Bucket of water thrown at historian S Irfan Habib at Delhi University: 'Disturbing, shocking'

NEW DELHI: A bucket of water was thrown at historian S Irfan Habib by an unidentified individual at Delhi University's Arts Faculty on Thursday while he was addressing students at an event.

The incident occurred during the People's Literature Festival: Samta Utsav, organised by the Left-affiliated All India Students' Association (AISA) as an alternative to the university's official literature festival that began the same day.

Speaking to TOI, Habib said, "I was invited to speak by the students. Some 200 students had gathered. I had just begun my address and spoken for about 20 minutes when suddenly water from a bucket was thrown from a wall behind me. For a few seconds I was unsettled, but then I continued. It is disturbing and shocking for me. Universities are places for diverse voices which should be respected," he said.

Videos of the incident were widely shared on social media. AISA alleged Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members were behind the act. ABVP refuted any involvement, calling the allegations "a deliberate attempt to malign the organisation". Its Delhi state secretary Sarthak Sharma said the charges were "completely baseless and false" and alleged that the left organisations were "spreading misinformation".

Meanwhile, AISA said it held the separate event to oppose the official festival "being used as a platform for regressive propaganda and communal rhetoric". The festival included sessions on topics such as "Caste in Society and University" and "Anti-Caste Poetry and Songs". It also called for implementation of the proposed UGC Equity Regulations, 2026.

Habib spoke about what he termed attempts at "historical erasure" and said universities must challenge distorted narratives. Several other academics were also invited to the event.