We Stand with Ambedkar Periyar Student Circle of IIT-Madras

Aligarh Activists' Society condemns the banning of a student group Ambedkar Periyar Student Circle of IIT-Madras by the institute's authorities for criticizing the policies of the Central Government.
Stifling of Democratic voices will not be tolerated.
Do share the status to show solidarity for campus democracy and students right to dissent.

Yet Another Shameful news of AMU

Kisi RSS, Pseudo-Secular, CIA, MOSSAD ki saazishon ki zaroorat nahi hai kyuunki ham AMU ko barbaad karne ke liye khud hi kaafi hain...

Shame on those who support Regionalism in AMU‬

Newspaper Hindustan (Aligarh Edition)

An Analyis of AMU Students' Union of 2014-15

Student politics is a necessary and vital part of a healthy campus life. It is not only the breeding ground for future leaders, but also a great educational tool that allows the students to learn and experience many life skills.

Unfortunately though, students’ politics in India has become synonymous with violence, hooliganism, corruption and petty politics. The formula for success in student politics has somehow turned into becoming notorious and maintaining a nuisance value. I have witnessed various elections of students’ unions and also studied many, so as to understand the reasons behind the campus violence after the formation of students’ bodies.

I believe that the biggest challenge before any student leadership trying to engage in constructive student politics is to keep away from use of violence as a political tool and reject corruption as an accepted norm in order to create a peaceful atmosphere. This is exactly what ‘sine-die’ prone Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) students were expecting in 2014-15 AMUSU elections.

The students had high hopes with the presidential candidate, Abdullah Azzam in this regard as his foremost agenda during the election campaign was ‘Violence Free Campus’ (What he would call - ‘End to Katta Culture’), ‘End to Regional Bias and Lobbyism’ and ‘Corruption Free Union With Highest Accountability’. He was able to win the tough battle against the regional strongholds because he could generate hope of a peaceful campus in the mindset of general students. Peace was not only required for the better environment at the campus but also because AMU had to face the NAAC team for its accreditation.

My observation is that the AMUSU president was singularly successful on this account. This is not to say that there were no instances of violence on the campus, or that we witnessed no cases of student infighting. But it was for this first time that the University did not witness the Students’ Union leadership patronizing the violent elements. Azzam made it clear many a times by rejecting support for the pro-violence students and made fighting with impunity an intricate task.

There were indeed decisive moments wherein the peace and harmony on the campus could have been compromised to earn the backing of muscle power. One, within a month of the formation of the Union, when students (and non-students) from a certain lobby (well known at AMU) crowded the Union Hall with an angry mob and demanded that the president patronize them in their fight with members of another lobby. They even attempted to capture the office of the president and posed threats and immense pressure, demanding support from the president. However, he dared to say no and set a precedent that at AMU it is possible for a student leader to face the muscle power by holding high to his principles.

Second, in December, when Saddam Hussein, a cabinet member of the Union was involved in an ugly fight for use of force, the president was demanded and also expected to side by his cabinet member. However, again, he set another example by rejecting support to violence, no matter it involved his own cabinet associate. Even as the cabinet member stayed underground for eight days and immense pressure was mounted on the president to take sides in the fight, the president refused to budge. Ultimately, the issue ran out of steam and was resolved amicably without turning into a long-drawn tussle.

The third instance is the latest one, when KC Tyagi, a Member of Parliament, was honoured at AMU Students’ Union Hall and some pro-violence elements from BJP supporters opened fire trying to disrupt the event to impose their political will. President AMUSU asked all the students present there to maintain peace and refrain from any attempts of violence by responding to violence with peace. He discussed the issue in AMU Court the same day and the court demanded the Vice Chancellor to take a stern action against the culprits, which he promised thereof. This way, it was rare incident in the students’ politics, where gun was refuted by pen, and this is what he had promised to the students’ fraternity.

Previously, an AMUSU president was rusticated for corrupt practices. Also many a times, student leaders were involved in deriving hefty sums of money from shop keepers etc. a practice that was ill and which harmed the image of the alma mater. It needed to be dealt in an appropriate manner. I believe, in his presidency, Abdullah Azzam has been largely successful in bringing forth a clean image of the students’ leadership. I believe that besides his personal honesty and credentials, what helped in this regard was that he had to pay none as he had borrowed his election expenditures from none of the corrupt lobbies, who demand money from student leaders and force them to engage in the malpractices. Money is the prime factor that governs the violent elements. And hence, refraining from the hafta culture paved way for peace at the campus.

This is not to say that corruption and violence have been rooted out from this campus completely. But this time, as the president did not have a stake in the interests of corrupt lobbies, the Union as a whole could not become a party to any of these conflicts or the petty fights they set off. As a result, the general student was not dragged into the middle and the campus as a whole could enjoy a more peaceful and a corruption free atmosphere.

Besides peace, election agendas contain dozens of issues and number of promises are made. I think that requires a detailed analysis and the students in general keep a close watch on all those promises. However, the foremost requirement for a healthy campus and a constructive leadership is to establish peace. Peace brings prosperity and peace was one of the most important factors that helped AMU get the NAAC accreditation. The NAAC team is known to have said on record that AMUSU has helped AMU grow into healthy campus.

I find it worth mentioning here that AMUSU president has satisfied my conscience as a general student aspiring for a healthy environment to study. If possible, I would critically analyze the various others aspects of students’ union at AMU in detail and set records right, so that we present a model for other universities to have a union with a standard culture.

-------

(Kashif Ilyas is a MA English (Final) student at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) )

Legal literacy and health awareness programme for women organized

The Helping Hands Society organized an Interactive Session on legal literacy and health awareness for female students of Aligarh Muslim University titled “Quwwat-e-Niswaa'n”, at Women's College auditorium. Mrs. Sabiha Simi Shah, wife of the Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah, presided over the inaugural session. Dr. Nahid Murtaza Khan, Principal, Women’s College, was the Guest of Honour.

The interactive session commenced with the welcome address by Areeba Siddiqui, President, Helping Hands Society, who highlighting the mission and vision of the society.

Mrs. Qurratul-Aein Ali, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work delivered a talk on personal health and hygiene concerning women. She said that most of the women are careless about their health, which, in the long run, leads to serious health issues. From hand washing to reproductive health, every aspect of general health should be taken care of, she added. She also informed the girls about various reproductive tract infections including sexually transmitted diseases, their prevention and cure.

Anam Rais Khan, a student of BALLB enlightened the girls about their legal rights and procedural safeguards under the Criminal Procedure Code with special reference to the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 2013. She said, “I believe that the major cause of exploitation of women in India is not the dearth of laws, but the fact that women at large are unaware of their rights. Laws are rotting in law books and restricted to court rooms.” She observed that no woman can be arrested after sunset and before sunrise and no woman can be called as witness to police station but have to be examined at their place of residence only.

Sarah Hashim Khan, another student of BALLB described rules and procedure of filing complaint to the Committee against Sexual Harassment and for Gender Sensitization existing in the AMU i.e., which acts as a grievance redressal body for sexual harassment of students, teachers or non teaching staff.

Nabeela Siddiqui and Roshan Alam shed light on the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. Deeba Abrar, a research scholar in the Department of Women Studies presented a poem “Betiyan” composed by renowned poet, Johnny Foster.

Samia Siddiqui, Secretary of the Society, proposed the vote of thanks. Over 500 girls from various courses of AMU were present at the session.




Press Release Submitted to AMU PRO Office

Of Elections without Ideas— Neo-Liberalism and the Culture of Apathy

             Students’ Politics is conceived as an art of channelizing the energy of the youth and preparing them for the task of nation-building. It also seeks to sensitise them on the pertinent socio-political issues of the times. However, over the past few decades students’ politics has become synonymous with flagrant exercise of money and muscle power, nepotism and debauchery. In short, an ethical vacuum has resulted in the derailing of students’ politics from its purpose.

           Many fail to perceive the root of the problem - a lack ideas and a clear-eyed vision among the youth of this country. A case in point is the recently concluded Students’ Union elections of the Aligarh Muslim University Students’ Union.  As of now whatever ideas you would seek among the AMUSU elections candidates the following were the ones you would get (tick the box):-

a) Please vote, support and dua                                          

b)  Tempo high hai

c)   Jeetega bhai jeetega.

          Over the past few years, this terrible drought of ideas have turned a coveted Institution like the AMU Students’ Union into a licence for running riot into the day to day activities of the campus. A pool of students’ leaders have come onto the centre stage who are oblivious of the contemporary challenges being faced by the largest minority community of this country (ironically whose interests they claim to    represent). This has led to an incessant shrinkage of AMU’s role in the task of nation-building and turned it into a thing of the yester years.  In their desperation in showing themselves to be concerned about the common students whose corollary is being antagonistic to the University administration, they have repetitively maligned the Vice- Chancellor of the University ( at times in language that crossed the levels of decency) pressed for illegal demands, and stretched out of the jurisdiction of the Students’ Union. The consequence of all the above acts has been vitiating of the peaceful atmosphere of the campus, and a pretext for the University administration to state that Students’ Union Elections leads to problems of law and order and thereby suspension of the Students ‘Union and denial of the democratic rights of the students.

         However, it would be unfair to presume that the above mentioned problems are exclusively those of the Aligarh Muslim University. A cursory look into the students’ politics of the entire country would reveal that most of the campuses (even those which are known for its academic excellence) today suffer from a leadership vacuum. The neo-liberal policies that have been ushered in this country over the past two decades have resulted in the constant need of a workforce that would feed onto the market. Thus, the Universities have turned into degree vending factories manufacturing ready-made graduates. In such a scenario it is obvious that the political status quo would be antagonistic to the idea of campus democracy and students’ mobilisation as they have repeatedly proved to be threats to the ruling class in the past. Thus, what goes on is a farce in most of the campuses in the name of students’ politics. The thinking youth is tactfully kept out of the entire political process through the middle class squeamishness “politics is bad”. What is currently going on at the Aligarh Muslim University is actually a microcosm of the situation in the entire country.

         The panacea to the above problems lays in active participation of the students in the political process. They have to rise above this culture of apathy in order to secure a better future for themselves. Coming back to AMU, it is essential that we reclaim our politics from the clutches of lobbyism that has eroded the essence of our Students’ Union. There is a need for more political sensitisation among the common students. The onus lies on each and every student who is a stake holder of the prestige of this great seat of learning. The task is difficult, but not an impossible one. With our joint and sustained efforts we can surely salvage our fading glory.

An Optimist's Analysis of AMUSU Elections 2012-13

AMU is a very unique world in itself. Just as when we start assuming that we are well versed with every aspect of this university, it offers new phenomenon to leave us baffled & in utter surprise. Aligarh Muslim University’s Students Union (AMUSU) Elections of 2012-13 is the latest event that has again proven that there are some newly seen patterns which demand in-depth reflections from all interested parties. These recently emerging patterns offer many positives which should be capitalized by those who are genuinely interested in the welfare of AMU.

                    AMUSU elections are indeed an event of national importance. With Jamia Millia Islamia’s administration banning Students’ Union in their university, AMUSU is the only students’ organization that has some legitimacy of claiming to represent the Indian Muslims in general & Indian Muslim youth in particular. Therefore, whatever happens in these elections & whoever gets elected requires a thorough analysis. This current election was pretty much different from the earlier two elections that I have witnessed. First, no printed posters were allowed to be pasted & university buildings were not defaced as the authorities maintained strict vigil & even minor violations were quickly responded with show-cause notices to the candidates. Second, the minimum 75 % attendance rule was strictly enforced leaving many candidates’ nomination papers cancelled. Third, the students were less enthusiastic this time around in comparison to the last two elections owing to multiple factors such as late holding of elections, corruption & dismal performance of last Students’ Union, relatively less number of eligible candidates, etc.

                      The election days are one of the most exciting times in the whole academic session. Every candidate was seen bent & offering salaam making an angle of almost 90 degrees. Every Tom, Dick & Harryclaimed to have at least 100 to 200 voters under his command. The sales of Cigarettes, Petrol & Tea had skyrocketed. The engines of the bikes asked for mercy due to constant noise created by the accelerators of bikes. Since, there was a ban on printed   posters the volunteers of the candidates came up with more creative posters created with sketch-pens & in some cases, even by Aerosol sprays. Candidates by-passed the directions of no-posters on University walls by pasting their hand-made posters on virtually every tree (as trees can’t be considered a wall) of the campus. Sir Syed (North) Hall was made their “office” by most of the candidates while other halls were  almost silent spectators of the elections. It was also quite common to see promises being done, of betrayals being committed by one’s own trusted “friends”, pacts done by regional lobbyists & rhetorical promises of the candidates.

                One of the positives that can be drawn from this election is the seemingly declining influence of highest- level regional seniors-cum-University mafia on the general students. The reason is attributed to the  less frequent interaction of Seniors & Juniors nowadays compared to what have been the case a decade earlier. The fresher students have their own aspirations & circles leading to a lesser influence of the senior“vultures” of their respective regions on their voting behaviour. The other positive development was the showing of more political maturity by the Aligs this time when a candidate was alleged to be sponsored by the “Communists” - a term to denote the most devilish section of the AMU by some. I personally felt pretty glad to be told by many of my friends that this was a dirty conspiracy of the opponents to discredit the candidate. Earlier, this labeling was a very easy way to delegitimize anyone & the voters were very easily swayed by this propaganda. This incident shows that most of us have learnt from our earlier mistakes & will not be deceived so easily by mere allegations.

                Being a student of engineering, I am a close witness to the generally apathetic attitude of the majority of my  college-mates regarding student politics & AMUSU elections. It is unfortunate that the students of Engineering faculty which comprises of approximately one-fourth of the total registered voters don’t take much interests in politics. Most of the engineers cast their votes without much thought either on the request of their known ones or on some other petty criteria like region, department, personal relations, etc. But, it came as a pleasant surprise that on the polling day of this elections many of my college-mates were casting votes, especially for the post of President & Vice-President for a candidate they considered to be “deserving” based upon the candidates’ past activities & achievements.

                At last, I want to say that I personally see some promising developments in the usually dirty politics of Students’ Union elections which gives me hope to actively engage ourselves in materializing on these positives to restore AMUSU’s past glory. Efforts are also required to be directed to aware our fellow students regarding the importance of students’ politics & offering opposition to counter check the corrupt-practices of student leaders once they come in power. Let’s see if we can make some constructive contributions to our beloved  institution.

Tehzeeb v/s Progress: An Analysis of the Great Divide over Abdullah Hall

                       Abdullah Hall. Women’s College. A mere reference to these words is enough to set alight any dhaba discussion or hostel gup-shup in our University and immediately polarise the participants. Anyone taking a supposedly “pro-women” stance is immediately labelled anti-Islamic, ‘communist’, 'deheria' and the like. Anyone taking a “pro-tehzeeb” stand is immediately labelled anti-women, ‘conservative’, daqiya-nusi and their ilk.

             The only agreement that seems to exist is over the fact that there is some problem in the Women’s College, requiring some sort of a solution. The disagreement exists over everything else, be it the problems or the solutions to those contested problems.

Report of the Programme organised by AAS at Department of Islamic Studies

             The Aligarh Activists’ Society organised a Student’s Seminar on the topic “Concept of Human Rights in Islam”. A paper introducing the crux of the topic was presented by Zuhair, which was then followed by an intense discussion among the students present.

            The paper presented by Zuhair began with a preview to the approach of Human Rights, pointing out how Islam considers the rights of Humans in relation to one another and to society as having been ordained by Allah, the Creator and Almighty Himself. These rights are, therefore, inviolable and not subject to human discretion. It then went on to discuss some of the basic rights, such as Right to Life, Right to Safety of Life, Right to protect the Chastity of Women, Right to a Basic Standard of Life, etc.
After the presentation of this paper, the floor was thrown open and students actively came forward to present their views and counter-opinions.

Our latest seminar in Department of Islamic Studies

Aligarh Activists' Society is organising a seminar on "Concept Of Human Rights in Islam" on Thursday, 27th September at 12:30 pm at Conference Hall, Department of Islamic Studies...

Student Groups in A.M.U.

        There are many student groups in AMU which are doing their level best to bring about the revival in the status of this prestigious university, its cultural heritage, its intellectual heritage and various other glorious aspects of our beloved institution. But unfortunately, when I Googled "Student groups in AMU" I saw more links related to the clashes between different lobbies in our university. It is as if the only thing relevant with a query of student groups  are the "katta goons" out here and that make outsiders perceive that here is a dearth of student groups related to constructive activism. 

           I wrote this piece of information just to attempt to erase the blots the google search is putting on us. By clicking on this article & by recommending it further, you as a reader will be helping to get this article at the top of google search. 

You can further assist by performing these two steps.

1. Open www.google.com & type "Student Groups in AMU".

2. Out of the resulting queries only click on the link of this page which will be titled as "Aligarh Activists' Society : The "Official" Blog: Student Groups in AMU".

         While I am busy in cyber activism, I personally feel that we, as students of AMU, haven't used the full potential of Internet in conveying our voices to the world. A lot of work can be done on this front.

       In near future, I plan (if Almighty wills) to form a Cyber group of Aligarh Muslim University to promote a better image of A.M.U. and to eradicate the defaming links put up on the internet. Your views & comments are welcomed.

         I am also thinking of expanding this article and write about the different student groups like SIO, Eco-club, Helping Hands etc which are active in AMU. 

---->> As of Now this POST is ranked on 4th number (because of  many people who helped me out) with search query typed as "Student groups in AMU".

----->> I have created a page on the website of Aligarh Activists' Society on this topic, as a page is much more search engine friendly than a blog post. Click here to visit that page.

- By Ameen Ahmad

Email ID : ameenalig@gmail.com

The Memorandum Presented to the Honourable VC sahab

To,

The Vice Chancellor,

Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

Sub: To respectfully draw your attention towards certain issues of democratic space and student activism in the campus

Sir,

WE THE Student Organisations working among students within the campus AT AMU, would like to jointly call your attention towards certain issues of campus democracy and student activism that affect all of us in the University.

These issues are:

1. Putting up posters and pamphlets in the University is prohibited unless prior permission has been granted from the Proctor’s office. WE FEEL THIS STEP HAMPERS THE FREE FLOW OF IDEAS BETWEEN STUDTENTS which is an essential part of campus life. Posters and pamphlets are essential VECTORS FOR DISSEMATION OF THOUGHTS AND MASS OUTREACH. While we do understand the need for regulation, the fact is that the need for prior permission deters many students from giving fruition to their ideas.AGAINST THE COMPULSORY prior permission, we propose that STUDENTS BE ALLOWED TO PUT UP THEIR POSTERS WITHOUT RESTRICTION AND SUBSEQUENTLY IF ANYTHING IS FOUND OBJECTIONABLE OR AGAINST PUBLIC INTEREST, IMMEDIATE AND APPROPRIATE ACTION BE TAKEN ACCORDINGLY. THIS IS WHAT IS BEING FOLLOWED AT OTHER CAMPUSES OF ESTEEMED INDIAN UNIVERSITIES AS WELL.

And as far as the issue of defacing of the University walls is concerned, WE STRONGLY OPPOSE IT AND REQUEST THAT the administration should designate certain spots, or put up notice boards, in front of the different faculties and important landmarks of the University where everybody may have the freedom to post their ideas. Any posters or pamphlets anywhere other than at the designated spots must then be prohibited. This would also make the work of regulation easier as the material to be checked would be concentrated at some known places.

2. THE SECOND ISSUE IS RELATED TO PROVIDING SPACE FOR ORGANISING VARIOUS EVENTS, DISCUSSIONS AND OTHERS AT VARIOUS HALLS, ETC AT AMU. AMU being one of the most intellectually sound campus in India has a highly vibrant student community that seeks to exercise its creative faculties by organizing debates, discussions, exhibitions and the like among themselves. This requires the use of spaces like halls, conference rooms, etc, WHICH AMU HAS AVAILABLE IN LARGE NUMBERS, but students in general are not easily allowed TO USE THEM. This becomes a real hindrance in the proper development of a student’s creative energy, and we request that the spaces within our campus be made easily available to all bona fide students of the University. The cost of using these spaces should be removed, with the provision that the student shall be liable for any damage caused during his/her use.

3. THE THIRD ISSUE WE WOULD LIKE TO RAISE IS REGARDING The Students’ Union elections AT AMU, which are unfortunately dominated by money and muscle power, and this has destroyed the very essence of student politics. We request YOUR GOOD SELF TO STRICTLY enforce the election code of conduct in its full spirit, as we are in full support of clean elections.

There are, apart from these, many other issues of great concern in the University. But these are, in our humble opinion, some of the most pressing in terms of student’s voice and the democratic ethos of this institution. We hope that you will take note of our concerns and give them your due attention.

Thank You,


Yours Sincerely,
From:
Students’ Islamic Organisation of India(SIO)
Students of AMU
Muslim Students’ Organisation(MSO)
Aligarh Activists’ Society(AAS)
AMU Discussion Forum(ADF)

Sixty six years of India’s Independence: An Introspective Analysis

Before I begin this article it is essential that I make a few clarifications, as the nature of socio-political discourse makes it necessary.

Firstly, I am not an anti-Indian. Rather, as a concerned citizen of this nation, I consider it my moral responsibility to point out to the structural flaws and inequalities within our system, that has repeatedly corroded the prospects of the development of this country. Following the Anna Hazare thing, we have a radical and aggressive brand of nationalism that states either you profess Anna like views or you are an anti-Indian. (Much like George Bush’s Iraq war rhetoric, which stated: Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists.)

Secondly, I am not a Communist. In fact, I am an anti-Communist to be precise. I believe Communists don’t have a copyright of protesting against capitalism and neo-corporate globalization. Just like being anti-Anna doesn’t make you anti-Indian, being anti-Bush doesn’t mean you are with the terrorists, similarly, being anti-capitalist doesn’t make you a pro-Communist.

Talking about pointing to the structural flaws within our system, I could not think of a better day than 15th of August, the day of our independence, to do the job. Quite purposefully i wont enter into the debate whether we attained this independence, or was it a false one, given to us by our British masters at the cost  of a bloody partition of this country, which Arundhati Roy calls Britain’s final, parting kick to India. I find this debate useless and sinister. We cannot undo a decision taken sixty-five years ago by our forefathers. Its better we address the issues that confront us today. (I know its an un intellectual argument but its a practical one.)

So, on the 66th year of our Independence as the social networking sites get flooded with patriotic updates, as the tv channels throughout the day televise films and songs that boost up our nationalistic sensations( temporarily although), and as our soft-spoken, suave Prime Minister belts out his neatly drafted Independence Day speech at the Red Fort, let us have a close look at the ground realities of 21st century India.

A huge battallion of paramilitary forces armed with the most sophisticated ammunition, is closing in towards the forests of Central India, the heartland of this country. They are readying for a bloody war against an army which comprises of the poorest,(most of them haven’t seen a modern city, never travelled in a train or a bus) undernutritioned, malnourished people, the tribals and the adivasis of India. They have realised that their Government is too thick skinned to pay any heed to their non-violent protests against the forceful acquisition of their land and its natural resources, for the purpose of setting up Special Economic Zones. In despair they have joined the ultra-Left Maoist radicals who seek the overthrow of the Indian state through an armed revolution. The country is probably heading towards a civil war, or probably the war has already begun. Its a rich man’s war where the poorest of the poor fight and they die.

While the gala of the Independence Day celebration persists, we have a lady at the distant North-Eastern state of Manipur, stretching a world record few Indians bother to care about, and none feel proud about. Irom Sharmila, a Manipuri civil-rights activist and poet is on a hunger strike since 2 November, 2000, which makes her the person on the longest hunger strike in the history of the world. Her demand is the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act(AFSPA). AFSPA, a draconian law that is in operation in the seven North-Eastern states of India, and Jammu and Kashmir, entitles army personnel(except those of the lowest two ranks) to arrest without a warrant, shoot and even kill an individual, or a group of individuals, on the mere suspicion of being a terrorist. The act provides impunity to the army men from any prosecution or trial for their aforementioned acts. Under the garb of doctrine of necessity the AFSPA is essentially a license to kill.

Before I forget to tell you all, my friends and seniors hailing from Kashmir, like every year have told me that today, on the 15th of August, Kashmir has an unanimous strike and a blackout. 14th August, i.e. the Independence Day of Pakistan was celebrated with much pomp and show. The incident is a slap on the very ideals of equality and integrity that the Constitution of this country seeks to uphold. It shows how our successive Governments have badly messed up with an issue that required patience and a humane approach.

Politics in India seems to get murkier day by day. Today, we have a new brand of hate-mongering, incarnate politicians whipping up divisions along religious, casteist, and sectarian lines, thereby ensuring a polarized mandate, that facilitates and smoothens their road to power. Politics of hatred probably was never so much in the vogue in India, as it has been during the past few decades. I would refrain from citing examples of incidents of politics of hatred that have unleashed unimaginable proportions of atrocities, because they chill my spine.

As if this unending list of corrupt, hate mongering politicians who siphon out huge amount of money from the public exchequer and stash it up in their Swiss bank accounts, was not enough, we presently have an increasing number of CEOs and corporates hollowing out natural resources worth trillions of dollars from the forests and mountains of India. All this courtesy the two decades of liberalization and privatization in India, and also the large number of Memorandum of Understandings(which are secret documents and their terms and conditions have been concealed from the common people) signed between state Governments and these multinational corporations.

Unfortunately, the tragedy of this country does not end here. The youth of this nation, comprising the lion’ share of its population is a directionless mass, away from the realities of the day. Following the massive privatization of education, students have been turned into prospective buyers of University degrees. The policy in practice is: Throw your bucks and grab your degrees. Education, in India, today, is the most lucrative business. Thus, toeing the lines of its capitalist vanguards, the youth of today wears a ‘cool’ attitude, proudly declaring that it doesn’t care about politics, hardly realising that this depoliticisation is the biggest political happening of this decade.) It is enmeshed in the status-quo, oblivious to any sort of acts of resistance in unison against this capitalist exploitation.

The need of the hour is the development of awareness among the common mass. The youth of the country cannot afford to remain aloof from those very issues that affect us so seriously. It has to come forward and take up the cudgels of nation building. It has to think and prepare the roadmap of our future. Everyone has stakes in the future of this nation, come, let us realise it together.

P.S:- I did not attend the Independence Day function in my University. I find these symbolic events useless, they frustrate me. Present time demands persevering hard work rather than indulging in an hour’s show of flag hoisting and worthless rhetoric.

- By Riad Azam 

Why the Aligarh Activists' Society is formed?

Taking a leaf from the glorious traditions of student activism at the Aligarh Muslim University campus, the Aligarh Activists’ Society was incepted in August 2011 with an aim of providing active students’ participation and sensitizing them on the pertinent socio-political issues of our times.  During the past few decades, the educational institutes of our country have witnessed radical changes. Students’ politics, hitherto seen as a tool for realising students’ rights and preparing them for taking up the onus of nation-building in future, today has become synonymous with flagrant exercise of money and muscle power, nepotism and debauchery.

The AMU has had its own set of issues and problems. Issues like regionalism, naked exercise of money and muscle power among a plethora of others, have time and again plagued the healthy development of students’ politics and activism in this campus. Politics deprived of ideas and ideals have repeatedly lead to violent clashes amongst the students thereby jeopardising the prospects of growth and development of our University. Following the nightmarish events of student violence in 2007 which lead to the sine-die closure of the University, an urgency was felt among the AMU student fraternity for bringing about a change in the state of affairs.

The biggest change that we need to see in our campus is the development of a platform which would be a congenial medium for vibrant discourses on the socio-political issues that affect us. The lack of discourse over the years has lead to an intellectual stagnation which, we believe, is the root cause of all the problems that plague the Aligarh Muslim University today. We organise seminars, conferences, panel discussions, and workshops to develop awareness, and shape our opinion about the contemporary happenings. In future, we also seek to promote our ideas and ideals through more innovative mediums such as street plays, cartoons, wall magazines, etc.

We appeal to all the stakeholders of our University in joining us in building a better AMU which can realise the dreams and aspirations of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, an apostle of pluralism and educational empowerment. The writing on the wall is quite clear, “We can, We will”. Come, let us realise it together.