Student politics in India serves as a springboard for the younger generation to enter the arena of national politics. The landscape of student politics has evolved dramatically on the global stage. Politics is integral to recognising any political, educational, or socio-economic transformation from the perspective of human life, furthermore as it directly affects the national Predicament; for example—Student protest against the Mandal Commission influenced the caste-based politics in the Indian political ecosystem. The politics within our college and university campuses lay The basis for the younger generation to venture into the realm of national politics. This interconnectedness underlines the Obligatory need to drive transformation and change in our Nation. India witnessed a paradigmatic shift in student political activism during the 1980s and 90s—an ideology that leaned towards the soft right and centre Right—marked by a departure from its previously dominant leftist ideology of the 1960s and 1970s. This novel era heralded a distinct civic engagement and social activism, characterised by a renewed emphasis on participatory democracy. Colleges and universities have the responsibility of civic participation through academic and co-curricular experiences, empowering students with the opportunity to influence both regional and national issues.
Fostering a democratic culture among the younger generation is essential for student politics. It is vital to comprehend how India’s democracy functions. Although critics contend that it is kind of disturbing and highlights the worst aspect of politics, which resists people from voting, it is an enlightening side. It examines students’ perceptions of false promises and electoral malpractice and the often futile ambitions of politicians as a mid-summer drizzle. This system provides students with a platform, a means to pursue a career in politics. Politicians being servants of the youth, are still paying you. It’s a career and some people want to be a part of it. The reasons for its demand are clear—”India and Global Corruption Rankings.” While the current political scenario in colleges is controlled by the student wing of the established political parties, the essence of student unions has vanished. Their entire agenda is centred on national politics, whereas their focus should be on university-level issues and elevating the voices of underprivileged students. Student politics was once considered a medium for students to address their grievances and settle issues with higher authorities. Now It has evolved into a placement department for aspiring politicians.
India has witnessed powerful student mobilisation across various universities, shaping significant moments and fostering impactful change. The J.P. movement, which shook former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s regime, was spearheaded by a robust student protest. Gujarat’s student movement “Navnirman” compelled Chief Minister Chimanbhai Patel to step down in 1974. The movement influenced the students of Bihar to start protesting against corruption, where police firing became inevitable. Subsequently, Jayaprakash Narayan, popularly known as J.P., consented to lead the Student movement, and the regional students’ movement turned into a national one. This movement demonstrates students could become key components of political change and provide an alternative pathway to electoral politics. This movement started Numerous leadership journeys with student organisations affiliated with political parties, rose through the ranks and contested elections. Well-known figures such as—former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, former chief minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar—started their leadership journeys in the 1970s-80s movement with student organisations affiliated with political parties, rose through the ranks and contested elections. However, present-day university students are apathetic and remain indifferent to politics. Unlike many countries, student political activism is a relatively recent phenomenon beginning in the 1960s, India has had a curious and illustrious history of student activism in the freedom struggle. The nationalist movement provided a facade of political identity to the Indian youth, especially students, as a platform for expression.
Contemporary student leaders criticize political parties unrelated to their organisation and prioritize personal gain over ideology and socio-political challenges, but they can be easily swayed. Demonstrate minimal concern for core values, all the public and private universities are also being appeased. The government system, the student union, the university administration, and the deprogramming students all play significant roles in this process. In the past, the student union presidents of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Delhi University, Allahabad University and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) once held sway on par with members of Parliament or members of the legislative assembly. The president of the BHU student union was considered as “prime minister material.” In today’s era, where ideological student politics is crucial, Debabrata Majumdar seems to be a relic of a bygone era; Majumdar spearheaded the “Angeri Hatao” movement and became an icon of BHU student politics via multiple jail terms and protests, earning the affectionate nickname ‘Debu Da’ among 1970s Student leaders. In today’s era, where ideological student politics is crucial, Debabrata Majumdar appears to be a relic of a bygone era; Majumdar spearheaded the “Angeri Hatao” Boycott English movement and became an icon of BHU student politics through multiple jail terms and protests, earning the affectionate nickname ‘Debu Da’ among 1970s Student leaders.
Beyond JNU students union elections, money power and muscle power dominate politics in prominent north and south Indian universities. Student leaders of multiple universities, including from Delhi University, lack ideological substance but flaunt luxurious—cars, lifestyles, clothes, and colourful pamphlets. They only quote poems from Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s book ‘Rashmirathi’ and thoughts of Abdul Kalam, yet fail to grasp the underlying values. Student leaders are ideologically disabled by the political corruption prevalent in capitalist and communist societies, which makes them ideologically handicapped. India’s middle class is the biggest witness to this trapping; traditions are hijacked by capitalist and communist interests instead of National interest, and the concept of hegemony becomes particularly relevant.
The present ideological vacuum in student politics is equally attributed to the student and political system. Abolition of student unions in Banaras Hindu University and Allahabad University, indicate a systematic suppression of student voice. Its process involves university and affiliated college administration, professors and recruits. In the article ‘In Memoriam’, Mukul Kesavan argues that the admission exam models in these universities are flawed and contends that the assessment multiple-choice questions format is influenced by the IIT-JEE model in social science or humanistic discipline. Social science requires a deeper understanding—academic rigour, critical thinking, and writing skills—to assess students’ ability to think and express rationally. Student political parties in India received great support from prominent national parties, such as Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) the student wing of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), National Students Union of India (NSUI) the student wing of Indian National Congress, other student political organisations included All India Students Union or All India Students Federation, with Aam Aadmi Party-backed Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti. Jawaharlal Nehru University and Delhi University, being the country’s largest and premier universities, serve as a great platform for the younger generation to express their views on diverse socio-political issues.
Maoism was initially confined to rural areas until it spread to the metropolitan centres. The Naxal network, comprising NGO-Intellectuals-Educators-Activists-Media, serves as a strategic alliance objective to constitute Maoist rule. Andhra and Telangana are well acquainted with urban threats. In the 1980s, students from Kakatiya University, Regional Engineering College (now National Institute of Technology), Warangal and Osmania University joined Progressive War Cadres. Greyhounds, a special forces unit of Andhra and Telangana Police, was established in 1989 for anti-insurgency operations and to track naxal networks. In 2018, two students from Hyderabad Central University were arrested 2018 for allegedly conspiring with Naxals to assassinate the Vice-Chancellor to avenge the suicide of Rohith Vemula. In October 2019, an assistant professor at Osmania University was arrested for suspected links with Maoists, following a similar arrest of an assistant professor at Osmania University In January 2020. Additionally, universities have witnessed movements targeting Hindu festivals, with inflammatory posters and pamphlets denouncing festival celebrations and demanding a ban.
One opposes Hinduism, the other seeks benefits to lead communalism in politics. In India, two proviral student organisations—Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad(ABVP) and the National Students Union of India(NSUI)—are affiliated with the BJP and the Congress, respectively. ABVP draws inspiration from Vivekananda, Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh, and Savarkar; they need to read Vivekananda and Savarkar, and the NSUI looks and does not have a basic grasp of Gandhi, Nehru, Patel or Maulana Azad. All these students struggle to articulate their ideological roots coherently for five minutes. Participating in the student union provides popularity, leadership skills and navigating the future in the political arena. Student bodies have responsibilities outlined in the regulations of the university. However, the nuisance created at the student level does not resonate on larger forums. Apart from the constitutional obligation, there is a bias between the international student organisations and the student organisations of India, sparking concerns about differences in studies. Comparing the Indian student union to Western counterparts, both are still emerging, but are Indian unions breaking free from vague politics? Student unions illustrate the ineffectual struggle that Indian politics has viewed in contrast to global standards.
Assessing the political achievement of students and determining the status required gauged from the students who experienced inefficacious. The expectation of ‘unwavering allegiance’ from politicians presents challenges for student activists. As one Congress leader stated, “A student activist who aligns with their ideology feels a sense of ownership and can criticise leaders who are senior.” Thus, lateral entrants—whether they are defectors or individuals from other professions—are often perceived as better candidates. A portion of student leaders argues that the entry of professional campaign managers and agencies into the electoral arena has limited their chances of engaging in grassroots campaign work. Parties focus on winnable candidates with resources and existing money influence, often overlooking deserving students without political backing or wealth. The election outcome is determined by caste-based politics, local factors and campaign management. The majority of student activists lack the financial and political support to become viable candidates, making it challenging for them to succeed. The Indian educational landscape is a joyful hunting ground for political parties to recruit party members. It is sheer exploitation of youth for political gains, as college students are instigated—often violently—to oppose government policies opposed by respective political parties. Under the guise of ‘student safety’, political parties encourage large-scale indiscipline to gain Artificial fame among students, compromising education. Disregarding faculty has been replaced with admiration, and adherence to discipline is deplorable, resulting in a decline in the standards of education and the student’s traits. Barring exceptions, campus politics across the nation has degraded standards of education and produced literate but uneducated youth.
