Does the student movement throw up the right kind of leaders? Education Times finds out
In India, as in countries of the world, the student community has played an active role whether it be the freedom struggle, the socialist movement of the ’70s or Mandal agitations about a decade ago. Indeed, such movements have been the breeding grounds for leaders, who’ve contributed significantly to the national politics.
However, with the perceptions changing over a period of time, people have started questioning the relevance of students politics in India. Has it been reduced to mere slogan-shouting and futile strikes? Is there any room for political idealism in the process? Is it a stepping stone towards a political career for the student activist?
Remarked Digvijay Singh, minister of state for railways, and a former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) general secretary (1979-80), “In our time, students movement was confined to idealism, which is disappearing rapidly these days.” He had founded a union named, `Students for Democratic Socialism’, during his days at JNU.
Recalling his term as the vice president (1973) and president (1974) of Delhi University Students Union (DUSU), union minister for law, justice, company affairs and shipping, Arun Jaitley remarked, “In those days, the students’ movement across universities got integrated with the national movement led by JP (Jai Prakash Narain). Student politics got transformed from campus issues to issues concerning national politics. All of us were groomed more as participants of national polity.” His term as DUSU president got intercepted by `Emergency’ as he was jailed.
Vijay Goel, Member of Parliament from Chandni Chowk, who served as DUSU president in 1977, considers student politics a training ground for political and administrative skills. “My stint helped me develop leadership and oratorial skills, and taught me how to handle community problems. It is definitely a good platform to enter politics depending upon the potential, interest and commitment of the individual,” he said. He felt that previously, “students unions were better organised and had much more say in college and university affairs. The leaders, too, were more assertive”.
The current JNUSU president Sandeep Mahapatra concedes that many former JNUSU presidents have used the presidency as a platform to join active politics. He described the four years of his association with the union as very challenging. “You get aware of the responsibilities of an elected representative. It makes you mature enough to deal with various people and handle difficult situations,” he said. Mahapatra is not averse to the idea of joining active politics “at some point of time”. An Akhil Bharati Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activist, Mahapatra said: “You must put the values you’ve learnt during students politics to good use. ABVP has taught us to put nation before everything else.”
Former JNUSU president and a Student Federation of India (SFI) activist Biju Krishnan (1998-99) firmly believes in SFI’s slogan of `Study and Struggle’. “It is impossible to lead struggle unless one is sound in studies. Most JNU activists have outstanding academic records. Thankfully, muscle and money power has been kept away from JNU students movement,” he said.
The DUSU vice president and National Students Union of India activist Neetu Verma, who’s all set to contest for the president’s seat in this year’s elections remarked, “I have joined the movement without any political ambitions. It was a desire to work for the cause of students, which motivated me. As students representatives, we get to interact with politicians and we also become known in political circles. So the entry into politics becomes easier for a student activist.”

While acknowledging that violence should be discouraged, all the students activists affirmed that protests, agitation and strike for a genuine cause will always be resorted to when required.
Expressing concern over the fact that despite dominating the life of the nation, politics is not able to attract the best, Jaitley observed: “The pitfalls of politics are not too attractive. Today, the best minds are going into competitive professions and vocations.”
Admitting that “the thirst is lacking” among the present unions, which is in contrast to the vibrant student movement of the 70s, Mahapatra said, “Students have become career oriented and do not live for idealism.” Krishnan added, “There’s cynicism for the rot and degradation of politics. Political parties use students for their vested interests.”
Singh expressed the hope that exceptional student activists joining politics will contribute to the betterment of politics, society and the nation, while cautioning, “But only when you are idealistic and have the urge to play a role in national politics.”