The world of
student politics is not for the faint hearted. It is vicious precisely because
the stakes are so small. Many believe university politics can offer a route to
Downing Street. But while some have followed this path to Westminster -
Margaret Thatcher and William Hague from my own university society, for
instance - countless more have fallen by the wayside.
It is better,
instead, to view it as a path to an impressive CV. To lead is a noble thing,
and student politics will teach you vital life skills….Joe Cooke, former
President of the Oxford University Conservative Association.
The above words
were explained by Joe Cooke star of a new BBC Two documentary on "today on
university politics /student politics" few years back while offering his
five-point guide to mastermind the partisanworldof student elections for those students who are determined to
climb the greasy pole of student politics.
College/university
campuses have always been a plinth of playing creepy game of politics. I
remember in my graduating years, at the time of student union elections how the
invisible Mr. Indias would totally control the atmosphere inside the campuses
with money, manpower etc. leading to the victory of the candidate with less
merit if not totally undeserved than the win of a deserving one with merit.
Once it was really
disappointing for me to see someone losing out despite been very active in
addressing the real issues of students only because he had fought independently
with the support of his few friends. He perhaps couldn't manage fund to do all
those attractive banners, pamphlets etc and of course those "night before
the voting day's things" to win the minds of students. The student
who had won was having the tag of ABVP and that's how I heard the name of the
organization for the first time.
Subsequently I was
made aware of the fact that how impossible it was for the college
administrations to go against some students who would enjoy the strong
political backing in spite of the unruliness they create inside the campus.
Many times I had headed home as the college would stop lectures abruptly in the
wake of a "student group clash".
We would enquire
about the reopening dates from the local students and would return to resume
our classes. The story would be same for other colleges and universities while
the name of political backing system would be the only differentiators. I have
some friends who opine that they shouldn't have wasted some of their productive
years in all those nonsense.
Politicians from
various political outfits literally use students as per their need and throw
them out once their utility is over. Young, naive and aggressive minds are
easy to be ignited a passion and that favors established politicians and
political parties to push their ominous agendas…I guess. But in the process,
careers, family and lives of many students actually face a disorder at some
point of time. Baring few not many could make politics a career. Some would
return to the track while some would lose themselves eternally.
Coming to the
Rohith Vemula, the young PhD scholar from University OfHyderabad(UoH) - Dalit or not…as the debate is
still going on - had been a victim of loathsome campus politics…I feel.
A clear case of
student conflict (between groups) took an ugly turn with the "big
boss" political interventions. I wish had he not been a part of ASA
or at least had not been one who assaulted another student of another political
outfit landing him in the hospital that lead his expulsion from some vital part
of the University Campus along with other four students.
I wish he would
have been supported by his own sympathizers and supporting political bosses
when he and the four others were through all those consequences, valid or
invalid before becoming so much vulnerable. I wish the students and the
politicians who are crying foul now and demonstrating nationwide against the
disciplinary action taken by the University would have raised their voices then
when he was alive. At least there should have been some noise when "Caste
identity" was used as a divider among students that had made 9 more Dalit
students commit suicide in the same campus in last decade.
I wish Rohith
Vemula wouldn't have lost hope in the ideology he was following and wouldn't
have felt isolated. The irony is the man who aggressively had protested
against the "Hanging" of 1993 Mumbai blast accused, Yakub Memon, couldn't find strength to fight and protest against his
own internal chaos that finally lead him to "Hang himself".
I can understand
his anger against the discriminating University Administration but I still
haven't figure out about his frustrations and hopelessness from his own people
who didn't raise their voices and supported him. At least someone should have
taken care of his finances keeping his humble background in eye….at least the
Organization that he was fighting for. The truth is when he was in the
utter vulnerability; no one was there to stop him from taking that extreme
step.
I wish being a
bright research scholar Rohith Vemula should have gone through some really good
books and articles to understand the twists and turns of politics in student's
life, if not points given by Joe Cooke. I wish he would have been guided by
some really good people about the multi-dimensional reality one might have to
face when step in to the ugly world of politics. Had it been so…I think
he would have fought well against his inner turmoil that lead him to hang
himself and perhaps would have emerged victorious as well? In short he
would have been "alive" today though not enjoying the nationwide
identity.
I know Rohith
Vemula isn't the first nor will be the last being the victim of nasty campus
politics. The politicians and political parties should at least now refrain
from using students as the pawns to push their agendas (i know it's impossible
for them) if they really feel bad for Rohiths. I wish there should be no more
Rohith Vemula who would be pushed to an edge because of
politics, discrimination and isolation.
I hope
the culprits who are responsible for abatement of suicide of Rohith will
be stringently punished so that it acts as a deterrent in future. I also hope
Rohith Vemula will be a lesson for all those young aspirants who dream of
stepping into politics from the dais of their colleges. At least they will do a
research on themselves if they are fit into it or not before jumping on the
podium. Till then…let the stillness of graveyard resonate in the commotion soul
of Rohith Vemula....I feel.
