International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, Volume 5(2), ISSN: 2394-9333 www.ijtrd.com Social Media and JNU Azadi Movement- Asociological Analysis of Student Movement in

1Muhammed Atheeque.PP & 2Dr. M.Thavamani, 1Research Scholar & 2Professor& Head, 1,2Department of Sociology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.

Abstract: Social media has influenced the socio cultural melting pots where students would descends for tea, snacks regime of the society by social media activism. In India, social and a discussion on politics. Although these discussions could media helped the online and offline movements to highlight the get heated at times, they never became violent or vindictive. problem, to spread the news with immediate effect, to make the While most student volunteers adhere to the ideology of the crowd, to pressure the government and finally to get the respective organization that they were part of, some joined the success. Present study is to analyse the JNU Azadi groups out of peer-pressure or to gain a larger social network at Movementwhich started after the Students' Union President the university. The political organizations also organized was allegedly arrested with his cultural events, discussions, debates, as well as parties that colleagues,with special reference to the social media activism continued to be significant sources for building connections and student politics.Data has been collected and analysed using and meeting like-minded individuals. These social connections case study, observation and content analysis. also create the social infrastructure for the actual working of Keywords: Social Media, Azadi, Anti-National, Sedition, the political organizations, as they were all volunteer based and Content Analysis therefore heavily dependent on the mobilization of the student people at the campus. They sometimes felt like the members of INTRODUCTION the political organizations were constantly trying to get other JNU Azadi Movement is a movement which started after the students to join their particular organization.Despite being Students' Union President Kanhaiya Kumar (Dalit) was known as a hotbed for student politics and having a number of allegedly arrested with his colleagues on charges of sedition political organizations, most students at JNU were in fact not for conducting a protest on campus against the capital politically inclined at all. punishment of and MaqboolBhat and aftermath Student Politics, Organizations and Election allegations like issue of blowing “BharathMatha Key Jai”, “Pakistan Zindabad” and “India Murdabad” etc. There was a The atmosphere in JNU was most active and charged up when mass support to the JNU Azadi Movement from across the it was election time. Student elections are held every world. It got through social media especially from face book September, to vote for a Students Union. The JNU Students page “Stand with JNU” and other co-pages, YouTube videos „Union (JNUSU) is an elected student-body whose mandate is and accounts. The movement demanded the release of to mediate matters between the students and the administration. allegedly arrested students and arrest the culprits. Every student of JNU has the right to vote in these student elections, to choose their President, Vice-President and so on, JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) in a way this election also mimics the larger National Indian JNU is a space where students are kept aware of the political political electoral system. and social issues. The nights at JNU come alive with talks, Most of these organizations are officially affiliated to larger discussions, debates etc. going on at different places.Most of mainstream National political parties. For instance, the these are organized by one or more political parties. Open political organization AISA (All India Student Association) public talks occur at around 9pm in different meeting rooms of adheres to a left-wing ideology and is officially affiliated to the hostels, where prominent scholars, politicians, media persons (Marxist-Leninist), while NSUI etc. come to speak on current issues. (National StudentsUnion of India) is the official student-wing Protests, organized by the various political organizations at the organization for the Indian National Congress party, and campus are a common sight at JNU. While they often raised ABVP(AkhilBharatiyaVidyarthiParishad) is similarly affiliated issues related to educational policies or problems faced by to the right-wing Hindu Nationalist Party – student members, since these organizations were affiliated to RashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh (RSS). These political larger national parties, some of the issues they raised were organizations are comprised of volunteers, most of whom often also of national or international concern.While there have subscribe to the dominant ideology of the group. The been ideological clashes between the left-wing and right-wing university therefore houses members that stick to the Left, organizations, the sense of community „and Right, sometimes Centre of the political spectrum. However, camaraderieseemed to still lay the foundation for how students student politics at JNU has, since its inception, always been viewed their counterparts. Keeping their respective political dominated by a vast range of left-wing political organizations ideologies at bay, the politically active students often interact AISA, AISF, DSF, SFI – all ranging in degrees from Left to with each other on a daily basis in classrooms, hostels, dining Ultra-left-wing), that have held posts at the Student Union. rooms etc. Although people had heated discussions on many Many believe that this strong hold of the left-wing ideology on political issues, they still knew that the people they are arguing the JNU campus had to do with the fact that a majority of its with right now are the ones that they perhaps share their rooms students hail from marginalized sections of the Indian society. with, or are friends in class with, or in fact the ones that will As prominent academicians now, many of them have also come to their rescue when they are feeling unwell/low. The written about, and critically analyzed issues of social justice dhabas played an important role in this aspect as well; acting as like caste discrimination, class identities, women„s rights, IJTRD | Mar - Apr 2018 Available [email protected] 158 International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, Volume 5(2), ISSN: 2394-9333 www.ijtrd.com educational policies, to name a few. The professors have also a protest as initially planned, the event involved a cultural always therefore promoted a certain sense of political zeal into program, and an art and photo exhibition. The event was the atmosphere in JNU as they usually hold discussions and organized near the "Sabarmati Dhaba" on the JNU debates on relevant social issues in their classrooms, which are campus. Towards the end of the event, various student groups greatly influenced by their own political outlook. Active clashed, and police forces needed to be called in to restore participation and becoming a prominent leader at the student- order. The ABVP issued a call for a protest outside the venue level, also acted for many as a catapult to propel them to of the event, terming it "anti-national." In response to the National level politics as well. For instance, SitaramYechury, ABVP's call, members of other student groups, including the current political head of the Communist Party of India the All India Students‟ Association (AISA), the All India (Marxist) is an ex-JNU student. As the Left-ideology lays an Students‟ Federation (AISF), and the Students‟ Federation of emphasis on grassroots and working on the ground, student India (SFI), arrived to support the event. politics plays a large role in this aspect. The student-wing of During the "fracas" that ensued, a small group of people raised AISA for instance, has always actively mobilized students to slogans that were generally described as "anti-India" stand up for their rights for affordable and quality higher slogans. They included phrases like "Kashmir education.The walls of JNU are alive with graffiti, posters, kiazaditakJungchalegi, Bharat kibarbaditakJungchalegi" ("War pamphlets, slogans etc. all showcasing further the political will continue till Kashmir's freedom, war will continue till nature of the university. Some of the striking, colourful murals India's demolition") and Pakistan zindabad‟ or „Bharat showcase demands for the equal rights for women, some ketukdekarenge.‟ were raised at the protest meet." There was against the privatization of educational institutions, and some controversy over the identity of the sloganeers. Although initial showcasing their support for labour movements, peasant media reports blamed the organizers and the students of JNU movements across India. for the slogans, an investigation by the university later stated History testifies that students who emerged from student that the provocative slogans were raised by outsiders. At the politics have made a significant contribution in politics and in a end of the event, JNU Student Union president Kanhaiya time where dynasty/family politics is prevalent, the student Kumar gave a speech, in which he stated that he supported leaders are becoming thorns for such politicians. For this very freedom of speech, but condemned “any act of violence, reason, student politics is banned in many universities and they terrorism, any terrorist act, or any anti-national activity. are hatching plots to ban it in other universities.When political ABVP Protests and Inquiry parties are not able to put a leash/ ban on such student organisations, they resort to police actions by raising false On 10 February, the Members of the JNU branch of the ABVP, allegations against them. From the Occupy UGC movement to which has ties to the RashtriyaSwayamsevakSanghfamily of mobilization against the institutionalised murder of Dalit organizations-the SanghParivar, protested at the University, research scholar Rohitvermula, these resistance have shaken demanding the expulsion of the students who had organized the roots of the government. Perplexed and stung, the the previous day's event. A day later the ABVP filed an official government has been on its haunches to retaliate. complaint with the JNU administration, the Ministry of Human Resource Development, and the Police. The complaint Prelude referred to various leftist groups as "terrorists." Union Home In February 2016, tenstudents of the Jawahrlal Nehru Minister of the ruling BharatiyaJanata Party, University organized an event protesting the executions also a part of the SanghParivar, suggested that the event had of Afzal Guru and MaqboolBhat, and in support of "the been supported by the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba,and struggle of Kashmiri people for their democratic right to self- tweeted "If anyone shouts anti-India slogan and challenges determination". Afzal Guru was a Kashmiri nation's sovereignty and integrity while living in India, they separatist convicted of participating in the 2001 Parliament will not be tolerated or spared." He was reported to have attack: his execution in 2013 had drawn criticism for being reacted following an alert by the Party's Member of Parliament carried out in secret. MaqboolBhat, also a Kashmiri separatist, MaheishGirri. The administration of JNU stated that the event was the co-founder of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, had been an act of indiscipline since permission for it had been and had been hanged in 1984. The event was planned to be withdrawn, and announced that it would hold a formal inquiry. held on 9 February. Posters advertising the event had invited Arrest of the Students people to attend a protest march against the "judicial killing of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhatt. The posters also mentioned an Four days after the initial event, the Delhi Police arrested exhibition of art and photographs about the history of the JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar on charges of sedition and occupation of Kashmir, and the struggles of its inhabitants. The criminal conspiracy under section 124 of the Indian Penal students organizing the event were members of the Democratic Code dating back to 1860. Five other students, , Students' Union (DSU). Anirban Bhattacharya, Rama Naga, Anant Prakash and Ashutosh Kumar, went into hiding after the arrest of Kanhaiya Members of nationalist student Kumar, and returned 10 days later. Umar Khalid and Anirban union AkhilBharatiyaVidyarthiParishad (ABVP) protested the Bhattacharya surrendered to the police and were taken into event, and wrote a letter to the Vice Chancellor of the custody. The other three students did not surrender but said University, asking him to prevent it. The University that they were open to questioning by police when needed. administration withdrew permission for the event a few hours before it was to be held. The registrar of the University said Freedom of Speech and Sedition Controversy that the request for permission that had been filed for the event In a democratic country the first requisite is that the citizens had not mentioned the name of Afzal Guru, for which he has must enjoy the freedom of speech and expression so that the withdrawn the permission given to them. nationals can without any fear express their opinion freely. The students held the event despite the withdrawal of Constitutionof India expressly provides this right and permission, citing their freedom of speech. Rather than holding guarantees to every citizen under Article 19(1) (a) that every

IJTRD | Mar - Apr 2018 Available [email protected] 159 International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, Volume 5(2), ISSN: 2394-9333 www.ijtrd.com citizen shall have a right of freedom of speech and expression The capitalists and their media have been taunting that JNU with certain restrictions. Citizens in India are free to criticise students are wasting tax payers‟ money by indulging in anti- their governments at the Centre or in the states which they do national activities, this is a clear evidence of the feudal mind- quite frequently, and boldly and fearlessly as well; because that set, and they want their tax money to be spent on “- after is what a participatory democracy is all about. studying, students becomes slave to what they say, and do what only pleases them (capitalists) and do what is right for them, Law of Sedition but in a democracy, this mentality is not only inhuman, but The law of sedition which has emerged from the decisions of also illogical”. the Privy Council during the pre-independence era is that a Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on Feb 12 under sedition simple statement or a speech which can excite “disaffection” charges. The Delhi Police wrote on Twitter that “Abetment of towards the Government.The maker of the speech or statement any kind of anti-national activity is a punishable offence”, isliable to be prosecuted under Sec 124A. No incitement to indicating that that‟s what Kanhaiya had done. Sections of the violence or insurrection is necessary. During the colonial media, particularly Times Now and , ran an period sedition was considered a black law and was used organised propaganda against Kanhaiya and JNU. The video extensively against the leaders of the freedom movement for clips these channels aired showed Kanhaiya taking part in the purpose of suppressing the Indian voice. Gandhi, Tilak and demonstrations in which students give anti-India and pro- many other leaders were put behind bars for many years under Pakistan slogans. ArnabGoswami went berserk in his studio. this law. Mohandas Pai, ChetanBhagat, Jude Anthany Joseph and many No democratic government can afford to charge people with of their likes expressed concerns about tax payers‟ money sedition and put them behind bars for saying things which they being spent on JNU. Swapan Das Gupta tweeted the video. have the freedom to say. So the offence of sedition has no Sanghbhakts called for hanging Kanhaiya and shutting down place in a democracy. That is why the British repealed it in JNU. their own country even though they had brought in the toughest On February 14, Union Home Minister said the protesting variety of sedition when they ruled India. But democratic India students in JNU had the support of LeT chief Hafiz Saeed. even with all its bitter experience of the operation of this law Apparently, Singh‟s claim was based on a tweet by a fake by the colonial government retained it and used it liberally Hafiz Saeed account. Delhi Police swung into action. Warned against its people taking refuge under a Supreme Court against leT‟s support for students. After it emerged that the decision validating it. minister‟s claim was based on the tweet, he tried to salvage The right to dissent does not come under the definition of himself saying he had inteligance reports. On Feb 15, Lawyer sedition. The students in JNU did not say anything which was thugs attack JNU teachers, students and journalists at Patiala prejudicial to the national interest but they raise their voice Court House. Several of them were caught on camera against the injustice which the common man faces everyday unleashing violence. A BJP MLA, the former private secretary and the irony is that the speech made by the student leader was of ArunJaitley, was telecast by channels beating up a man in termed as full of seditious content and he was finally put front of the court house. Delhi Police did nothing. behind bars without having a prime facie evidence against him. Commissioner Bassi shrugged the incident off. It is very much critical for a democratic state to suppress the Two days later, the same thugs ran amok at the same place. voice of its populace by justifying that it is detrimental to its They smashed up Kanhaiya under the watch of police. The national interest. The recent incident spreads like a wild fire special delegation of lawyers sent by the Supreme Court to and the intellectual class came forward and justified the stand investigate the violence were verbally abused. Later the video taken by the students in the campus. of Kanhaiya describing the incident in tears surfaced (which The arrest and the use of the sedition law were heavily would shake anyone who has conscience). On the same day, criticized as being a suppression of political dissent. The law Commissioner Bassi said Delhi Police would not oppose that Kumar was arrested under had been enacted in 1870, and Kanhaiya‟s bail. used by the British Raj to suppress the Indian independence On February 19, Swapandas Gupta, the pro-BJP journalist, movement: it was upheld only rarely in Indian tweeted that there‟s a part of video clip he tweeted “may be courts. University teachers criticized the arrest as being an dodgy”. His tweet came only after the original video of "excessive police action". JNU students formed a human chain, Kanhaiya giving slogans such as „manuvad-se azadi‟ emerged. demanding that sedition charges against Kanhaiya Kumar be A few days later, a Zee News journalist quit over what he said dropped. Human rights organization Amnesty India said the biased coverage of JNU protests by the channel. He says Kumar‟s arrest and the charges against him were “uncalled none of the video clips he and his crew shot had „Pakistan for” and “India's sedition law contrary to international zindabad‟ slogans. standards on freedom of expression must be repealed. The Patiala thugs were arrested after more evidences surfaced Media Trail: JNU Row-Govt, Police, BJP, Media, All Stand against their brutalities. In an India Today sting, one of them Exposed bragged about beating Kanhaiya. They were arrested, but given The arrest of student union president and other students has bail within minutes. Umar Khalid and other JNU students taken place without proper enquiry of alleged anti-India and surrendered to police were sent to judicial custody. Delhi pro-Pakistan sloganeering and this action depicts foolishness of Police took a U-turn, saying they would now oppose both the government and the police. From the YouTube videos Kanhaiya‟s bail. “We have reasonable apprehension that if he it can be clearly concluded that it was members of [Kanhaiya] comes out on bail, he is bound to impact the AkhilBharatiyaVidyarthiParishad (ABVP) members who were investigation and influence witnesses. He is also likely to involved in sloganeering, but police and media have purposely indulge in activities that are violative of penal laws,” said neglected this angle and are trying to depict it from a different Bassi. point of view.

IJTRD | Mar - Apr 2018 Available [email protected] 160 International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, Volume 5(2), ISSN: 2394-9333 www.ijtrd.com While hearing Kanhaiya‟s bail plea, Delhi Police told the high anti national slogans. On YouTube, the programmes are billed court that there‟s no video evidence showing him raising anti- thus: MUST WATCH!! Anti India event organiser of JNU India slogans. But maintained that they have eyewitnesses ripped apart by Zee News Anchor RohitSardana!! On the 11th (ABVP members?) A forensic investigation ordered by the the channel was asking the Press Club of India president why Delhi government found that two videos of the controversial he had allowed the premises of the club to be used for a JNU event, taken as evidence against students charged with meeting by SAR Geelani and not filed a written complaint sedition, were doctored. Words in the videos that are seen to against Geelani for the way the meeting went. The same day on incite violence have been spliced, says the forensic lab report. an edition of TaalThokKeSardana was upbraiding the BJP spokesperson on his show: SambitPatra you kept saying On March 2, 19 days after Kanhaiya was arrested–19 long days deshdrohihaibut your government did not take any suomoto during which he was abused, imprisoned and, of course, action against these sloganeering students, why not? He goes mentally tortured–the Delhi High Court gives him interim bail, on to jibe, “The same day Lance NayakHanumanthappa dies along with a Bollywood song on patriotism, and asked him to the government that boasts of a 56 inch chest does nothing?” stay away from “anti-national” activities. He gets so aggressive that he puts SambitPatra on the How Zee TV fuelled state action against JNU students defensive. At one point JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar tells Sardana, „TRP Here is what the FIR says: At 7.30 pm on the evening of keliyepuradeshkamoholkharabkarraheinhai”. (You are February 9 a call was received by the PCR to report that two destroying the peace of the country for the sake of TRPs.) He groups had clashed near the Sabarmati Dhabha and the is told to listen, while the slogans that have been telecast many situation was deteriorating. A police team set out and found times over on this channel are repeated for him to hear.Zee two groups approaching Ganga Dhabha and shouting slogans. TV‟s programmes amounted to incitement against the students The FIR says the local police and JNU security staff of JNU. On February 19 when Ravish Kumar of NDTV maintained distance between them, and media persons were conducted a programme registering his objection to the way also present. By about 8.30 the groups dispersed and went their TV anchors were behaving, a long extract played without the way still shouting slogans. On February 10 the police came to visuals was from a harangue by RohitSardana, using the words know that Zee TV had telecast a programme which showed deshdrohi. that the students had been chanting anti-national slogans. The FIR says the police requested footage from Zee TV and a CD Twitter is our weapon’: JNU students are fighting hashtag given to them showed them the kind of slogans which were wars being shouted, including Pakistan Zindabad. The slogans are They're taking their battle online. Almost 24 hours after six further described and then an FIR registered on the basis of the Jawaharlal Nehru University students facing charges of offences recorded. sedition made a dramatic reappearance on campus, students‟ The short point is that the police were present when the groups union vice president made a speech in which were clashing and shouting slogans, they stayed on the campus she urged her colleagues to take their agitation into cyberspace. until the two sidesdispersed, and they saw no reason to register “[We must] use our and Twitter profiles as weapons any complaint on the basis of the slogan shouting they heard. It against the demonisation of JNU students and spread correct is the Zee video which gave them actionable evidence. information,” she said. “The false narrative in the media‟svoyeuristic coverage of incidents here needs to be Reporter or anchor, from February 10 onwards the countered with facts and sense.”It's clear that the media programming was heavily judgmental. On a Feb 10 AajKa coverage of the protests have given the students a lot to Special the slogan shouting is replayed and Pavan Nara of Zee complain about. Much of the police case against JNU students‟ News intones, how long should we tolerate this? An ABVP union president Kanhaiya Kumar for allegedly shouting anti- student activist gets time to have her full say on the anti national slogans at an event about Kashmir on February 9 rests nationalbehavior of the slogan shouters. On another on video footage shot by Zee News. But that footage, it has programme the same day anchor SudhirChaudhury harangues emerged, has probably been doctored. Some television viewers about the amount of money spent on JNU students by channels have attempted to portray Umar Khalid, another JNU the government, and invokes the sacrifice of Lance student involved in the Kashmir event, as an Islamist terrorist. NaikHanumanthappa. He goes on to talk about the bill France This has contributed a great deal of misinformation circulating has passed taking away the citizenship of those indulging in about the protests and the nature of JNU itself, students say. terrorism. Chaudhury of Zee and ArnabGoswami of Times The only way to counter this, they believe, is to join the war of Now curiously have the same points of attack against the perceptions themselves. Students and supporters started using students, and both channels repeated these every day. That they #StandWithJNU mostly along with the ones that neutral media are getting an education heavily subsidized by the tax payer, channels are using like #JNURow and #JNUcrackdown.” As and this subsidy is feeding anti-national activities. And that at a students and sympathisers unite, many Facebook pages and time when Lance NaikHanumathappa was fighting for his life Twitter handles that are sharing information on broader themes here were these students making a mockery of his sacrifice by have cropped up. Among these are @Zinda_Democracy, supporting those convicted for terrorism such as Afzal Guru. @NotYetSilenced and @Armoured_Buddha. Sardana and Zee anchor Sudhir Chaudhary between them PoliceAction conducted two to three shows on the JNU agitiation every day on the 10th, 11th and 13th that are archived on YouTube. The On February 11, the police filed charges of sedition and first conducted inquisitions, telling student leader Umar Khalid criminal conspiracy against “unknown persons”. This was after nastily at one point, when he asked a question, you are not here BJP MPfrom East Delhi, MaheishGirri, gave police to ask me questions, and you are here to answer my questions. commissioner B.S. Bassi, home minister Rajnath Singh and human resource development minister SmritiIrani a written On the 10th Zee news was asking the Vice Chancellor of JNU complaint on the “anti-constitutional and anti-national whether he would take action against those who had shouted elements” in JNU, seeking their intervention. Video footage of IJTRD | Mar - Apr 2018 Available [email protected] 161 International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, Volume 5(2), ISSN: 2394-9333 www.ijtrd.com the original event (taken by private sources) was examined by ‟NaxaliyonkaKabarKhudega JNU keDhartiPe‟, (The Graves of the police as a part of the investigation. On Friday, the Union Naxalites will be dug on JNU‟s soil), „Jo Afzal kiBaatKarega, home minister, Rajnath Singh, also said he had ordered the Woh Afzal kiMautMarega‟(He who talks about Afzal Guru police to take “strong action” against the “anti-India elements.” will die his death) and „DeshHaiPukarta, PukartiMaaBharati, Khoon se TilakKaro, Goliyon Se Aarti‟ (The Country is How the police settled on Kumar is not clear. In a video Calling, Mother India is Calling, Anoint Yourselves with recording of Kumar addressing students soon after the Blood, And Worship with Bullets). controversial program was stopped, the JNUSU president can clearly be heard condemning those who raised divisive In a remarkable demonstration of inter-generational solidarity, slogans. The bulk of the speech is a blistering attack on the the students of JNU have found their strongest allies amongst BJP and RSS, with Kumar accusing the Hindutva forces of their teachers. On the evening of 13th February, a chain of being “anti-national”. professors formed a protective cordon between their patient, impeccably disciplined JNU students and the unruly circus of The JNU administration also announced that a three-member ABVP thugs. The JNU administration played its comic part, proctorial committee would be looking into these events, with appearing briefly, at the beginning of the programme, to two weeks to submit their report. The committee comprises disconnect the microphone.Undeterred, a student produced a RakeshBhatnagar, HimadriBohidar and Suman Kumar Dhar. battery operated microphone connected to a portable amplifier. On Friday, Kanhaiya and other students were picked up by Both devices had seen better days. And the voice they rendered plainclothes policemen from inside the JNU campus. While the was tinny, barely audible. And yet, the thousands of students others were taken for interrogation, sedition charges were gathered to listen gave everyone a patient hearing, alternating slapped against Kanhaiya and he was arrested. Later in the between what teaches in Indian class rooms like to call „pin evening, JNU issued a press release stating that 8 students have drop silence‟ (a much valued commodity in our noisy land) and been debarred from academic activities during the period of the regular bouts of wild, exultant, celebratory cheering, or cries of enquiry, based on the enquiry committee‟s recommendations. „shame‟ when a speaker pointed out a particular foible of the The university administration also gave the police freedom to government or the university administration, or when the operate within the campus “as and when they deem fit”, ABVP got a little too noisy for their own good. thereby giving up the immunity that universities have from police entry without invitation. This was used by the police to As is usual in these cases, the Television Crews had more time raid the hostel rooms of students they were suspicious of. The and energy at their disposal for Prince Charming and his deans of four schools including Social Sciences, Languages, retinue than they had for the remarkable sight of thousands of International Studies and Arts and Aesthetics have sent a letter peaceful students assembled to express their anger. Nothing to the VC asking him toretract this blanket permission will change the ways of paid for TV. But that is another sad immediately. story.The next day, it is witnessed a press conference at JNU at four in the afternoon, addressed by JNUTA (JNU Teachers Arrest of kanhaiyakumar Association) office bearers, and representatives of the Kanhaiya Kumar's arrest soon snowballed into a major Federation of Cullege and University Teachers Associations political controversy and has drawn sharp reactions from (FEDCUTA), Teachers Association (DUTA) opposition parties, teachers, students and academics. Students and the Ambedkar University of Delhi Teachers Association at Jawaharlal Nehru University went on strike over Kanhaiya (AUDTA). Each speaker talked about the increasing incidence Kumar's arrest, effectively paralyzing the University. Kanhaiya of assaults on university autonomy in the BJP regime, attacks Kumar's parents have stated that their son was being victimized on students and teachers. Once again, a majority of TV for his opposition to Hindutva politics. When Kumar was correspondents interrogated the teachers speaking to them as if brought to the Patiala House court on 15 February 2016, JNU they were intelligence bureau operatives or special branch students and professors, as well as journalists, were attacked by officials a group of lawyers. BJP MLA O.P. Sharma was also involved At around five pm, the assembly dispersed, to gather again and in the assault, although he later denied the charge. On 17 take the form of what was described as massive human chain, February, Kumar was once again assaulted by some lawyers (perhaps one should stop calling such gatherings „chains‟ and inside the Patiala House court. On 22 February 2016, India call them human garlands instead), so lets say, a human Today broadcast a video in which three lawyers of the Patiala garland, that stretched several kilometers long from „Ganga House court claimed that they had beaten Kanhaiya Kumar Dhaba‟ (not far from the JNU main gate) to Chandrabhaga while the latter was in police custody. A six-member Supreme Hostel (deep within the interiors of the campus). This alive, Court-appointed panel later confirmed that the policemen ebullient thread of people, mainly young, some older (alumni, present at the Court were responsible for the security lapses, teachers, friends), was like a river in spate. and further stating that police allowed 2 persons to enter the court room, and continued to let the assault take place, in direct Then the gentle, exhausted but firm voice of Shehla Rashid violation of the SC direction on Kanhaiya's safety. Shora, the Vice President of JNUSU found a way of reaching way into the back of the crowd. She spoke of what it means to Public Meeting, JNU, 13th February be in an inclusive, open, public university and why that is so On the evening of the 13th of February, there was a massive terrifying to the regime in power. She spoke of the university public meeting in front of the administration block in JNU. as a space of dissent, of the celebration of doubt and thought. This was addressed by several political personalities, D. Raja She spoke of the way in which the BJP government seems of the CPI, SitaramYechuri of the CPI (M), Kavita Krishnan paranoid about the young and their spaces. She spoke of the (former JNUSU president and from the CPI-ML-Liberation), defamation, the lies, that are being peddled by the government Anand Sharma, Ajay Maken and Rahul Gandhi of the and sections of the media about students everywhere. She Congress. Meanwhile, at one margin of the immense crowd, a spoke of the desperate circumstances that drove RohithVemula token number of ABVP goons shouted themselves hoarse – to suicide because of an ABVP led witch hunt. She spoke at offering „peaceful‟ slogans such as – length about the „Occupy UGC‟, formed as a response to the IJTRD | Mar - Apr 2018 Available [email protected] 162 International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, Volume 5(2), ISSN: 2394-9333 www.ijtrd.com BJP regime‟s planned assault on democratic and equitable rights of the poor, or finding solutions to agrarian distress, or access to higher education. She spoke about how there an debating the inimical impact of neo-liberal economic policies, increasing intensity of discrimination is based on caste, our framework of debate has changed considerably since its religion, gender and sexual preferences. She spoke of the ascension to power. It has been reduced to engaging with intense desire that young people all over feel for freedom – subjects such as whether or not conversion to another religion azaadi – of freedom from patriarchy, from capital, from is legitimate, whether it is justified to re-convert Muslims and draconian laws like the AFSPA, from Khaps and Casteism and Christians, how consuming of beef hurts religious sentiments, from all forms of humiliation and indignity, She spoke, not and now, what is the meaning of anti-national and what makes once, but several times about „desh-prem„, about what it means you one. to love a land and the many kinds of people who inhabit it, and TheBrahmanical Depredations of Higher Education how that was different from the hatred that the regime purveyed through what it defined as nationalism. She declared The failures of Left Unity in fighting against fascism have that the students have resolved not to co-operate with the stemmed from their inability or unwillingness to confront the inquiry committee set up by the University Administration on Brahmanical nature of fascism. In an article on Round Table the incidents of February 9th because it has shown its biases by India, NidhinShobhana has historicised the persistence of caste having already declared a number of students „guilty‟ and has in JNU. The conclusion of his thoroughly researched suspended their academic rights and privileges even before an arguments is that the „politics of deprivation points and investigation has had a chance to begin. reservations in admission were dormant and crippled with problems until the 1990s (marked by Mandal agitations)‟. This A Program of Minimum Unityand Maximum Solidarity flies in the face of leftist nostalgia for JNU as a campus which Kanhaiya spoke about a „program of minimum unity‟ that has always championed social inclusion. The contradiction could bring together all those united by their revulsion of the between an aspiration for inclusiveness and the continuity of RSS agenda. One picture of such a coalition is clear – it brings Brahmanical hegemony - a contradiction ignored by the Left - together the mainstream parliamentary left, the Congress, the is explained by G. Aloysius in his essay. The Brahminical Non-Congress regional forces, sections of the non- Inscribed in the Body Politic. The brahmanicalhas come to parliamentary left, some ultra-left groups and civil society stand for the very embodiment of the discriminatoryexclusivist organizations. This is a picture of a coalition that could easily amongst groups and individuals in the modern context. This is unseat the BJP regime in India. And in all likelihood, this the substantialdecisive of contemporary India. The ideational picture will take shape in the near future. It is taking shape basis on the other hand of the institutionalformal is inclusive- because the BJP regime, with its incompetence, its violence egalitarian as expressed in the prescription of „rule of law‟. The and its stupidity is actually helping it take shape. This would be Brahmanical constitutes the dominant human agency, also the „Azadi in India‟ camp. manning the formal-institutional, the coalescence of the two could only be captured as the substantial being merely The current situation in JNU makes this possible in a constrained by the formal. With the kind of grip that the refreshingly pragmatic sort of way. Everyone knows that Brahmanical has over the formal - institutional here, it is no between Kanhaiya, and his friends – Umar, Anirban, Asutosh, wonder that the latter has been systematically sabotaged, Rama Naga, and Ananth, and Shehla, within and between emptied out from within, to end up as a mere legitimating different organizations and tendencies within the broadly device of the dominant.If the struggle against fascism is to be democratic Left and Dalit groups, (drawing on different translated into the emancipation of those who havebeen Marxisms and Ambedkarite traditions) on campus (AISA, historically marginalised and excluded, then it cannot maintain BAPSA, ex-DSU, DSF, AISF and other independent a conspiratorial silence towards the Brahmanical nature of formations), there are many differences about what „in‟ and academia. The struggle against Brahmanical fascism cannot „from‟ mean – but there is a broad, working understanding of content itself with compromises on the ideal of social justice. what „Azadi‟ itself is all about. And here the broad contours of The problem of social exclusion cannot be externalized to an open ended, anti-caste, class and gender sensitive, simply the current BJP regime. democratic socialism is what seems to be on offer. This is what was expressed with great depth and clarity by Kanhaiya GrantedBail Kumar, with nods in the direction of , Ambedkar On 2 March 2016, Kumar was granted interim bail for 6 and Marx, in his „ghar-wapsi‟ speech. months by the Delhi High Court, conditional on a 10,000 rupee SanghParivarAgenda bail bond and an undertaking that he would not "participate in any anti-national activity." Justice Pratibha Rani noted that There has been a flurry of analyses attempting to explain why there were no recordings of Kumar participating in anti- the Sangh and the central government decided to turn the national slogans. Going beyond the immediate issue, the judge incident of alleged shouting of slogans at JNU in support of also held that the alleged slogans threaten national integrity Afzal Guru into a full-blown crisis. It has been said the Sangh and cannot be considered as free speech. She characterized wanted to overcome the setback it suffered on account of the them as a form of "infection," which can either be treated or, in suicide of RohithVemula, more so in the eyes of Dalits. That it some cases, "amputation is the only treatment." A separate wants to tar the Left as anti-national and dampen its chances in magisterial investigation appointed by the Delhi Government the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal and Kerala. did not find any evidence of Kanhaiya Kumar participating in Most analyses assume that the Sangh‟s strategy, as is true of all anti-national slogans. The raw video footage of the political formations, is solely guided by electoral calculations. controversial event obtained from a TV channel on a CD, But this is precisely where the Sangh differs from others. It based on which a sedition case was registered against JNUSU undoubtedly values political power, but its acquisition is aimed president Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban at changing the popular discourse in the country and ensuring Bhattacharya, was found genuine by the CBI forensic lab. its worldview becomes India‟s as well.From this perspective, the Sangh has succeeded to an extent. From championing the After the Bail

IJTRD | Mar - Apr 2018 Available [email protected] 163 International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, Volume 5(2), ISSN: 2394-9333 www.ijtrd.com Kumar, a PhD student at the prestigious university, was Brahmanism, from c asterism, this is the kind of azadi that we released from the prison at 6.30 pm and accorded a spirited want.” He also spoke to the students about his time in jail. welcome by a group of students and teachers on being handed “When I spent time in jail, I realised that the constable who over to them. Jubilation at the university campus – which was taking me for medical tests, for food, they are also people erupted after Kumar was granted bail yesterday by the Delhi like me. They are also a part of the corrupt system. When I High Court – acquired a new momentum with the students, tried to explain to them my views, they understood what is the agitating since his arrest, taking out a march shouting slogans kind of azadi that we have been demanding.” Mr.Kumar came like “Jai Kanhaiyalalki” (“Long live Kanhaiya”). Umar and to the JNUcampus after meeting some leaders‟ at the CPI Anirban surrendered to the police on the night of February 24 office. He will also address a press conference along with the and were subsequently arrested in connection with the sedition senior party leaders on Friday. charge. The police have also questioned Ashutosh Kumar, Four reasons why the JNU agitationisworld’s apart another JNU student, twice. The agitation sparked by the government‟s heavy-handed On 3 March 2016, Kanhaiya Kumar gave a speech to a packed interference in Jawaharlal Nehru University has seemed worlds auditorium in the JNU campus, during which he said he was apart in four reasons they are. seeking, not freedom from India, but freedom within India. He appealed to his fellow students to free the nation from the 1. Gender politics: look at any photograph of the agitations clutches of the RashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh, which, he stated, against government interference in JNU, and you will see large was trying to divide the nation. Referring to the ABVP (right numbers of both men and women. Contrary to the received wing student organization), whose members were instrumental wisdom that women don‟t have public presence, these in bringing about his arrest, he called them his "opposition", photographs demonstrate that women can and will come out in not his enemy. He urged his supporters to keep raising the droves to agitate for the rights of the persecuted. slogans of azadi (freedom). The speech won accolades from the leaders of non-BJP parties as well as independent 2. Violence: The agitations against the arrests for sedition in JNU have remained completely non-violent. Slogans, songs, commentators. ShashiTharoor commented that it turned Kumar posters and strong presence have spoken volumes for the into a "nationwide political star," and congratulated BJP for politics of these agitators. creating his phenomenon. 3. Structural analysis: The JNU agitation has, from the We want freedom in India, not freedom from India beginning, offered a structural analysis of the violence Addressing a huge gathering of students on the campus, soon experienced across marginalised communities in the country. after release from TiharJail, Mr.Kumarsaid:“It is not azadi In response to the arrests for sedition, the JNU faculty has been from India, it is azadi in India [we want]from the corrupt giving lectures on the question of nationalism. Issues of critical practices that are going on inside the country.” Mr.Kumar thinking have been at the forefront as a way of countering state made his fiery speech at the same place where he had and majoritarian violence. What can we learn from what has addressed students just a day before his arrest. happened, and how can we start thinking about it? These questions have been framing the JNU protests. So even as the "Attack on JNUplanned" In his “home-coming” speech, arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar, the JNUSU president, catalysed the Mr.Kumar said that the university and its students were protest, the protest itself is about oppressions faced by targeted because they took onthe government through Occupy minorities around the country – women, Muslims, Dalits, UGC movement and demanded justice for Hyderabad Maoists, Kashmiris, Christians, students, thinkers, those who University student RohithVemula. “The attack on JNU is a dare to dissent. planned one as they want to de-legitimise the UGC protest, and to dilute the fight for justice for RohithVemula,” he said, amid 4. Universalism: This emphasis on a structural analysis versus loud cheers. He started his one-hour long address by thanking narrow parochialism stands. The JNU protests have incessantly everyone who supported him and the university during the reached out across borders. Just look at the speech of Kanhaiya crisis, before targeting the government. “I come from a village, Kumar delivered on February 11: where there are magic shows. People show magic and sell rings that fulfil all wishes...We have some people like that in “On behalf of JNU, I want to challenge RSS ideologues. Call our country, who say black money will come back, us and hold a debate. We want to debate the concept of violence. We want to raise questions about the frenzied sabkasaathsabkavikas (developmentfor all),” he said. ABVP‟s slogans, their slogan that they will do tilak with blood "Government does nottake kindly to criticism" Jawaharlal and aarti with bullets. Whose blood do they want to spill? They Nehru University Students‟ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar aligned with the British and fired bullets on the freedom said on Thursday that the BJP government did not take kindly to any criticism of its functioning orideology. Addressing a fighters of this country. They fired bullets when poor people huge gathering of students onthe campus, soon after his release demanded bread; they fired bullets when people dying of hunger talked about their rights; they have fired bullets on from Tihar Jail oninterim bail, Mr.Kumar said:“ We Indians Muslims; they have fired bullets on women when they demand forget easily but the drama this time was so big that we still equal rights.They say that five fingers are not equal. They remember all the „Jumla‟ used during election campaign. If advocate that women should emulate Sita and give you speak against the government, their cyber cell will send your doctored videos and count the number of condoms in your agnipariksha. There is democracy in this country, and hostel; 69 per cent people of this country voted against their democracy gives equal rights to all – be it a student, a worker, the poor or the rich, Ambani or Adani. And when we talk about ideology. Only 31 per cent are those who were fooled by equal rights of women, they accuse us of destroying Indian their„Jumlebaazi‟.” “Azadi from brahminism, culture.”The JNU protest speaks to a kind of universalism in azadifromcasteism" Further explaining the term “azadi”that is often used by JNU students during their speeches, which the struggle of one is the struggle of all because it is the Mr.Kumarsaid:“I want to tell the entire nation, today, what the struggle of freedom for all. If one person is persecuted for sedition, then we are all potentially at risk. If one of us is not azadi that we ask for is. We want azadi from capitalism, from IJTRD | Mar - Apr 2018 Available [email protected] 164 International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, Volume 5(2), ISSN: 2394-9333 www.ijtrd.com allowed to study, then we are all plunged into ignorance. If one neglected. The influence of the dominant political parties to of us is raped, then we have all been violated. Kanhaiya Kumar spread their ideologies and activites upon student must be speaks of these struggles within a history of struggle. Such is brought under control. Else, Indian youth in the future may be the universalism of the JNU protests. face socio political distraction. CONCLUSION References This paper presented the details about JNU student movement, [1] RomilaThapar's Lecture On "The Nation and History: the challenges met by student organization, the involevemnt of Then and Now" In JNU Protest, India Resists – 7.3. 2016. non student political organisations in the campus activities, the [2] Feeling Seditious‟: March on Parliament to #Stand with strategy followed by administration, political organization and JNU, ShuddhabrataSengupta, Kafila- 03.03.2016. student communities. The difference between earlier social [3] Caste, sedition, oppression: JNU round-up by AmanSethi, movements and modern social movemnts is marked by the Kafila-26.02.2016. influence and impact of social media. Young people more [4] Democratic Ethos of the University under Threat: JNU specifically higher education students make use of social Teachers‟ Association NiveditaMenon, Kafila- media technology to spread the information and share it with 13.02.2016. no wastage of time. Hence, inspite of many challenges student [5] Freedom of speech: why does it matter? Ashutoshshakta, bodies oprated more efficiently than before. However social India Resists, 19, 2, 2016. media also responsible for for the clashes within the student [6] How much anti-national you are?, Campus Journo, The communitues. Eventhough political interventions made use of Companion, 21.2. 2016. it. Whether social media could be channalised for the [7] How Zee TV fuelled state action against JNU students, betterment of the society is remain a question mark. Slogans The Hoot, 21.02.2016. are passed through social media, videos are shared, political [8] JNU and The Brahminical Counter- Revolution: „Jai knowledge profoundly reached students. To sum up, the Bhim‟ thunder on the Campus Frightens the RSS-India second decade of the 21st century unleashed the use of social Resists-8.3.2016. media for knowledge making, commersalisation, detaching [9] JNU Row: Seven Lessons for Democracy-Loving from the clutches of the facist forces using the freedom of Indians-India Resists- March 5, 2016. speech and other human rights.The impact of social media has [10] Kanhaiya Gets Bail, Judge Compares Alleged „Anti- its ramification on youth movemnts even though its negative Nationalism‟ to 'Infection', 'Gangrene' - - effects on psychological and social aspects of youth could be 2.03.2016.

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