Students away from politics can be a mistake

Article By: Delower Shahjada

MNA Feature Desk: In our nationality induction, the role of students in politics was very vital, and taking the students away from politics can be a mistake of any nation. It was a time when politics was linked with only the middle-aged and elder citizens of a country. The existence of youth in politics was not greeted, with the exception of a few. However, in a country with a large youth population, it is no hesitation that their voice matters.

In the recent few years, there has been a massive rise in the participation of students in politics. Time and again, we have seen how they have stood composed to raise their voice against social injustices and have made a huge impact on policies affecting them, such as safety of women, reservation, academic freedom, etc.

We know it better that politics is the process and method of making decisions for groups. Although it is generally applied to governments, politics is also observed in all human group interactions including corporate, academic, and religious.

Though many people shy away or are disgusted by the term, due to its reputation, politics influences every sphere of our lives. It is not just about party politics, and not everyone should necessarily join a political party youth wing. However everyone should be aware of how they are being led and what decisions concerning them are being made. It is everyone’s fundamental right to decide their future course of action, and by not being aware of politics in general we lose out on that right.

Aspects of Students Politics as a Whole

To recognize the need for politics in our institutions, the truths of society we live in need to be understood. Politics today, whether desirable or not, has become authoritarian in nature all around the world, varying only in terms of degree. It has become so pervasive that there exists no social organization that is not affected by politics or is devoid of internal politics.

Our economic growth like industries, corporates, social welfare schemes, health, education, and structural development is all lead by political policies and practices. Political patronage determines the benefits, the people of a particular religious community enjoy.

Politics regulates the originality of our singers, filmmakers and actors and what they can or cannot say. It even impacts, or often controls, our personal lives the number of children we can have (in China for example), the food that we can eat, the dress we can wear etc.

If politics is so intensely placed in our system, how can universities be an exception? If the goal of a university is not shortsightedly defined to train students only in a particular subject, but is to prepare students for unexpected things that life has to offer, then politics is very important, as a part and parcel of college activities, for the overall development of an individual’s personality and character.

It must be recalled that atmosphere building is the first step towards building a nation. However, politics is needed in educational institutions not only because it is present everywhere but to produce better leaders instead of having leaders imposed upon us because of their money or muscle power, or by virtue of their lineage.

Since university politics has direct links with national and state level politics, it becomes a good introduction pad for new faces that otherwise would not have had a chance to enter the political ground. Therefore, student politics institutionalizes the merit-based search for future leaders.

Political philosophers contend that democratic politics is not only about the ritual of elections, political canvassing etc. but refers to the dialectical environment of debate, discussion, dialogue and dissent in a peaceful setting. The purpose is not to flatten opposing ideas but recognizing the right of others to have differing thoughts or ideologies than yours.

The same should be the case for politics in the universities. Currently, only a politics of interruption and devastation is practiced both in the national parliament and in campuses. This adversely affects the legislative process and academics respectively.

To bring about this complete change in the nature of politics in our educational institutions, the most significant thing is to ensure the complete independence of these institutions. This includes management, appointment (of professors, staff, Heads of Departments, Vice-Chancellors etc.), financial autonomy, student selection procedure, course, and curriculum and syllabus selection. The need of the hour is to democratize our educational institutions.

At the end of my discussion as a student of Dhaka University, I would like to say that students should have vast knowledge of Politics as it does involves society to great lengths. The more educated we are at the field of Humanities; we seem to gain a different perspective on the world we live in today. This could have great impact on our youth society.

As students it is our duty and responsibility to be aware of what is happening around us. We have an important part to play in the future of our country and that starts with university life. If possible try to vote at elections to make your voice heard, and even better, try to stand as candidates. Not only does it provide you with valuable experience of the process, but it’s great to be able to represent your views and opinions where they count.

The Writer is Office Secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).