Students hope for return to routine as border tensions abate

While some institutions in India’s border states remain closed, many students – whose lives and study schedules were upended by conflict and threats of military escalation between India and neighbouring Pakistan – have returned to class, hoping to resume some semblance of normality.

Several educational institutions in the Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan were closed as a precautionary measure following an escalation of tensions between the two countries over the 22 April militant attack on tourists in Pahalgam in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Despite the ceasefire between the two countries announced on 10 May, some higher education institutions in Jammu and Kashmir, which experienced maximum impact from the violence, remain shut.

Authorities enacted the closures to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and staff, particularly in regions more susceptible to military attacks. The governments of states such as Andhra Pradesh in the southeast organised the evacuation of outstation students from Andhra Pradesh who were studying in or near the conflict zone.

At the Central University of Punjab (CUP), students reported that authorities initially denied leave requests despite sightings of Pakistani drones near the campus. Leave was eventually granted only after intervention from elected representatives.

Major disruption

The conflict has caused major disruptions to the lives of students. With final semester exams and project presentations approaching at many colleges, students face uncertainty regarding their academic studies.

Surendra Walia, who studies at Punjab Technical University in Kapoorthala, Punjab, told University World News: “The university had postponed some exams, but now new dates have been announced. This time is very difficult for us. We were not able to study due to fear of war.”

Arshnir Kaur from Hoshiarpur, Punjab, said her exams have been postponed for now. She told University World News: “Since the Pahalgam attack, the situation has been impacting our studies, and with the recent India-Pakistan crisis escalating, the college had to be closed.’

Additionally, students expressed concerns that universities in Punjab did not implement sufficient safety measures during periods of heavy shelling and drone activity. Bathinda, where the Central University of Punjab is located, is just 200 kilometres from the border.

Many students claimed that when the conflict started to escalate, there were no advisories or communication from the university administration or local authorities on safety protocols.

It was only after the situation intensified that the university issued a notice with basic safety guidelines and announced the suspension of classes until 12 May, prompting students to return home.

Reopening of institutions

On 14 May, academic institutions in five Punjab districts bordering Pakistan reopened. Punjab shares a 553-kilometre border with Pakistan, encompassing the districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Pathankot, Fazilka, Ferozepur, and Gurdaspur.

Following the ceasefire, Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Sakina Itoo announced that all educational institutions would reopen on 13 May except for those in Srinagar and border areas, which experienced maximum impact from the violence.

This impact included military activities such as the use of drones, missiles, and long-range weapons. In border areas, colleges remain closed for longer as security forces work to clear unexploded ordnance, and residents were advised not to return home until the area was deemed safe.

A faculty member of the University of Kashmir, which postponed all examinations until 14 May, said: “The classes have resumed, and we hope that everything will be normal in a few days.”

The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) welcomed the ceasefire, describing it as a much-needed step towards de-escalating tensions and restoring peace along the borders.

In a statement, the National Convenor of the Association, Nasir Khuehami, said: “For students living in the border belts of J&K, the ceasefire brings not only physical safety but also psychological relief.

“Many young students in these regions have had their education interrupted, dreams deferred, and ambitions limited due to the recent escalation.”

During the recent hostilities, hundreds of students from Jammu and Kashmir were unable to appear for important national and university-level examinations due to the persistent closure of the airport and the fear associated with road travel, he said.

Impact on Delhi students

Beyond the border area, the escalation of tensions and prospect of war affected students at institutions such as Delhi University, where many outstation students chose to leave the city – some for study leave (exams were scheduled to begin on 13 May) and others to be with their families in high-risk border areas.

However, a large number remained in the capital, grappling with stress and apprehension as the situation developed.

Following the declaration of a ceasefire, many outstation students returned to Delhi just in time for their exams. The campus atmosphere is mixed, with students feeling somewhat unprepared due to the disruptions.

Ajay Biswas, a final-year Bachelor of Business Administration student at a Delhi college, said: “Most of my friends and I thought our exams would be postponed. But once the ceasefire was announced, I had to rush to come back.

“I finally arrived in Delhi last evening (12 May), and honestly, I’m panicking. My parents live in Amritsar, and things felt really uncertain there, but I left Delhi to be with them without hesitation because I wanted to support them.”

Neither university nor government authorities responded by the time of publication to requests for comment on the disruptions suffered by students.