#JNU violence

Violence in educational institution must be condemned, not because it is located in Delhi therefore camaraderie with high end manipulators hence by default prestigious. It also need to be noted that AMU is known for its regressive ways that is influenced by primitive religion, till recently girl students were not even allowed in library. For this very reason this so called educational institution should have been closed down. The idea of education institutions classified on the basis of religion in itself is questioned. Education has nothing to do with religion, it degrades humanistic values and classifies youngsters while introducing them to anachronistic juvenilities in the garb of faith that closes down their mind and mess with it. A primitive society like India is exceedingly vulnerable. Ofcourse castetva forces have severely degraded the society as they posture benign arbitrators while hindutva is working on revivalist mode to herd the zombies.

Violence in JNU must be condemned but you cannot take side to fit in the narration. It was reported by media that leftist started the fight while right wing responded. Having studied in Kerala in 1990s I am quite aware of vicious nature of leftist student’s organisation (SFI) as also congress (KSU) and right wing (ABVP). SFI is powerful presence, and they are prone to gundaism with political clout. While KSU brings in feudal norms and high end manipulations, ABVP works in with religious acts to create provocation so as to play victim. Campus in kerala during 1980s-90s was quite a violent place, with SFI very much actively involved. So to say that suddenly the world is coming to end with “fascism” is rather ridiculous. Furthermore, having spent some time in JNU and acquainted with strong left wing student politics here I quite well know how it is working. One incident will help elucidate it. So I was having attendance shortage (SIS –international studies, wasn’t much of interest to me except maybe some thinkers) so mostly used to roam around, and spent lots of time in the library and hanged around with few select people while attending talks, seminars and debates. This SFI leader came to know about my predicament. The rules says give reason and repeat (I vaguely remember Prof Chinoy mentioning this to me, well it’s been more than two decades!!) or you are rusticated. But our student leader had other plans, I guess he saw me as potential recruit, not to forget a malayalee comrade. How wonderful. He said like a well-oiled tout in chaste malayalam “we will get it done”, and attempted to hug me which I fiercely resisted. Probably he was working on his easy going nature with north Indian cultural context (Keralites don’t hug, and I absolutely abhor it). So I could be in next semester without any worry or attendance contravening every rule. I dropped the idea since money was a concern and was quite keen on hostel which doesn’t seem to be happening. Balancing money making with academic pursuit wasn't working. JNU is undoubtedly a wonderful place to be in with verdant huge campus right in the core area of Delhi and an excellent library, and if i had got the hostel facility my life would have taken an entirely different turn.     

SFI has a strong presence in JNU which castetva forces see as something of international exotic that has immense potential in presenting oneself as compassionate. Some louts even posed as gandhian leftist and surveyed the scene like a feudal lord immensely happy with the subject and unique blessing that has entitled him these. Those were the good old days, and fattened fluffs in west were much besotted with this high end display of unworldly unity in diversity. Now as hindutva works its way –essentially it is balancing of things into its narration, its student’s wing is quite active. Hence the violence in JNU is a power struggle with outside force quite active as always. Right wing is not ready to back down as it has clout now while left wing is working to maintain its supremacy through increasingly angst narration and uncharacteristic whining. Congress ofcourse is the posturer here seeking opportunity to capitalize and work its narration as castetva saviors –the beholder of unknowable traditions. You cannot take sides without awareness of fact of the matter. If you do then you are being political. Meanwhile violence must be condemned and culprit punished.

Post script: The talk on JNU will not be complete with one hilarious incident. There was this Keralaite student -a thin lanky fellow with long beard, who posed as leftist ideologue, itching for debate all the time. He was always ready with "down with the imperialist" (read USA) line of thought which was interesting sometimes but mostly rant against "liberalization and globalization" (favorite punching bags in mid-1990s if you recall). Now I had forgotten about him then one day few years later I was at American consulate library (at Barakhamba Rd) browsing through some books, and there emerged a familiar face. Clean shaven and tucked in shirt, and it took me a while to place him. He was working at American consulate. And I rubbed it in with much pleasure "What a fall comrade!!" He winked and said he gets paid in dollar! He sponsored the lunch and we parted. Never met him after that.