New Delhi, Feb. 17: Political scientist Gopal Guru had a record 2,000-plus crowd attending his lecture on a day when JNU students are striking for the release of arrested union leader Kanhaiya Kumar.

Titled "What is a Nation?", the lecture is the first of a series called "The Nation Needs to Know" to be delivered by leading academics. These lectures are on nationalism and are intended to counter the tag of "anti-national hub" slapped on the university.

"Our lectures may not have a direct impact on the lawlessness outside. But these activities are important to sustain campus life. We won't be derailed from teaching, learning and questioning despite whatever is happening," history teacher Janaki Nair said.

Others like Mridula Mukherjee, Achin Vanaik, Nivedita Menon and Ayesha Kidwai will be lecturing in the days to come. The students and faculty are also using social media to reach out to the world outside and convey their side of the story.

Outside JNU's North Gate, ABVP protesters waved national flags and raised slogans of "Shoot the JNU traitors" all day. Three members of JNU's ABVP unit resigned, citing hooliganism by "rightwing fascist forces" at the North Gate as a reason. In the last few days, locals have protested outside the gate and students have been heckled on the Metro and refused autos when they have asked to be taken to JNU.

"They (the government) want to enforce a siege mentality - that we can't go out without being harassed until we give up our beliefs, culture and politics. We need to break this isolation," former JNUSU president Sandeep Singh said.

To this end, the "Stand With JNU" social media interface has been established in a garage in the administrative block - by a professor and four students.

Guru's lecture was streamed live today via a platform called Periscope. Stand With JNU's Facebook page has got more than 7 lakh hits in less than a week. Their YouTube channel has posted documentaries exposing allegedly doctored videos showing youngsters on campus raising anti-India slogans. The group works on mouldy mattresses with laptops.

"We're taking back the narrative. People outside can now know what we say, how we protest and who we are without hearing the lies spread on news channels," the group leader said.