From Rohit Vemula to Kanhaiya Kumar - The Forgotten Nehruvian Socialism

Nationalism:

Nationalism is one trending word among the social media and news hours in the last few months. Considering that the heat haven’t settle down yet,I thought it was essential to explain certain aspects and views which is really important in judging this issue and how this is to be understood from a common man’s view.

Craziest thing to be noted is , some seems to be so patriotic and some projected to be so Anti – National by peoples who doesn’t even have an Idea of a True meaning of Nationalism.

Lets Look into some historical backgrounds of certain things that are to be discussed Here.

Jawaharlal Nehru University:

Popularly termed as JNU, located in New Delhi Established in 1969. This is one pioneer institute of our Nation providing top class Education on fields such as History, Law, governance, Arts, Biotechnology, computer and system sciences, Environmental science, Language, Literature, Culture studies, Life sciences, physical sciences and social sciences.

With too many sciences involved mixed up with History and Literature JNU attracts too many knowledge seekers across the nation for quality Education. I have heard of stories of peoples who enters JNU specially for their Civil Services Preparation too use its vast resourceful library and succeeded too there by serving in the top bureaucratic positions in our country and also across the world representing our Country.

The Contribution from JNU in the fields of Science is tremendous. The university is known to have a long tradition of alumni thereby producing greater minds for decades.

Student union in JNU:

JNU always had a strong prevalence of left – Centric student politics. Not only JNU, Most of the traditional Universities in India are Inclined towards communistic left centric views when it comes to the matter of Student Union.

Rather than being bookholic, Students of JNU were always involved in Positive approach towards society by conducting various political debates, meetings, open discussions,. They also have a tradition of inviting various journalists, politicians, educationist, writers, and intellectuals in various fields for open discussions.

Jammu and Kashmir:

Jammu and Kashmir – One restless state in India since Independence. Year’s long violence, protest by separatists torn up this beautiful place into a violent arena.
Peoples who live in J&K are tired with confusion created by separatists, political instability and peace less life, terrorist issues for Decades.  

The Country without a post office:

The Country without a post office is not only the name of a popular poem but also the name of the cultural program organised by the student union of JNU. Feb 9, was expected to be one fine evening with yet another stage event on various cause. It wasn’t as expected. The theme of the program was to raise voice of concern for restless Kashmir. Like other Stage shows of various concerns this too was involved of expressions through plays, songs etc for the peoples of Kashmir. Also several students of the campus belonging to Kashmir took the stage to share their stories of shattered homeland. There raised slogans on freedom, freedom from Terror, Restlessness, Hunger , Political instability, Ineffective administration, failed progression.

The Case of Kanhiya Kumar:

Being the student union leader of JNU, Kanhiya was a part of the stage show during Feb 9. The listed voices for freedom and for concerns of Kashmir branded Anti-National Icon on the students of JNU and Sedition charges were filled over them.

The case of Rohit Vemula:

 Rohit Vemula, An Young and Dynamic Indian PhD Student from University of Hydrebad commited Suicide on January 2016. Earlier from July 2015, the university stopped paying him a fellowship of 25000 rupees Per month. It is Right after he was found    raising issue under the banner of Ambedkar Students Association (ASA).

From the suicide Notes of Rohit Vemula,

I have become a monster. I always wanted to be a writer. A writer of science, like Carl Sagan. At last, this is the only letter I am getting to write.

I loved Science, Stars, Nature, but then I loved people without knowing that people have long since divorced from nature. Our feelings are second handed. Our love is constructed. Our beliefs colored. Our originality valid through artificial art. It has become truly difficult to love without getting hurt. The value of a man was reduced to his immediate identity and nearest possibility. To a vote. To a number. To a thing. Never was a man treated as a mind. As a glorious thing made up of star dust. In every field, in studies, in streets, in politics, and in dying and living.

May be I was wrong, all the while, in understanding world. In understanding love, pain, life, death. There was no urgency. But I always was rushing. Desperate to start a life. All the while, some people, for them, life itself is curse.

I don’t believe in after-death stories, ghosts, or spirits. If there is anything at all I believe, I believe that I can travel to the stars. And know about the other worlds.

“From shadows to the stars.”

What Connects the Dots ?

In both Cases and also in few other recent issues , the autonomy of these educational institutes are affected by the NDA Government by its frequent intervention. The Crack downs are mainly as part of ABVP, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad , an organisation affiliated to RSS. On ABVP Request, a letter from Labour and employment ministry went to Human Resource Development ministry to act against students who involve in the termed Anti – National Activity in Hyderabad University Campus.  ABVP charges of Sedition and anti National Projection played its role in few other universities earlier like Allahabad, Guwhati Universites.

The Dynamic and True Meaning of Nationalism:

I am an Indian and I love my country for it gave me everything. This is how Indian Nationalism and Its Idea can be termed for a common man of India. This doesn’t mean that he or she is not entitled to speak up for the suppression or difficulties faced. When it comes to the act of Sedition, Slogans directly against Indian nation and Its Constitutional frame work is Anti National. But Slogans against the Suppressions face by a person and a protest to end it should not be tagged as Anti National. The same happened it JNU when they gave their voice for Kashmir.

Also , too much of Nationalism or the Idea of nationalism is not good for a country. A Country should be mixed up of Every feeling for a sustainable progression there by removing the anti – progression element time to time. History has shown us a good example from the early 40’s. The Story of Germany where the Extreme form of nationalism turned out to be fascism for which the country has fallen.

The Nehruvian Socialism:

Nehru is one Dynamic Leader who was always a future thinker of Progression. He always wanted India to be a country of Mixed Socialism (Not too Communistic/ Govt Centric also not Capitalistic).

He had an habit of writing frequent letter to the chief ministers of all states. I think it will be appropriate to end this article with one of his quotes from it.

The Idea of Indian Nationalism should be brought up without force feeding it to anyone of the state and without expecting Patriotism among them – Jawaharlal Nehru, Letters to the Chief Ministers.

இந்திய தேசியம் என்பது யார் மீதும் திணிக்கப்படாமலும், தேசப்பற்றினை  எதிர்ப்பார்க்காமலும் வளர்த்தெடுக்கப்படுதல் வேண்டும் - ஜவஹர்லால் நேரு, முதல்வர்களுக்காண கடிதங்களிலிருந்து.

-         Shankar

# There is No fate, but what we make.