(Published in The Sentinel Arunachal, dated Nov 11, 2009)
In last couples of months, All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AASPSU) - the apex students body of the State, seems to be doing everything right. Like - adoption of ‘anthem song’ has been an ‘out of box’ work; on their own, they could mobilize resources to be in national capital region to mobilize the opinion of not only fellow north-easterners but also of the students from rest of India. It is credible that they could hold press conference in Press Club of India and candle vigil at India Gate, besides peace-march in the prestigious JNU campus. AAPSU has caught the imagination of students’ fraternity of the entire nation. That speaks volumes about the current leadership team.
But they could not find an appointment with the Prime Minister. AAPSU leaders should not feel disheartened by this event at the fag end of their successful trip. And every Arunachalee is proud of what they did so far. They should take a page out of students’ movement in Assam. Remember, at their peak of students’ movements with unprecedented public support, the All Assam Students Union (AASU) in late 70s and early 80s and the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) in late 80s and early 90s too were not given the time by the then Prime Ministers at some point of time. Even chief ministers at times, are made to wait by the PMO before canceling their meeting with the Prime Minister at the eleventh hour. The fact the AAPSU needs to note is that the Prime Minister is the busiest executive of a vast and problematic country like India.
On hindsight, PM must have had reasons to deny them an appointment despite knowing that these youths had come down to display their allegiance to Indian nation, which anyway was never in doubt. Possibly, the PM did not want the students to meddle with a political subject like international boundary dispute about which his office and office of political leaders in the State are fully posted with and are working on. Closer home, even the State leaders have ignored their views on how to handle the inter-state boundary dispute for so long.
All said and done, the current team of AAPSU leaders has done some credible work. They have raised the bar of expectations of the common people. Literally speaking, AAPSU is the only credible organized union. Therefore, the burden of expectation is much higher on them henceforth. As one of the best organized bodies, they need to study, understand and learn from mistakes and past experiences of political and student-youth organizations of other States and peoples in the country, who too had had their glorious innings or are still going strong in their wickets. And they are there everywhere – Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Hayana, Punjab, to name just a few. But the biggest lesson they can draw is from the AGP in Assam, born in the crucible of the Assam Movement led by the AASU during 1979-1985 which catapulted the party to power for two terms and which was eventually thrown out lock, stock and barrel with equal gusto by the people. Learning at the end of the day is that in politics experience counts, not just intellect.
When going gets smooth, it provides lot space and time for reflection. AAPSU leaders may want to reflect and deliberate upon ‘themes’ and ‘methods’ to sustain this successful organization. In the past, they may have treaded on the same old and much-hackneyed ‘themes’ and ‘methods’ on couple of occasions.
Citizens in Arunachal may also wish to throw their weight behind AAPSU if they resort to dharna, candle-vigil and peace march but not in calling ‘bandh’. Calling bandh is like torturing poor and needy. In a bandh, one who suffers most is the poor who need to buy their rations on a day-to-day basis. Sufferers are those who do not have conveyance or does not have money to call over ambulance at home and have to walk miles to treat their children in the nearest hospital. During bandh, however, it is the students who are worst losers. They are the only ones whose only work is to study. The point that we always tend to miss is that the number of people working in Arunachal is low and much lower is the actual productivity too. On top it, the number of working days in Arunachal is less and lesser still are the working hours. Who are the gainers? No one. Who are the losers? Students, the poor and middle class people, and of course the State as a whole.
Can we have a ‘protest march’ against rape of minors? Can we have ‘peace march’ against violence in Tirap-Changlang? Can we have dharna against ‘non-performing’ departments and commissions? Can we have ‘black-shirt day’ protest against corruption?
Sure enough, common people will rally round such initiatives, and that would be a refreshing change from the hackneyed and self-destructive modes of protest like bandhs and road-blockades.
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