What makes JNU, the island of Leftist politics and how it challenges Hindutva-happy nationalism with its competing version?
It was an eventful day in New Delhi as its side-walks were filled with soldiers returning to the national capital after a victory in war with Pakistan. An early autumn cheered returning war heroes. On 20 September 1965, Lok Sabha was also witnessing a bitter war of words as it was discussing a Bill for setting up a new university in the national capital, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
Dr Madhav Shrihari Aney, oldest member of House, 85, spearheaded the attack against the Bill portraying it as vague and undemocratic. Other socialists and several Jana Sangh members strongly opposed the idea of adulating Nehru, making him the palladium of nationalism and conferring to his name qualities that personified the patriotic spirit. “The university is converted into a church and the character and appeal of national ideals are considerably overcast with personality cult,” said MB Lal, spurring a heated exchange with education minister Mohammed Ali Currim Chagla. There are so many institutions in Nehru’s name and most of them are in hibernation, Prabhat Kar, a member from Hooghly accused.Prabhat Kar, a member from Hooghly accused.
History tells us Prabhatkar was far off the mark. JNU is not just a pixel on the spreadsheet of Nehruvian legacy. The university is one of India’s premier institutions. Early this month, it catapulted into national imagination and grabbed column-inches in broad sheets, after jnu Student Union (JNUSU) President Kanhaiya Kumar, was arrested by two plainclothes policemen on charges of sedition.
This story is from the March 15 2016 edition of Tehelka.
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This story is from the March 15 2016 edition of Tehelka.
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