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.
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.