Boot polish and 'nimbu pani': GADVASU students stir protest with wit and grit

At Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), protest has taken on an unexpectedly humble (and humorous) form. As their indefinite strike entered its 32nd day, veterinary students swapped lab coats for aprons and shoe brushes, setting up makeshift tea and ‘nimbu pani’ stalls and polishing boots on campus to spotlight their demand for a fair stipend.

Armed with kettles, lemons and polish tins, the students are serving more than just refreshments — they’re serving a message. “If Rs 15,000 is all we’re worth, we might as well start earning it the old-fashioned way,” said one student, pouring out a glass of nimbu pani for a passerby. Another, crouched over a pair of dusty shoes, added with a grin, “We’re polishing futures, ours and yours.”

But behind the satire lies a serious concern. The Veterinary Students’ Union is demanding an increase in the monthly internship stipend from Rs 15,000 to Rs 24,310, aligning with what veterinary interns receive in neighbouring states. They argue that the current amount, jointly funded by the university and ICAR, is insufficient to meet basic living expenses—especially when the Punjab government contributes nothing.

“We’re not just students—we’re future veterinarians serving rural Punjab. But we’re being treated like liabilities, not assets,” said Dr Kamalpreet Singh, who, along with Dr Sahibnoor Singh and Dr Muskan Thakur, continued the chain hunger strike today.

The students have warned that if their demands remain unmet, they will escalate the protest into a fast unto death. Despite repeated letters, they say no response has come from Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, and no AAP minister has visited the protest site.

Their frustration is palpable.

“We’ve heard promises about education and healthcare reforms, but when it comes to veterinary sciences, we’re invisible,” said another protester, holding a placard that read: ‘From scalpel to squeezer—just to survive.’

Yet, the protest remains peaceful, creative and rooted in dignity. The students’ stalls have become a talking point on campus, drawing attention not just for their cause, but for their resilience and wit.

As the sun will set on Day 32 of their protest, the aroma of ‘chai’ will mingle with the quiet resolve of future doctors who refuse to be ignored. Their message is clear: if the government won’t invest in their future, they’ll keep polishing—shoes, slogans and public conscience.