As Parliament debated the Citizenship Amendment Bill last December, huge protests began first in Assam and the northeastern states and slowly spread through the rest of India.

In Delhi, soon after a brutal police crackdown on unarmed students at the Jamia Millia Islamia University, on December 16 a sit-in began at nearby Shaheen Bagh that will be remembered in the pages of history.

Led by women and girls people came out on the streets to try and protect the secularism of India’s Constitution.

Through their non-violent sit-in protest on the Shaheen Bagh–Kalindi Kunj road in the winter cold, these resilient women gained support from across the nation and other parts of the world. They continued until the pandemic made public gatherings unsafe.

We revisit the movement through photos to remember the support and solidarity it gained.

Actor Himanshu Bajpai with the children of Shaheen Bagh on 6 January 2020

Director Anurag Kashyap with Bilkis Bano (Dadi)

At the site

Children of Shaheen Bagh with their drawings at the Read for Revolution Library

Posters at the Read for Revolution Library

On Shaheen Bagh Bridge

India from within at Shaheen Bagh

Women of Shaheen Bagh

Poet Amir Aziz addresses the vigil

Comedian Kunal Kamra at the Artists Movement

Musician Ankur Tewari performs in solidarity

Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan

Poet Hussain Haidry

Singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad

Singer Anushka Manchanda

Photographs: Huda Mohammad