Protests have engulfed Sikkim University after the sudden death of Nirav Giri, a first-semester student, due to a medical emergency on October 18. Students are demanding urgent reforms in the university’s health services and management, citing a lack of essential medical facilities, including an ambulance, which they believe led to Nirav’s untimely demise.
Nirav suffered a heart attack while on campus, and according to reports, the university’s unpreparedness cost him the critical “golden hour” for effective medical intervention. This incident has exposed severe gaps in student safety, despite the university’s status as a well-funded Central University. Many students and parents are questioning why the institution failed to meet basic healthcare standards outlined by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
In response, hundreds of students took to the streets, holding large demonstrations to demand accountability. Protestors are calling for an independent investigation into Nirav’s death, an audit of the university’s finances, and swift development of the Yangang campus, where issues of mismanagement have reportedly been rampant.
“Nirav’s death is a wake-up call for us all. We demand a university that prioritizes our health and safety,” declared a student leader at the protest rally. The outcry has also brought renewed focus on the Sikkim University Student’s Association (SUSA), which has faced criticism for its limited role due to delayed elections and short tenures. Students are now pushing for the establishment of a permanent student union under UGC regulations to provide continuous representation and advocacy.
In addition to their calls for reform, students are denouncing attempts to misrepresent the narrative surrounding Nirav’s death. Rumors of suicide or drug use have surfaced, but demonstrators argue that these claims divert attention from the university’s negligence and disrespect Nirav’s memory.
“The death of Nirav Giri is a direct result of institutional neglect and inadequate infrastructure at Sikkim University. We stand united in our demands for justice, accountability, and reform,” stated another student representative. “Nirav’s memory will not fade, and neither will our commitment to creating a safer, more responsible university environment.”
The protests are expected to continue until students’ demands for health service reforms, an audit, and the establishment of proper student representation are addressed.