By Views Now News Desk
Bihar: A student movement demanding access to higher education has drawn widespread attention after three sisters associated with the Student Federation of India (SFI) were released following 40 days in judicial custody. Their return has become a symbol of resilience for supporters of the campaign seeking the establishment of a college in a rural region of Bihar.
According to SFI leaders, Kanti, the President of SFI Bihar, along with her sisters Gaytri and Savitri, participated in a protest demanding the construction of a government college to improve access to higher education, particularly for students from economically disadvantaged and rural backgrounds. During the agitation, the three sisters and eight other SFI activists were arrested by police.
The demand centred on establishing a local college so that students, especially young women, would not have to travel long distances or discontinue their education because of financial hardship and limited educational infrastructure.
Supporters of the movement described the arrests as an attempt to suppress a peaceful democratic protest, while the campaign continued across the state during the students' detention. Student organisations, activists and supporters organised demonstrations and solidarity programmes, keeping the issue in public discussion.
After 40 days in custody, Kanti, Gaytri, Savitri and the other detained activists were released. Their return was marked by a warm reception from fellow students and supporters, who hailed their perseverance and commitment to the cause of education.
At a public programme following their release, Dr. Ashok Dhawale, National President of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), honoured the three sisters for their role in the movement. Leaders from the Left movement in Bihar also attended the event, expressing solidarity with the students and reiterating support for their demand for expanded educational facilities.
The sisters' experience has resonated with many across Bihar, where access to higher education remains a challenge in several rural districts. Activists argue that inadequate educational infrastructure disproportionately affects girls and students from marginalised communities, often forcing them to abandon higher studies.
Speaking after their release, SFI members reaffirmed that the movement for a college would continue through democratic means. They said the arrests had strengthened, rather than weakened, their resolve to campaign for accessible and affordable education.
The episode has become a significant chapter in Bihar's contemporary student movement, highlighting ongoing debates over educational access, democratic protest and the role of student organisations in raising public issues. Whether the demand for a new college is ultimately fulfilled remains to be seen, but the story of the three sisters has already emerged as a powerful example of determination in the face of adversity.
