“I don’t have any stand on student’s politics. But I feel that there is no real open atmosphere in Delhi University or JNU for debates at all,” said political psychologist Ashis Nandy on the Ramjas violence that took place on February 22 after the college’s literary club organised a two-day long seminar named “Culture of Protest”.
The protest was cancelled after some ABVP members protested violently over the participation of Umar Khalid and Shehla Rashid Shore. While the ABVP members drew brickbats that left over a dozen injured, including teachers and journalists, the undue support to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s student wing from the centre has created unrest in the campuses across the country.
However, these violent clashes between the right-wing ABVP and the Left-leaning student groups are not new in the context of current students’ politics scenario in Delhi. Remember February 9, 2016, when all broke loose when a few videos showing Ex-JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban raising anti-India slogans? The recent clashes at Ramjas College are just a harsh reminder that our premier educational institutions are losing their academic freedom and are slowly turning into political battlegrounds.
“The problem is not with the colleges and the students’ organisations. The problem is with our mainstream politics. It has become violent and unbelievably crude and aggressive. And because the present regime itself can’t argue on an intellectual basis, it allows these organisation to resort to violence,” said Nandy.
“The present regime dealing with an inferiority complex. If we talk about just BJP, their time is over. They may win elections but the atmosphere is hostile towards them. There is a dissent among people and so violence is the only way to dealing with their insecurities,” he added.
What added a twist to the tale was Gurmehar Kaur’s reaction to the whole incident. The 20-year-old girl posted a picture of herself on Twitter and Facebook holding a placard after the campus clash. “I am student from Delhi University. I am not afraid of ABVP. I am not alone. Every student of India is with me,” the message read. Soon, the post went viral. However, seems like the ABVP members couldn’t digest it and found out her 10-month-old video where she appealed for peace between Indian and Pakistan. “Pakistan did not kill my dad, war did,” read the placard she carried in the video. But if this was not enough, renowned sportsperson like Sehwag and Yogeshwar Dutt took a dig at her in one of the tweets. Celebrities like Randeep Hooda and Phogat sisters supported Sehwag and Dutt.
Bat me hai Dum !#BharatJaisiJagahNahi pic.twitter.com/BNaO1LBHLH
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 26, 2017
— Yogeshwar Dutt (@DuttYogi) February 28, 2017
@virendersehwaghttps://t.co/IcxuewcPMP
— Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) February 26, 2017
“What Gurmehar said and stood for is very matured. She is not politically involved in the episode and came up with a spontaneous response. She would have been an excellent material for politics otherwise, but right now, she is just an anti-national,” said Nandy.
When asked about Arun Jaitley’s comment on freedom of expression and Union minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju comment that Gurmehar Kaur was being influenced by political rivals, Nandy said that Arun Jaitley has been a part of student politics in Delhi. He has been the president so he knows what he is saying. But what Rijiju said is totally foolish.
Kiren Rijiju on Monday said, “Who’s polluting this young girl’s mind? A strong Arm Force prevents a war. India never attacked anyone but a weak India was always invaded. She is a martyr’s daughter. His soul must be weeping that his daughter is being misguided by those who celebrate on the bodies of martyrs.”
Gurmehar, whose father Captain Mandeep Singh was killed in Kargil in 1999, said on Sunday that she was called an anti-national and was threatened with rape for her campaign against the right-wing students’ body. Because of which she withdrew from the #FightbackDU campaign on Tuesday and left Delhi this morning.
I’m withdrawing from the campaign. Congratulations everyone. I request to be left alone. I said what I had to say.. (1/2)
One thing is for sure, next time we will think twice before resorting to violence or threats and that’s all this was about (2/2)
— Gurmehar Kaur (@mehartweets) February 28, 2017
