An odium against student electoral politics

By Himanshu Arya

Every year, at this time of the season the age-old sentiments of- if student politics is good or bad, should it be allowed or not resurfaces. the endless debate continues, so much so that the word ‘election’ has been debated more often than the number of debates it can open up.

Despite, all the discussions and augur between voices belonging to the diverse social fabric, the substance of what remains indicates the shared need of a central transparent authority, a body of planning & coordination which acts as the nucleus of student welfare.

Ironically, representation is not a very neoteric need, in fact, same or very similar aspirations have been held by people since the ancient times of the Mesopotamian civilization, the earliest known civilization dating back to 3100 BC. There’s no iota of doubt regarding the possibility of political participation and representation to be the single most solution to an assortment of problems. 

Now imagine, if you take the biggest stakeholder of politics-its people away from its pantheon. Where would you think the nation be heading to? This too in a country which boasts of having the youngest population in the world. In every year from now, in every five years where would you find the youngest minds of the country together? 

The youngest minds of the country will take to the streets, steering change, opening windows to naked knowledge, crossing swords over shackles of ignorance and depravity, unlocking oceans inside their chest, billowing the wobbly/ shaky castles of prejudices and stigmas. 

And if we don’t allow students to make informed and conscious attempts at evaluating the society, the ideology, the leader and the leadership. Then how do you expect them to make much more rational decisions at a wider, more complex and mega platform? 

Besides, what are the foundations on which we are planting our future leaders, future electorates, the change-makers, the builders?

If put straight and simply- Student politics is the need of the hour, even before it is tagged as good, bad or ugly. The above statement fundamentally forces us to answer the succeeding question- what kind of politics do we need?

To understand the politics, the reality of the society we live in has to be understood. Politics in the simplest sense is a reflection of society. And, political parties are the most visible features of it. 

As a rational citizen of the world’s largest democracy, we need to know that before setting up a party all of us are citizens first. You see, no leader or Neta is imported from Mars or Venus. They inhabit the same places we do, attend the same universities, read the same newspapers, watch the same news and use the same social media platforms. 

In fact, it has always been citizens first and political parties later.

What we do as citizens influence the political character of the nation. After all, feminists weren’t kidding when they said personal is the political. So the reason why you see only a handful of women in politics is because you the man of the house do not allow the woman of the house to take her own, independent decisions because you curb her voices. We as a society haven’t thought of a woman leading the house. Since it has always been the man of the house we have failed to envision the importance of women in decision making.

The ills present in the realm of electoral politics can only be overcome if we chose to no longer avoid them but try to understand and solve them. The hooliganism and use of money and muscle power all emerging from the sense of impunity that some have come to cherish is because the law authorities are more than happy not getting involved. the future leaders and electorates are groomed by Varsity level politics and there is no surprise in watching the so-called future leaders learning ‘these’ from their mentors from the mainstream.

However political parties cannot only reflect the society they have an added duty and the commitment to reform the society and the system. Hence they can’t just reflect but have to reform. Therefore, political parties should be more transparent, should allow more women candidates, target enabling freedom, reach out to its people and above all uphold the security and the respect of everyone’s lives.

And, what could be a better time than today when government-funded education is standing on the verge of crisis. 

Major challenges lie ahead for the party to reclaim its lost glory. The party must ensure a quick and stable administration with efficient delivery of the promises mentioned. The promises made such as setting up of grievance redressal mechanisms, fee rationalisation, affordable paying guest accommodations and hostels & English classes for first-generation students from marginalised communities reflect the aspirations of many students. With reflections in hand, it’s time for the reforms to roll in. 

All views expressed in this article are of the author and do not, in any way, reflect the opinions of the members associated with this organization. They are not intended to malign any group, organization, company, or religion.