Paper short abstract:

This paper not only aims to emphasize the importance of the university as a social space but addresses the potential of everyday dwelling and loitering of students from various backgrounds as a possible counterstrategy against the increasing polarization within the Indian society.

Paper long abstract:

This paper focusses on Indian University campuses as contested spaces. In recent years the treatment of public universities and the question of how critical of the government they are allowed to be, has become a major issue of dispute within society. One central factor is the increased public framing of dissent and protest in the academic environment as “anti-national“. In addition, students at public universities are repeatedly placed in tension with taxpayers. The polarized notions of an “ideal” university and “ideal” students are placing the students in an area of conflict and influences the everyday experiences of living on the campus which, according to previous research, has shown to be a central element in the “university experience”. Moreover, the pandemic increased inequalities and burdens of students.

This paper not only aims to emphasize the importance of the university as a social space but addresses the potential of everyday dwelling and loitering of students from various backgrounds as a possible counterstrategy against the increasing polarization within the Indian society.

Dwelling and loitering on university campuses in India are an essential part of the learning experience outside the classroom. In this paper claiming space through seemingly “doing nothing” is understood as a practice within the ongoing negotiation process of who owns the campus as well as a challenge of the neoliberal understanding of the university.