Campus Politics in Kerala

The idea behind student polictics is actually good , these are the places from where u hone ur leadership , administrative n 'political'skills and enter the world of politics.
But in reality none of this seems to be happening , most of the student and youth wing leaders in their mid 40s.
In Kerala , student politics is practised in the worst possible form with violent clashes leading to frequent disruption of studies , not just in Arts/Science colleges but also in Engineering colleges.
Strikes were very common in even prestigious Engineering colleges for every minor issue.
I dont see any leaders getting formed or anything postive arising out of all this , the only leaders who use this as a platform for career in politics are those whose parents are into politics. Others end up nowhere.
Its time we put an end to this/ regulate student politics. My suggestion wud be that have elections but dont allow political parties inside campus

A recent high court order allowed college managements to prohibit students from undertaking or participating in political activities within campuses.

But student unions of major political parties such as the Congress and the Communist Party of India--Marxist say they will appeal against the order in the Supreme Court as it is against the fundamental rights.

At least a dozen colleges run by the church have already enforced the May 26 order saying student politics have often disrupted studies and led to violence and killings.

More colleges across the state are in the process of banning politics.

The influential Inter-Church Council for Education -- an apex union of various Christian educational managements in Kerala -- has also written to all the colleges run by it to forbid politics in colleges.

"We no longer want colleges to allow students' unions to fight elections on political lines. We feel banning politics on campus would improve the quality of education and reduce the various forms of violence perpetuated by students in colleges," ICCE chairperson Archbishop Joseph Powathil of Changanassery told rediff.com.

"Kerala has suffered a lot because of violent students' politics," he adds.

The unprecedented court judgment came after a student -- Sajan Francis -- filed a case against the church-run St Thomas College principal Father M M Mathew for preventing him from writing his second year degree examinations in April 2002 on account of inadequate attendance.

Francis claimed the principal was vindictive toward him on account of his being a Student Federation of India activist. The SFI is the student wing of the CPI-M.

His petition, supported by the SFI, also asked for a compensation of Rs 25,000 from the principal for the loss of one academic year.

But the court rejected Francis' petition and ruled the St Thomas College has the powers to enforce a ban on political activities of students.

"It is open to the educational institutions to prohibit political activities within the college campuses and forbid students from organising or attending meeting other than the official ones within the college campus," the court declared.

"A restriction does not violate the rights such as freedom of speech and expression, freedom to form associations or unions under the Constitution of India," the judgment said.

Educationists say the ban was long overdue. Sabu Thomas told rediff.com that since 1970 some 43 students have died due to violence instigated by campus politics.

To be precise, he adds, SFI lost 30 activists, Kerala Students' Union lost 10 and the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad lost three students. The ABVP is the student wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

"A ban on campus politics will improve the quality of education. Let colleges be places of students' intellectual growth, not of political violence," he says.

But SFI Kerala unit president P K Biju disagrees.

Termed the verdict as 'cruel and undemocratic', he says, "It is in colleges that students who shape their careers, whether it is in politics or any other fields. If politics is banned in colleges, where will you get competent and visionary politicians for the future India?"

Campus politics claims policeman's life
Yahoo News Saturday 2007 October 27,

Kottayam, Kerala: Campus politics in Kerala, which are usually violent at the best of times, have taken a decidedly ugly turn when a scuffle between rival student politicos resulted in the death of a policeman.

Assistan Sub-Inspector Eliyas succumbed to injuries he sustained while trying to break up a scuffle between ABVP and SFI activists at the Changanassery NSS College on Friday. The activists had clashed over the recently concluded college union elections. Four others were injured in the incident.

Police have also recovered arms from the college campus in the wake of which several raids have been conducted at the RSS and BMS offices. Five people, including a local RSS functionary, have been taken into custsody and the college has been temporarily shut down.

State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has announced a high level enquiry into the matter, which is to be headed by an Inspector General of Police.

"Police were posted in the campus to maintain law and order," said the minister. "It looks liked ABVP and RSS workers planned this between them."

While the CPM-led state government has put the blame squarely on the Sangh Parivar, the BJP insists that it is being unfairly targetted. Ninety per cent colleges are controlled by the Students Federation of India - the youth wing of the CPI-M

It is no surprise that college elections become violent, for it is a phenomenon seen across Kerala.

Though there have been several instances in the past when students from SFI or ABVP got killed, this has been the first time the person who maintained law and order became a casualty.

A strike is on at Kottayam to protest Eliyas's death.


Manayam pally Abdul Muneer