JNU ROW AND THE SURROUNDING FARCE

These kinds of farces are major deathblow for the movements of really depressed classes. This intrigue of illegitimating the genuine revolutions, is really dishonesty not just to the nation but also to the society.

- KEERTHIRAJ

“Every child, at birth, is the universal man. But, as it grows, we turn it into ‘a petty man’. It should be the function of the education to turn it again into the original ‘universal man’ ”. These lines are the translation of the worldview given by Great Kannada poet and Thinker Kuppalli Venkatappa Puttappa, popularly known by the pen name Kuvempu. These enlightening lines of Kuvempu are not only applicable for Indian context, but also to the all social, religious, political and cultural institutions and personalities involved in it all over the world. Academic field is also not an exception. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) issue and the debate surrounded over that issue is nothing but an example to turn the universal man into ‘a petty man’. Recent arguments and the drastic turnovers in this debate are completely misguiding and misleading common man and ignoring the real vicious circle of this problem. India’s Self-proclaimed intellectuals dangerously, neglecting the crucial and probable threat to country's internal as well as external security.

Image Source: en.wikipedia.org

The JNU controversy slowly, if not turned, at least showcased into as a between Left wing and Right wing people. With this farce, basic questions of both the Left and Right remained unanswered! Yes, it is our first mistake to see this issue with the light of ‘Marxist’ Left ideologies. The very purpose of this attempt is a betrayal not only to the nation, but to the society too. Fundamental question here is what made these people to raise anti-India slogans? India provided not only food and shelter, but also constitution, rights and also universities like JNU with the freedom to protest! However, what instigated the group to raise anti-India Declaration? On the other hand, one more argument considered these anti-India slogans are mere false accusation. Further complicating the issue is the attack on JNU students and journalists in the premises of the Court. Some ABVP student leaders resigned from their positions, expressing their dissatisfaction with the mismanagement of the whole issue by Central government. These internal developments are posing threat to the national integrity and defense, more than external enemies. This incident is a serious challenge for Indian consciousness.

Public debates are busy with blaming universities and some others accusing it as a plot of saffronisation. No one questioned or at least thought why these universities are becoming the producers of such disputes? Nowhere, we can find illiterate people disturbing the social peace, but the problems are created by so called learned people, who read extensively from Marx to Amartya Sen, Ambedkar to Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi to Netaji. These agitations achieved only social barriers rather than social emancipation. Famous philosopher and statesman Edmund Burke opined, “Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it.” Unfortunately we are repeating historical mistakes again and again. Yes, even if you believe all our universities and students are influenced by left-wing Marxist ideology, they can’t defend these irrational activities. This shows they are not even comfortable and fit into the domain of Marxism.

The number of students and professors responsible for this controversy do not even form one percentage of total student community. But the situation is portraying this group as the representatives of whole academic community. These kinds of farces are major deathblow for the movements of really depressed classes. This intrigue of illegitimating the genuine revolutions, is really dishonesty not just to the nation but also to the society. Students have the right to protest against the injustices.  Every class, race, and each individual has provided with equal space to protest in Indian democracy. However, the misuse of this freedom represents a fool sitting on the wrong end of the branch of a tree and cutting the branch he was sitting on!

  

      

KEERTHIRAJ (krj492@gmail.com)

·       Currently serving as a Faculty for International Relations and Political Science at Alliance University, Bangalore. 

      (This article was published in Central Chronicle newspaper on 24 February 2016)