Dying student political activism?
http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/dying-student-political-activism/
Student unrest was a common sight on Indian campuses in the ’60s, but gone are those days when change was brought about because ordinary people dared to do extraordinary things. Come to think of it or even talk about student political activism, even inside the closed doors, the answer is perhaps anybody’s guess “LEADERSHIP HAS NO FUTURE”!
Many people believe that student political activism is restricted to colleges or universities alone and lack motivating factors like power, anti-establishment feelings and rational attitude among today’s youth.
Indian student activism started in 1928 under the Indian National Congress for India’s Independence from the British Raj.It is during the freedom struggle that the student movement was born and played a crucial role in India’s freedom. It was Patriotism that united students from lower middle class families.And from 1947 to this day, the student movement has focused on issues ranging from opposing imperialism, fighting against corrupt rulers to issues that directly concern the student community i.e. examinations and unemployment.
Look at history, the students took part in many progressive movements like the Naxalbari movement and the movement against Indira Gandhi’s authoritarian policies in the ’70s. And from the ’80s things started to change and India witnessed reactionary movements like the Assam movement, the anti-Mandal Commission movement, etc.
From 1947-2013, many students formed student organizations in support of political parties and their ideologies. Today, Indian students play a significant role in the development of our country. Recently, numerous youths took to streets to mark protest against corruption and for women’s freedom and security, especially in case of Nirbaya movement.
Today, students have become key elements in the political development of parties. However, leaders of student organizations don’t have decision-making power even in their own organizational issues. Many students complain that India being a young country, with the presence of 70 per cent youth, still struggle to locate the presence of its youth in important decision-making process.
However, many others feel that students must be given a chance irrespective of their university in University Council or University Syndicate.Since decisions taken at this level directly impact research scholars, students at both under graduate or post graduate level, etc.
After all, the role of student activism is all about their involvement in the decisions being taken for them, e.g.students used to get just 15 days to apply for revaluation, then it came down to just seven days to apply for revaluation, out of which two days are weekly off and in case of any holiday,all one is just left with is 3- 4 days.How doesone expect the students to complete all the complex formalities in such short span? Questioned a student leader from Jammu University.
The earlier set rules were well thought of and when amendments are being made in such rules, at least students too should be consulted. Why is it that when students agitate, its only then that the authorities concerned either roll back their decision or tweak them? Isn’t it better if students are consulted prior to the ruckus and agitation?
There are a lot of student leaders in small town universities, but ask them about their future, they struggle to findan answer.Except for a few big universities like Delhi University, it’s very rare that student leaders from other universities make it to the mainstream politics. When asked about his opinion, a student leader from Jammu University said,so far,no student representative had been able to make its mark either locally or nationally, except for a few names,who too had to find their own way out.
Student activism is beyond Facebook or Whats App. In this extremely busy world, no one wants to waste their time, but to gain some, one has to lose some and the first and the most important of all is to do away with the addiction to these social networking sites.When it comes to mass movements, certainly there is some obligation and mere updating the status or by being active on social networking sites won’t serve the purpose.
Student leaders often feel that students themselves will have to come forward to fight the common battle or make their voices heard. Everyone wants to go by the flow or opt the easy way and no one seems to be leading from the front. We fought for causes like the functioning of 148 illegal study centres of PTU and other private universities in the state.We were offered money too, but it was our firm determination that kept us strong throughout. People would often say that we were doing a good job, but no one would come along and walk the tight rope.
The challenge for student leaders these days starts from the family, as no parents want their kid to become a leader. They expect them to study inside the class rooms and not come out on streets and protest. They expect them to become engineers, doctors or anybody except a leader.As rightly said by Robert Frost: Ants are a curious race; one crossing with hurried tread, the body of one of their dead isn’t given a moment’s arrest. But leadership is for the one,who is ready to sacrifice and stand for others’ cause. Despite the genuine efforts of these students’ leaders, they are seen often complaining against people who taunt them and question their interest?
A few students who approach us with their genuine problems, we take their matter to the higher ups,but the trend these days is that students shy away to come along and feel hesitant to be seen with the student leader outside. They feel that the work is being delegated and its student leaders’responsibility to ensure it gets done.
In this ever-changing world, we all suspect one another. No one has faith left on anyone. It’s often difficult to differentiate between friends or foes. It’s the lack of unity that fizzles out the enthusiasm much before a movement starts to gather some heat. Sacrifice is what is required; look at history, those who sacrificed their interests for the common good got nothing in return. But they were all clear in their head regarding their fight for a societal change.
Present protests are all about individual causes, no one seems interested in fighting a common cause. Ask about women participation, the numbers are shocking. It’s just one out of 100 women, who voluntarily come forward. These leaders, in order to add head counts, take favours from women in their own family.
The future of student activism seems bleak in small towns. People feel too low of politics these days and one of the students leaders complained, “no one would congratulate if you tell them that you have joined politics, instead everyone will demoralize by saying that leadership is a sheer waste of time.” Only if the pains taken by the student leaders are being looked at by someone closely and provide them with a lucrative career platform, no one would give leadership its due. Besides, everyone wants to study and everyone wants to become somebody, why would anyone stand up for someone at his or own expense?
Society needs change and change happens for sure after a period of say about 5-10 years, after a few years, a group would be definitely formed once again,when there would be suppression in the society, that time hopefully someone will initiate to be a common voice and hopefully then they would all stand united. When it’s smooth functioning, no one would feel the urge to do something extraordinary, feel student leaders.
“As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation — either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course."
Student unrest was a common sight on Indian campuses in the ’60s, but gone are those days when change was brought about because ordinary people dared to do extraordinary things. Come to think of it or even talk about student political activism, even inside the closed doors, the answer is perhaps anybody’s guess “LEADERSHIP HAS NO FUTURE”!
Many people believe that student political activism is restricted to colleges or universities alone and lack motivating factors like power, anti-establishment feelings and rational attitude among today’s youth.
Indian student activism started in 1928 under the Indian National Congress for India’s Independence from the British Raj.It is during the freedom struggle that the student movement was born and played a crucial role in India’s freedom. It was Patriotism that united students from lower middle class families.And from 1947 to this day, the student movement has focused on issues ranging from opposing imperialism, fighting against corrupt rulers to issues that directly concern the student community i.e. examinations and unemployment.
Look at history, the students took part in many progressive movements like the Naxalbari movement and the movement against Indira Gandhi’s authoritarian policies in the ’70s. And from the ’80s things started to change and India witnessed reactionary movements like the Assam movement, the anti-Mandal Commission movement, etc.
From 1947-2013, many students formed student organizations in support of political parties and their ideologies. Today, Indian students play a significant role in the development of our country. Recently, numerous youths took to streets to mark protest against corruption and for women’s freedom and security, especially in case of Nirbaya movement.
Today, students have become key elements in the political development of parties. However, leaders of student organizations don’t have decision-making power even in their own organizational issues. Many students complain that India being a young country, with the presence of 70 per cent youth, still struggle to locate the presence of its youth in important decision-making process.
However, many others feel that students must be given a chance irrespective of their university in University Council or University Syndicate.Since decisions taken at this level directly impact research scholars, students at both under graduate or post graduate level, etc.
After all, the role of student activism is all about their involvement in the decisions being taken for them, e.g.students used to get just 15 days to apply for revaluation, then it came down to just seven days to apply for revaluation, out of which two days are weekly off and in case of any holiday,all one is just left with is 3- 4 days.How doesone expect the students to complete all the complex formalities in such short span? Questioned a student leader from Jammu University.
The earlier set rules were well thought of and when amendments are being made in such rules, at least students too should be consulted. Why is it that when students agitate, its only then that the authorities concerned either roll back their decision or tweak them? Isn’t it better if students are consulted prior to the ruckus and agitation?
There are a lot of student leaders in small town universities, but ask them about their future, they struggle to findan answer.Except for a few big universities like Delhi University, it’s very rare that student leaders from other universities make it to the mainstream politics. When asked about his opinion, a student leader from Jammu University said,so far,no student representative had been able to make its mark either locally or nationally, except for a few names,who too had to find their own way out.
Student activism is beyond Facebook or Whats App. In this extremely busy world, no one wants to waste their time, but to gain some, one has to lose some and the first and the most important of all is to do away with the addiction to these social networking sites.When it comes to mass movements, certainly there is some obligation and mere updating the status or by being active on social networking sites won’t serve the purpose.
Student leaders often feel that students themselves will have to come forward to fight the common battle or make their voices heard. Everyone wants to go by the flow or opt the easy way and no one seems to be leading from the front. We fought for causes like the functioning of 148 illegal study centres of PTU and other private universities in the state.We were offered money too, but it was our firm determination that kept us strong throughout. People would often say that we were doing a good job, but no one would come along and walk the tight rope.
The challenge for student leaders these days starts from the family, as no parents want their kid to become a leader. They expect them to study inside the class rooms and not come out on streets and protest. They expect them to become engineers, doctors or anybody except a leader.As rightly said by Robert Frost: Ants are a curious race; one crossing with hurried tread, the body of one of their dead isn’t given a moment’s arrest. But leadership is for the one,who is ready to sacrifice and stand for others’ cause. Despite the genuine efforts of these students’ leaders, they are seen often complaining against people who taunt them and question their interest?
A few students who approach us with their genuine problems, we take their matter to the higher ups,but the trend these days is that students shy away to come along and feel hesitant to be seen with the student leader outside. They feel that the work is being delegated and its student leaders’responsibility to ensure it gets done.
In this ever-changing world, we all suspect one another. No one has faith left on anyone. It’s often difficult to differentiate between friends or foes. It’s the lack of unity that fizzles out the enthusiasm much before a movement starts to gather some heat. Sacrifice is what is required; look at history, those who sacrificed their interests for the common good got nothing in return. But they were all clear in their head regarding their fight for a societal change.
Present protests are all about individual causes, no one seems interested in fighting a common cause. Ask about women participation, the numbers are shocking. It’s just one out of 100 women, who voluntarily come forward. These leaders, in order to add head counts, take favours from women in their own family.
The future of student activism seems bleak in small towns. People feel too low of politics these days and one of the students leaders complained, “no one would congratulate if you tell them that you have joined politics, instead everyone will demoralize by saying that leadership is a sheer waste of time.” Only if the pains taken by the student leaders are being looked at by someone closely and provide them with a lucrative career platform, no one would give leadership its due. Besides, everyone wants to study and everyone wants to become somebody, why would anyone stand up for someone at his or own expense?
Society needs change and change happens for sure after a period of say about 5-10 years, after a few years, a group would be definitely formed once again,when there would be suppression in the society, that time hopefully someone will initiate to be a common voice and hopefully then they would all stand united. When it’s smooth functioning, no one would feel the urge to do something extraordinary, feel student leaders.
“As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation — either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course."
Comments
Post a Comment