Attack on universities or an attack on free thinking ideologues?
The lack of student body elections since 2020 at Jadavpur University adds another layer to the complexities of student politics
Jadavpur University is embroiled in an ideological battle, with recent clashes between ABVP and Left-wing students over vandalism and political slogans. Despite CCTV footage, no arrests have been made, intensifying scrutiny on the balance between freedom of speech and autocracy on campus. Political leaders have commented on student activism, prompting a broader discussion on the boundaries of expression and the historical significance of student politics in shaping national discourse.
Jadavpur University is embroiled in an ideological battle, with recent clashes between ABVP and Left-wing students over vandalism and political slogans. Despite CCTV footage, no arrests have been made, intensifying scrutiny on the balance between freedom of speech and autocracy on campus. Political leaders have commented on student activism, prompting a broader discussion on the boundaries of expression and the historical significance of student politics in shaping national discourse.
Jadavpur University is embroiled in an ideological battle, with recent clashes between ABVP and Left-wing students over vandalism and political slogans. Despite CCTV footage, no arrests have been made, intensifying scrutiny on the balance between freedom of speech and autocracy on campus. Political leaders have commented on student activism, prompting a broader discussion on the boundaries of expression and the historical significance of student politics in shaping national discourse.
The debate on ideological battles boils down to freedom of thought versus autocracy. The attack on one of the country’s prestigious educational institutions, Kolkata’s Jadavpur University, speaks to the lack of clarity regarding whether the guilty will be brought to book and what happens next inside the university.
There have still been no arrests made despite CCTV footage of those who went on a rampage, with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) supporters defacing Left-wing students' graffiti and flags. The following day, ABVP supporters held a protest march, broke police barricades, went up to the university gate, and defaced the emblem. Inside the premises, Left-wing students protested, with each side hurling bottles and eggs at the other.
Both sides play the victim, with Left supporters crying foul and the ABVP alleging their student was injured in clashes erupting during a general body meeting. The BJP says the ABVP is not its student wing, though both follow RSS ideology. The next question that arises is: why did Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday launch a scathing attack on Left-wing students chanting for 'azadi' slogans, question wall graffiti on “Free Palestine” or “We salute Kishenji”, and ask why no protest march was held when the Pulwama attack took place in 2019? The CM says that as police minister, he will put an end to it all, including the alleged use of narcotics by students. Why are the happenings inside a university campus important for the CM to address?
Where does one draw the line between freedom of speech and freedom of thought in an educational institution in a democratic country? What thoughts, words, and artistic expressions amount to being anti-national? Is it about ideological control beyond the realm of student body elections, which have not taken place since 2020 in JU?
Unanswered questions leave it open to interpretation. A parallel thought to it all is that student politics sows the seeds of revolution, with former chief ministers and reformists like Jyoti Basu and Mamata Banerjee having changed the course of Bengal’s political history from within the gates of educational institutions.