Personal Note:: ..On Students' Union

Ideally speaking, very much like in the preamble of democracy, even the students’ bodies should be by the students, of the students and for the students.

Unfortunately, that’s not to be.

Over these many years and decades, students’ bodies have come to a level where it’s no longer seen as a pressure group working for the welfare of students’ community.  In recent past, it’s difficult to recall a protest or a dharna or a bandh in the name of “stipend”, “availability of subject teachers”, “bungling of mid-day meals”, “free uniforms” or “free books” despite loot of crores of rupee, which are all open secret.

Had there been demand for enquiry in any of the issues mentioned above, education scenario would have been different. Had there been sustained protest, demanding vigilance inquiry by none less than Central Vigilance Committee (CVC) over the usage of central government funds, most of the students would have enjoyed mid-day meals, free good quality uniforms and many more facilities including hygienic class rooms and toilets.

However, it would be unfair to be judgmental on any leader or students bodies but bitter fact be told, there would be hardly few students’ leaders who would have read through the pages of “Right to Education”; hence far lesser student-leaders to demand for implementation of RTE in toto.

Most of today’s political leaders- across party lines- are graduates from this very organizations and environment. Least that is expected from these political leaders is some kind of pay-back to their alma-mater; not necessarily in financial term but at conceptual level. On a pilot basis, two top political parties – BJP and Congress-may encourage and its student wings to be more active on educational issues. Even AAPSU-the apex body’s election may be contested on party lines as it happens in Delhi University. This will ensure that young student leaders shall have the benefit of more mature and worldly wise leaders who could guide and counsel them. Today’s most of the student leaders are like orphans, with no elders to counsel them. More often than not, current leaders are recipients of advice from freelancers, with very little depth of knowledge and width of experience.

Students’ bodies- Unions, Associations, Federations- need to re-think on the paradigm, they have been operating for far too long. Strategies must focus on long term benefits of their community; consequently, every tactics must align with shift-in strategies and thereby, it should create conducive atmosphere for subsequent changes to happen for healthier academic environment higher leadership to be groomed.

For sanity to prevail, it’s never too late.