By – Sadaf Tasneem
The former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India N. V Ramana in his lecture delivered at National Law University (NLU), Delhi remarked that India has not produced a student leader for almost three decades. This statement is a reflective of the political void in youth politics of Indian union which to some extent is an outcome of restrictions on Union elections in prominent Central and state universities. Albert Einstein infamously quoted, “Education is not merely learning of facts but the training of to think.” Unfortunately in recent times, slavery has been institutionalized in novice form and it is through caging minds. We’re so accustomed to pin drop silence in classes and elsewhere that silence is perceived to be agreement. Students are supposed, instructed and directed to mug factual details that are never brought into application in practical lives. This gradually conditions a morally inactive, rationally blank line of citizens that often extends to as large section of population, covering an entire generation. Silence, sycophancy are taken as the new parameters of discipline. In authorization of the state, dissent, rather than an expression has become sedition.
Union of students and their representation in educational institutions is a crucial step towards grooming politically sound citizens.
Student’s politics however has several negative aspects and consequences that cannot be ignored. Regionalism and camp courting is a serious concern amongst them. It is often observed and evident that muscle power, hooliganism and material factors overtake spaces for intellectual thinking. Educational institutions are however a nursery of the larger world beyond the premises that awaits outside. Man is made by circumstances and more often than not those circumstances can be chosen , laboured, improved and carefully studied. Imposition of institutional and administrative ban on free expression of scholars and students churns the lava in volcano that keeps mounting.
Meanwhile, the collectivization of students and demand for resumption of electoral practices for student representation must not loose the sight and vision to be followed after the achievement of desired outcome. It is a subject of introspection that student leaders in their failure to adequately represent their constituents are often found preoccupied in arrangement of illegal accommodation, admission to courses and availing non-paid mess services. The cult and crab of cultural practices is restricted to sartorial choices and greetings
“Those who don’t remember their history are condemned to repeat it”, is how George Satyanha has put forward the need to learn from past experiences.
It is noteworthy that the Reign of Terror must not contemporarily follow the revolutionary ideals alike that in French Revolution.
And it is equally important to possess a vision for progress and development of academic performances, upliftment of the deprived students and the need for cooperative collaboration should and cannot be ignored.
I’m writing this at a juncture of time when the Supreme Court of India is about to deliver the verdict it has reserved in February after eight days of hearing on Aligarh Muslim University’s Minority Status. I’m writing this at a time when the Muslim drop outs in higher education is on constant decline with most significant that being in Uttar Pradesh.
I’m writing this at a time when the largest minority of India lags behind scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in higher education. But the largest minority institution in India is institutionally silenced and those who are capable and competent to speak have chosen the side of oppressors to ensure their access to privileges. Personal privileges however are not long lasting, legal jurisdictions are.
Numerous prevailing concerns and issues within and outside the campus premises demand timely reinstatement of election of student’s union.
Author is Post Graduate Student.