Universities and Students Politics in India: A Case Study
Author : Dr. Kurukhetra Dip
Abstract :
The University campus has been providing an important space for enabling and engaging various student groups in student politics and their participation in the larger social movement. In addition, at the same time, it provides space for the non-political student to be familiar with various political ideas and debates, which later on help them to engage in many civic activities and nation-building processes. For instance the sanctioned strength of the faculties in the year 2016 was as follows: Professor under the category of SC: 27, ST: 13 and OBC: NA, PH: 8 but whereas the existing faculty strength as of 19.01.2016 was SC: 9, ST: 0, OBC: NA, PH: 2. It clearly indicates that there was gross under-representation of SC/ST faculties and not even a single OBC professor was present. It is in this context, the paper has examined the students' activism and politics in one of the premier institutes of India, namely Jawaharlal Nehru University. This Paper has shown that, though at a macro level the university is believed to be a beacon of the marginalized section, micro-analytical studies show quite a different picture. With the emergence of a new student political organization, how the very political language of various stakeholders, particularly students has changed. In terms of methodology, this paper is based on an ethnographic study with a timeframe of 2014 to 2019.
Keywords :
Student movement, student activism, ideology, left politics, Ambedkarite
