Word Politics is a derived from Greek & defined as practice & theory of influencing others. It involves in making decision for a group of people that would benefit all or majority of them in the group. Now let’s analyze the word Influence which can be of negative or positive in nature, a positive influencing will imperatively have a component - Influencing without authority. Does that happen in Present Politics? Answering to aforementioned question is quiet difficult. Perhaps, that’s why Einstein quoted Politics is more difficult than Physics.
What at all is student Politics?
Student politics has been vital part of all educational institutions and should sturdily be encouraged. Elected student Union/President represents voice of all students and in many situations act as Single Point of Contact to Management. They should time to time influence the management in enhancing quality of academics, living, amenities provided, admission process, cultural activity and many such integral part of education. Great example of an institution growing strengthened with Student Union Power is JNU with no doubts. It boasts eminence in Indian/International Society for quality of education or tuition fee or culture it imbibes. In fact in unaided institutions, where management is kept in plaid in connection to Fee/amenities provided only because of Student Union Voice. Broadly Student Politics can be classified into two broad terms – Student union working only on Student Unity with Management & Other is student union’s direct involvement with National Party Politics.
Student Politics making great impact dates long back to 1880’s where students along with Indian National congress mounted a protest against the practice of holding Indian civil examinations in England. Few other great movements involving student politics to make positive impact at national level are Non Cooperation Movement, Swadeshi Movement etc.,. Internationally as well there are as many examples to quote right from Indonesia to France to US all have gone through this splendour.
Do we have a similar scenario now? Do we fight for making a great positive impact? Has we lost
leadership in Student Politics which once was supposed to have given great structural change for
country to run better?
Have we lost the leadership in Student Politics?
Let’s consider two situations which our country recently succumbed to – episodes at Jawaharlal Nehru University & University of Hyderabad.
JNU is a great institution which is driven predominantly by Student union or unity; also could quote, have risen to the top only because of student union. While total glory goes to them for bringing it to the
top there seems to be a prodigious lag in adaptive leadership when it came to recent incident of Free Speech/Dissent. We all have differences of opinion and should appreciate/accept difference of opinion & have healthy debate to sort that out in a mutual way. Let’s not go until the fact was that a case of sedition at all. Coming to the primary purpose for which the concern was raised has two possibilities either Judiciary which is considered highest beyond anything in a republic was wrong or we the people do not have ability or maturity to understand the judiciary proceedings. Going to the extent accepting the unacceptable that Judiciary proceeding being wrong, there is a better way debate about the past and bring a change as it requires.
Coming to episode of University of Hyderabad, With India clocking as one of leading nations with highest rate of suicides amongst people aged 15 years to 29 years, there is no doubt educational institutes can escape the tragedy of Student Suicide. Let’s take two case of suicide – Student from University of Hyderabad which happened in January 2016 and another recent case of suicide/death in March 2016 from an engineering college in Chennai. There is a stark difference between how the case is being handled. Reasons for suicide is encountered to be different nevertheless both have ended the life. Life is a life; Lose is a loss for both parents. Losing a life is an unfortunate event with no doubt but something to ponder very resolutely is – Weather was that at all a right time to play politics having lost a life. From abhorrently publicizing the letters to letting national party politics come into campus during the loss. Each every step itself proves of lost leadership in student politics. It could have been handled better to seek justice.
In both the cases we witnessed one thing common – National Political Parties mostly the opposition taking center stage. Be it any political party, their intent was not to resolve the issue but to bloat it to further misery, every common man understands this but what awes is, student union failing to understand the intent of national political parties coming into the picture. Surfacing the fight between ruling party & opposition party in the abode of education was the heights of imprudence. Unfortunately educational institutes have become breeding grounds for controversies be it caste based or free speech
based where national parties descend like eagles seeking their prey - vote share or vote bank. The motive is to win Vote Shares and if not winning at least let’s make other party lose their vote share. Leadership in the eyes of political parties is one man’s failure is other man’s joy at least with respect to aforesaid two instances. Sadly, they are anxious only about the result or destiny not the process. That is one of worst examples what they can set for young generation to come. That’s not what leadership is all about, it is beyond proving others failure. But unfortunately Leadership is wrongly portrayed time ad again by political leaders.
In both the cases, if the intent is to bring a right change then there is always a way through to reach the destiny. May the journey be tough but destiny is achievable choosing right path. Irony is a wrong path is chosen and blame is given to path which is chosen. It is not the path which will change ever; it is mindset of students/people which needs a revamp.
What can be done for a better Student Politics?
Student Role:
First rallying/protesting should be stopped! In a rally/protest half of the population which is part of rally/protest would neither know the reason nor understand in depth reason for which the rally/protest is being taken on. Instead concentrate on formulizing a process change or a strategy should be mapped as on to what and how to bring change. Channelizing it right is an art which needs to be learnt. Peace is the way ahead not protests!
Let us not waste tax payer’s money! Out of 1.2 Billion people in India meager 3.75 Cr people who are Individual Taxpayers paying income tax thus contributing to Direct Tax collections. Out of which roughly 90% of them are in the income slab of 0 to 5 Lakh rupees. It is in all possibility that every individual who is salaried and paying tax has hard ship to maintain a family, ailing parents, education of children, housing loan etc., while they are pulling strings to meet the needs they are still forced to pay tax. And part of same which is being utilized as education subsidy, now the same when being not utilized for studies is just a great injustice student does to the working class.
Let’s work and improve the economy! India has an advantage of demography but the same can be an inordinate disadvantage when they are not employed. India has millions of job opportunity presently and in future to come but Industry yearning for skilled labour even with positive demography is a gloomy story defining demand supply mismatch in workforce. Why not get employed first to support the growing economy in order to further grow and drive a consumer based economy.
Government Role:
Spare Educational Institutes at least! Student unions have to be there with no doubts but delinking them with national political parties is an imperative step ahead for the educational institutions to imbibe education in it.
Setting a great example! Political leaders are seen as first rung leaders in any country, it is imperative that political leaders show students the right leadership right from taking on triumph/defeat to riding on one's own success rather on others defeat.
