Education, Careers & Professional News
Face of modern India
Source
toi
Date
2005-06-16
Information
The change is palpable the moment you enter this Mecca of higher learning. From overzealous, frowning security guards to the huge iron gate supplemented by fluorescent embossed barriers - in case you missed the tall gates - the first encounter you have of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is of surveillance and filtering, which turns into an annoyance at times.
As you enter the beautiful campus, the greenery around and bounty of nature makes you wonder if you are still in Delhi. Thanks to the topography, one thing that has not changed much over the years is the green spread. There are few encroachments, you see new hostels and academic buildings coming up in erstwhile hilly terrains, but they do not tamper with the natural outlook of this beautiful landscape spanning over 100 acres.
The campus is a distinctive habitat containing many unique attributes and diversities. There are students from perhaps every state of the country, prompting many to call the JNU campus a melting pot of cultures. The night life at the campus is too matchless. The `Ganga dhaba’ selling chapatis, coke, `chai’, `paan’, cigarette and magazines, is a virtual breeding point of ideas. The rough locale coupled with dark surroundings and small cemented spots, make it picture perfect. Students from hostels congregate here every evening or post-dinner either to relax, meet friends, gossip or decide strategies for next students’ elections.
Politics too is curious here. Even the fall of Soviet Russia could not deter the spirits of the comrades at this campus. The student politics is still dominated by Left-wing parties, Student Federation of India (SFI) and All India Students’ Association (AISA). Student wings of the BJP and Congress do make small headway but temporarily. The rhetoric, strategies and accusations during the election campaign can send jitters even to a seasoned politician. However, the levels of debates and issues undertaken are far more qualitative and intellectually challenging than any other elections in the country. It is glaring to note the change in attitude of students in politics. From a cooperative competition, as it was in the past, the campus is witnessing a hostile arrogance, which is rather unfortunate.
IN A BOX
An average day in JNU
After a long day of work, coupled with fun and party, Avinash is too tired to get up. The Joshi paperwala’s bang on his Periyar hostel door comes like a hammer on his head. He gets up frowning, only to be cheered by the charmless grin of the paper vendor. It’s seventh of the month and Avinash is reminded of the pending paper bill, for over three months now. Reluctantly, he pays. It’s already 11 am and Avinash realises the breakfast time is long over. He did not even store two buckets of water - his daily quota for morning rituals. He borrows a mug of water, goes for a quick freshening up and hits `Godavari dhaba’, next to his hostel. He grabs a `aloo-puri’ and a `miltea’ (milk tea), smokes a `sootta’ (cigarette) and realises that his supervisor wanted him to submit a tentative bibliography. Avinash is pursuing M Phil in History. He rushes to the School of Social Sciences and makes an abiding plea with his professor for granting him a fourth extension. The professor relents. It’s time to cheer for Avinash.
The party was too engaging last night and Avinash feels like going in for a siesta, before he digs the library. The siesta turns out to be a rather long one and by the time Avinash gets up it’s late in the evening. “Time to hit Ganga dhaba,'’ he quips.
Elections are not too far away and the political scene is hotting up. Being a free thinker, Avinash avoids a group of hardcore strategists who insists on his joining them for a `critical debate’ on Malta and Tobo islands and its implications for the superpower. Another group wants him to help them in their draft proposal on a New World Order and the role of communist countries in it, minus China given its capitalistic overtures of late, to be submitted at the next politburo. Sanghis (ABVP) too know Avinash is a good thinker and request him to draft a reply to Sudarshan `ji’ on the irrelevance of his proposals and why the likes of Atalji and Advaniji are critical for the party.
Confused, Avinash comes back to his cozy room, goes for dinner and quietly slips into the bushes that lead to Priya complex and settles down for a James Bond flick.