Jawaharlal Nehru Students have once again come to prove that their focus and attention is on everything besides studying for the course they are actually enrolled in. Recently, to protest against the introduction of an MBA course, the students were on a hunger strike since 19th May, which was called off only after a ‘Sabarmati declaration’ was adopted by the teachers’ association and the students’ union against Modi government.
Around 9 students were on an indefinite hunger strike to protest against the fee being charged for the MBA course. Sarika Chaudhary, Vice president Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) stated, “The course has the highest ever fee structure that is Rs. 12 lakh which is higher than any private college. How many can afford this fee for the course?”
However, the students have no business in deciding the fees. That’s the prerogative of the authorities. Besides, the aspirants to the course have no such contention. JNU Vice-Chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar said, “If the fee is so high then why are students applying for course from all over the country? We have just 50 seats but a large number of people who have qualified CAT exam have applied for our program. The fee structure is the same as anywhere in India whether it is IIMs or IITs. We are not charging anything abnormally.”
Right from the beginning, the students were against opening the management school in the campus. Now they are using the fee issue as an excuse. The real issue herein is capitalism, as MBA is seen as a core capitalist course. The course is against the liberal and free-thinking ideals JNU students foster. The communist atmosphere will be affected by the introduction of the corporate business culture. They fear that it is a soft takeover of the JNU culture.
The students are so immersed in their communist ideologies, they fail to see the progression. Mr. Kumar stated, “We cannot remain frogs in the well in today’s time. The university has to expand its programmes in order to become the best university in the world and contribute to the country. We are following all the rules and regulations of UGC. All these decisions are taken after a long discussion with our executive and academic councils. I don’t see any point why anyone should oppose these kinds of expansion of such program which is good for University.”
As is quite evident from the past, the students of JNU never understand the difference between freedom of speech and expression and being an anti-national. Now it seems, in their baseless Dharna, they have forgotten the distinction between a peaceful strike and assault. On 25th of this month, in furtherance to their agenda against the MBA course, hundreds of JNU students allegedly barged into the residence of the Vice Chancellor and allegedly confined his wife inside the residence for hours before she was safely rescued by security staff and others. The VC has not initiated criminal proceedings against the offenders but will be taking strict disciplinary action.
Delhi Police: There was a call for march till the JNU VC's house today. Students reached his house and tried to enter. They were stopped by the security staff. So far most of the students have gone back to their hostel. Few of them are still there. Situation is under control.
— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2019
Yesterday, the students came to the conclusion that it is the Modi government, which is to blame. The JNUSU and Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) made a ‘Sabarmati Declaration’ to vote out the Modi government in order to safeguard higher education.
Strangely enough, of the key voices in this was that of Anand Teltumbde, Goa Insitute of Management. He had previously been arrested for his Maoist links in connection with the Elgar Parishad case, a case in which several Maoist leaders were caught attempting to wage war against India, including assassination of Pm Modi.
The declaration adopted by the JNUTA and JNUSU demanded “substantive autonomy for public education”, “socially responsible and transformative public education”, expansion of public education and that public education must be publicly funded.
“Members of more than 20 universities across the country and student-teachers of JNU have pledged to vote out the Modi government in order to save higher education,” according to the declaration.
As is clearly evident, JNU students just wanted to build a base to rebel against the Modi government. This time the issue was as absurd as the implementation of a fee of a professional course, a decision that had already been accepted by the UGC. Nevertheless, they managed to attract attention and have used the publicity stunt as a protest against the government.