saturday. This student-led initiative marks the launch of an action-oriented platform dedicated to advancing gender justice, inclusion, and grassroots empowerment through academic inquiry and community engagement.
Chief Guest Prof. Samina Khan, Department of English, emphasised the vital role of student-led platforms in catalysing institutional change. She advocated the creation of an independent grievance redressal committee on campus and encouraged the Forum to actively raise awareness about the POSH Act (Prevention of Sexual Harassment).
Guest of Honour, Member Incharge, Public Relations Office, Prof Vibha Sharma, also from the Department of English, spoke on the need for inclusive spaces where students feel genuinely heard. She stressed the importance of dismantling unconscious biases and adopting intersectional approaches to address gender-based violence across all gender identities. She innumerated the skills like focused listening and constant unlearning-learning helpful inclusive environment of gender equality.
Dr. Shahab Shabbir, Faculty of Law, encouraged the adoption of grassroots-level gender equity practices and cautioned against overdependence on AI tools, advocating for experiential learning and creative engagement. Dr. Sadaf Fareed, Department of English, highlighted that awareness must translate into tangible action and urged students to take small but meaningful steps, such as supporting underprivileged peers and offering emotional support.
Prof. Azra Musavi, Director of the Advanced Centre for Women’s Studies, commended the students for initiating the Forum and emphasised its potential to foster critical discourse and inclusive leadership on campus.
Faculty Advisor Dr. Tarushikha Sarvesh encouraged students to take full ownership of the Forum’s mission and sustain their engagement through consistent participation. Faculty members Dr. Tauseef and Mr. Sheeraz Ahmad also expressed their support for the initiative.
Earlier, Kainat, Secretary of the Forum, welcomed the guests and introduced the Forum’s vision, aimed at bridging academic research with activism. A detailed presentation was delivered outlining the Forum’s Vision, Mission, and a Six-Month Agenda aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality), focusing on amplifying marginalised voices.
The Forum’s Six-Month Agenda includes heritage walks exploring marginalised gender narratives, the launch of a student-led journal on gender studies, Good Touch–Bad Touch awareness workshops, distribution of hygiene kits and resource materials, the establishment of grievance redressal mechanisms, and capacity-building workshops for local women entrepreneurs.
An open-floor discussion welcomed further suggestions, such as mental health campaigns and collaborations with the Faculty of Law for gender justice seminars.
