The Indian Institute of Technology campus in Mumbai isn't exactly a place where you would expect to find much else discussed besides technical subjects, let alone staging a protest over some issue. But that might be changing now.
What's prompting change?
On Thursday, some students of this premier engineering and management centre marched in support of their counterparts at Jadavpur University, Kolkata, who were lathicharged and arrested for protesting against the alleged molestation of a student on campus a couple of days ago.
It's the most recent case that's catalyzed the students to talk their mind, something that wasn't heard of in the community of nearly 9,200 students and 570 professors and researchers. In the past, these 'super brains' have even been labeled as indifferent to socio-political issues.
What's bothering students?
However, the current lot of engineers have decided to break their silence on the otherwise ‘neutral’ campus.
On Sunday, this group of students organised a workshop, where activists Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand spearheaded a discussion on “The effect of religious fundamentalism on education”. The programme stretched for over three hours.
It was the outcome of a concern among some students over the polarization of people. The introduction of a book by Dinanath Batra – a known right-wing activist – in schools by the Gujarat government agitated them further.
Is there a focus?
“One cannot remain neutral in a situation where injustice is getting worse. There must be space for dialogue and discussion. This platform aims to make students politically sensitive and conscious,” said Rahul Maganti, a fourth year student of Metallurgical Engineering and Material Sciences.
The event was held under the banner of the “Progressive and Democratic Students Collective of IIT Bombay” that was set up barely a couple of months ago.
In July, the group organized a march to protest against atrocities in Gaza, the Boko Haram and even AFSA in Arunachal Pradesh. They also plan to take up issues affecting students and staff members.
Can they make a difference?
Arpita Phukan Biswas, a PhD student, explained: “India is a socialist, democratic state where every system seeks to provide equal opportunity to everyone. But in reality it is different. Through talks, discussions and protest marches we are engaging in politics in a positive way, with the aim of bringing about a change in the campus that is over-regulated and sanitized.”
While various students and staff hold a range of opinions on different issues, hardly anyone expressed them openly. Some are also associated with organisations from the right to the left. But political debate is discouraged.
“We need not be on the same page, but there should be some dialogue,” said a PhD student. “The issues concern the larger humanity and they need to be discussed. After all, important struggles and movements in the country and across the world have been spearheaded by students and they have made an impact on the social, cultural, economic and political situation.”
Do they face hindrances?
But getting permission for such programmes has not been easy. Initially, permission was denied for the protest on Gaza on the ground that it might send a wrong message to newcomers.
Even the debate on fundamentalism had to be organised through a different platform. In fact, some professors asked that those who are “anti-national” should not be invited.
The issues might suggest a left orientation, but students insist that the group is evolving. “We want radical, left, democratic, socialist opinion under this umbrella,” said Maganti.
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