Reader\'s Digest IN 02.2020

Reader’s Digest

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different gradations in different
universities, but through the 1980s,
the political conversations and
contradictions in the universities
became more sophisticated and subtle.
Discussions ranged from poverty,
development to gender and more.
However, some politics became in-
creasingly based on the interests of po-
litical parties. For example, Emergency
was imposed in India between 1975 to
1977, with curbs on civil and political
rights, on freedom of expression and
mass jail sentences. This led to a sharp
reaction. In Delhi University, then stu-
dent union leader, the late Arun Jait-
ley, was jailed. This catapulted him
into deeper national politics. In Jawa-
harlal Nehru University (JNU), three
student leaders were arrested during
the Emergency, and many were incar-
cerated and suspended. They had all
responded to politics.
Political parties often do not realize
the need for training, learning and

developing an organic relationship with

student movements. Senior students

are fully aware that major political

leaders are themselves a product of

the university system in many parts

of the world. With increased and new

communication facilities, better books

and journals that deal with challenges

facing the student community,

the Indian landscape has been

dramatically changed and student

politics will become increasingly

consummate and widespread, as well

as more complex. This should be seen

as a learning process—essential for any

democratic culture.

Students attend colleges and univer-

sities at an age where their minds open

up to new ideas, theories, opinions

and debates from local to national and

global. They learn to respond to politics

and policies, as these shape life around

them. These policies impact everyday

life—from rights or gender, to the envi-

ronment, and so on. They have to learn

to make choices. Moreover, as the rally-

ing slogan of the women’s movement,

that has come so far, said: “The personal

is political.” As a poster in JNU, where

I studied, proclaimed: ‘When politics

determines your future, you should

determine politics’. Students have

understood that politics matters.

Kamal Mitra Chenoy was a professor

and chairperson of the Centre for

Comparative Politics, JNU for almost

30 years. He has been associated with

activism and public life.

Students protest at Jamia Millia

Islamia University in New Delhi.