Satyamev Jayate, (Truth Alone Triumphs) is national motto of Republic India. Yato Dharmas Tato Jaya (Victory is there, where truth is). The motto of Delhi University is Nistha Dhruti Satyam (Reverent, Dedication grasps truth), a motto of Banaras Hindu University is Vidyaya amrritam ashnute (be immortal through knowledge) Similarly many revered institutions including Republic India vowed to follow these core values. All are established in the last 60 years rule, which today we alleged as anti-Hindu, anti-nationals and Secular. Leave the practice of these golden values, it is for sure most of the people who are associated to these institutions could not remember these golden words or unheard of.
The recent happenings around and inside the nation’s some of the most reputed educational institutions like Jawaharlal University, Delhi University, Banaras Hindu University, Ramjas college, Khalsa College speaks something heart pinched truth unlike the earlier student movements in India.
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| From top gurmehar kaur, JNU, Delhi University, Rohith Vemula |
For a person, life in colleges and universities are most precious as he/she gets preparation for a transition to professional life. When a passed out student from a college or university stepped outside everyone looks forward to his/her constructive contribution to the society and nation as a whole. And it is also true that everyone contributes more or less, directly or indirectly to the nation building. It does not negate that a student has no role or responsibility for his or her society and nation. We spend on our children’s education in a belief that he or she will be a complete man/woman to undertake his accountability conscientiously and effectively. What are our aspirations for the education and what we are getting is a matter of different discussion. But in the present context, guardians and parents including the stakeholders of the government machinery, administrative systems of these institutions are sure to blame, especially the government and the administration of these educational institutions.
The fight between the students or group of students over some silly matters is common, and the enmity can be faded out along with the time. But when politics with some vested interests infused to the college campus or the thought process of the students it turns violent. History of Student movement in India against the establishment is around 150 years when Dadabhai Naroji in 1848 founded “the student’s scientific and historical society”. The intention behind the organisation was to make understand the values of great tradition and glorious past of India and to rejuvenate the brains to become self-reliant. Much before this, during 326 BC Great Teacher Chanakya mobilised his students against the tyrant Nanda Kingdom. The Student unrest during the pre-independence era is quite different from the post-independence. Thanks to the time, from 1947 to 1970, students of India relatively remained unaffected to the political interests.
But in the late 60s the Naxalite movement started channelizing the students' mind towards the anti-establishment movement which later turned violent. It is a gift of the legendary leader Jayaprakash Narayan, who successfully broke the violent course and engaged the strength of students in his “complete Swaraj” with a political motive. Since then, the students in the nation’s political activities remain conspicuous.
Political parties shoot their guns on the students’ shoulders to fulfill their vested interests as the students can be available to be utilized easily and inexpensively.
When BJP came to power in the center and almost formed government in 10 states the mobilising of students to suppress others voice started aggressively. The Suicide of Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad University to JNU and now attack the same group of students of Delhi University to rape threat to Lady Sri Ram college student Gurmehar Kaur, and the alleged connection of BJP’s Student wing ABVP gives ample example of how the seeds of hatred implanted in the minds of Students.
Interestingly, in my college days ABVP affiliation mocked to those who remain frustrated for not having a girlfriend. Later they are identified as anti lover brigades, roaming in the parks, cinema halls, pubs during valentine day and beating the lovers. Suddenly their concern towards Nationalism raises my eyebrows. Many questions arise including, are they truly “Modified” to do so?
