The single largest public university in Rajasthan is famous for shaping student leaders into full fledged politicians. But behind the effigy burning, the sloganeering, the anshans and the shakti pradarshan, there’s a complex web of malpractices that cripples this system of student politics in Rajasthan University.
Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, Kalicharan Saraf, Rajendra Singh Rathore, Rajpal Singh Shekhawat, are some big and recognized names now in the sphere of politics in Rajasthan, but once, all of them had occupied some important position in the RUSU (Rajasthan University Student’s Union). It is important to note that in the year 2018, a total of 20 ex-RUSU members had contested assembly elections in the state, which proves that RU is a hotbed for student politics, and a perfect place to make your initial mark as a politician. Most of the students contesting for elections in the university are looking for an opportunity that could bring them in the limelight of political parties, in doing so, they sometimes have to opt for methods which some might argue are not ethically justifiable. Through this article, I have tried to find and analyze them.
Issues at hand
In a country like India, where casteism is a unique characteristic of politics and manages to influence the other almost every election, it is only unavoidable for student politics to be left untouched by this evil. Kunal Sharma, an ABVP Legal Convenor, is a fifth year law student who agrees that casteism is prevalent in the politics of RU, he also goes on to explain how it existed earlier too, and has just diversified over the period of time. In the current scenario, a candidate from the SC/ST community might get the support of the entire community, and to counter this effect the other student party might also field a candidate from the same community. But the majority of the people siding with a particular candidate usually belong to the same community as him.
Caste plays as important role in the Student politics of RU (Image credits: The emissary)
This has led to serious groupism in the varsity, which promotes a negative environment. What’s important to note here is the fact that such politics should be discouraged and effective debates and discussions on student’s issues should be the ground on which people support a party or a candidate, and not on the basis of caste or a community.
Laathis, hockey sticks, baseball bats and even desi kattas have been used in violent incidents time and again in the prestigious campus of the Rajasthan University. In 2018, NSUI’s presidential candidate Ranveer Sighania and NSUI’s state president, Abhimanyu Poonia were ambushed and attacked just before the elections in RU. Students of the varsity often tell tales of how there’s a ruckus every 2-3 days in the campus, most of them are even afraid to cast their vote when the time comes, amid fear of violence.
Violence is still prevalent in RU (Image credits: istock)
Election times in RU, is a distinct one. All one can see is overflowing vehicles running around the campus, mostly men. Crowding anyone they can ask for votes. Moreover this is a campus that's open to the public, so literally anyone and everyone is inside campus hurling slogans and distributing pamphlets with not so much chivalry. Walking around the campus at election times felt unsafe due to disproportionate gender involvement. - says Kumudini, a recent graduate in Biotechnology from the university.
In a political setting where fear of violence is sky high, there is usually a sharp decline in students wanting to engage in politics, and student politics where there is less than 50% participation of the students is not reflective of the issues at hand. Which is also the reason why many of the issues in the varsity go unheard and unresolved. Student politics shape the leaders for tomorrow and if they are shaped in the shadows of goons, the fate of the country lies in a state of despair.
Vote Buying is a process in which a candidate or a party distributes goods or provides favors or a service to the voter in exchange of their votes. This is not a new phenomenon, it has been prevalent in Indian Politics since a very long time. Kunal explains that in the Rajasthan University, political parties or candidates many times distribute movie tickets, chocolates, snacks, even alcohol to woo their voters in their favor. Some even take the students out on a sightseeing spree to Nahargarh or Amer in an attempt to win them over.
Votes are being bought in RU Image credits: idea.int
As soon as the election is approaching, student leaders can be seen distributing frootis, patties in the canteen. I have heard that the boys in the boys hostel also get free alcohol from some of these parties in exchange for a promise to support them in the elections. - says Kirti, a graduate from the Maharani College in RU.
What’s even worse about this nexus of vote buying is the fact that this system, which is heavily dependent on money, allows for only the well off candidates to pursue their political aspirations. While there are some leaders who emerge victorious entirely through their capabilities, the role of money in student politics gives an unfair advantage to those who have it in abundance.
Student politics is an important aspect of politics in India, specially in the case of universities such as RU, where most of the student leaders turn out to join mainstream politics of Rajasthan. If they are not shaped in the correct way, one can never expect the situation of mainstream politics to change anytime soon. While since the last few years, steps have been taken to counter these evils, they are not enough, and it has become the need of the hour to draft and implement proper rules and regulations to limit the use and extent of these malpractices.
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