A GLIMPSE INTO KERALA CAMPUS POLITICS

Campus confrontations among various political student organizations are regular in Kerala. Unlike the politics at DU (Delhi University) or JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University), here, at college and university levels rarely do altercations crop up based on ideologies or values. The unique facet of campus politics in Kerala is that, confrontations are more physical than ideological. Campus politics are often based on local party foot soldier’s whims and fancies rather than a beginning to the ideological growth of a student who desires to go into the coveted political life. Every year, a handful of students belonging to some political organizations die in such struggles. The recent death of an ASI (Assistant Sub Inspector) of the Kerala Police at NSS Hindu College, Changanasherry during a campus showdown between the ABVP (Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishadh) and SFI (Student Federation of India) protesters is very unfortunate.

Asking campuses to ban politics due to this is gibberish. Infact, healthy political practices in a college campus will help a student to take part in the nation building process. The objective of a political process in college campuses should end there. Often it crosses that sacrosanct line. But why? Reasons are many and old. Criminals among students, impartiality of law enforcing agencies in providing a just inquiry into cases relating to campus politics, corruption in the police force, outside goons entering college campuses, lack of good student leaders with vision who can really channalize the resources of youth towards right direction and on goes the list.

In Kerala, clergy supported managements run most colleges. Managements are responsible for the peaceful atmosphere in a campus. They should not meddle with student politics and must take timely corrective measures as and when these political outbreaks breach the harmony in a college campus. A strict and impartial action from managements can very well stop this lawlessness in our college campuses, which they often fail to do. Now why do they fail to stop such activities? Are they ready to think and act impartially on these matter or atleast help police forces to take correct action? In reality, managements are quite happy with the way politics are being carried out in our campuses. It helps them to groom political slaves with no clear ideological reputation. By this, they ensure that these slaves will help to save their political interests in the future.

Due to the pressure from vote bank politics, a political party becomes a hock to various castes and communities. The group representing managements are often seen as puppets in the hands of clergies who inturn control these colleges and institutions. Various political parties are depended on them to get votes in elections, thereby becoming an outside supporter to this drama played out on the life of numerous students who are involved in the campus politics.

The general public are either ignorant or often forget this truth. Parent Teacher Associations at colleges can play an active role in putting pressure on these managements to desist from such dangerous practices. Biggest fall out of our college educations system is the presence of the so-called managements who see colleges with a biased and business mind. They simply fail to understand the pulse of students and there by, invite more trouble that leads to many unfortunate events.

How can a college management be regulated in this matter effectively? Since politician – management nexus has always played a crucial role in campus politics; regulating management through a political process will not fetch the desired result.

Clergy backed managements should be given a strict warning from interfering with campus politics. Action must be taken immediately for erring students. Security in college campus should be strengthened, especially during election days, strike, important college gatherings and student’s entry should strictly on the basis of identification. It is to be ensured that on such days students are checked for possession of arms. Campuses also should be kept under strict security surveillance. Students with criminal background should be monitored. Civic society and courts need to ponder on this subject in detail to find out workable solutions.

Death of a police officer during a fight in a campus is unfortunate and dangerous. It points out to two aspects. How nasty students can be and how ill prepared our police force are? Now, it can be argued that the whole thing was an accident. It might be correct and mostly it will be. In such a campus fight it is very rare that students actually want to kill a police officer. That answers the first part. But the second part needs deep reflection within the think-tank of the police. Here too it can be argued that the whole thing was an accident. But will this argument help them from facing the reality? In future, police forces in action will think twice before hitting an angry crowd.

Our police forces are not trained according to the demands of 21st century governance. It is sad to see, many a times, in electronic media, how badly at many places rioters beat and attack police men. Sending an ageing force to face a young and angry mob can at times be stupid. In this case, the policeman who died was 47 year old. Another official, 51 years of age, had a heart failure seeing his fellow officer die after getting hit on his forehead. It is ridiculous, even though this statement is harsh on the said policeman. This is the state of many police officers at different part of our country. How often are they able to stop the protestors from destroying public property?

How many of our police officers are actually physically fit to face a protesting mob? The answer will be, shockingly, a very few. A fresh police officer out from a police academy looks excellently fit. Over the years, why is it that the same officer is not able to maintain this fitness level? A modern day physique of a police officer at the age of 45 + will give a strong competition to a pregnant woman expecting her kid the next week. While facing an angry mob of agitators, sometimes with weapons, a policeman often needs the fitness to atleast protect him. Even at times he may have to run behind an agitator to arrest him. How many police officers have the physical fitness to really do that? In movies it’s very common that stars with huge figures run behind villain through difficult terrain for a long distance. Unfortunately, many of our high-tech policemen who travel in AC Qualis, Innovas and Accents may find this very difficult to achieve. The up gradation of our police force often stops with the brand of new vehicles the department buys for their day-to-day use.

It is the responsibility of the home department to give security to those police officers that are facing these agitators. In this recent case, the home department clearly failed in giving them the required protection. The department must ensure the safety of police officers that are in the field. Otherwise it will demoralize the forces. . State Intelligence should be strengthened to identify the possible threats.

Police training system should be overhauled immediately and effectively to meet the requirement of modern days. Strict fitness rules should be adopted. Present police officers should be given a time frame to regain their fitness. Training systems should match the crime profile of that era. Annual drilling camps should be conducted, so that the present force will receive proper training yearly.

Police forces should be encouraged to develop leadership among their cadres. A good leader can motivate police forces to a very great extent. A well-trained police officer should be properly maintained emotionally, physically and economically. Else it will fire back at the time of an emergency.

Also it is the responsibility of a civil society to respect and treat a police officer well. An underutilized or an over worked police force can become a liability to the society.

Regulation of student politics by passing a law is not a workable solution. It needs action and thought beyond the law book. Healthy campus politics projects the maturity of various interest groups like college managements, student organization, parent-teacher associations etc. Unbiased politics will ensure a serene and healthy atmosphere within a campus.