University Spaces Are Meant for Students, Not RSS Shakhas

There is more to the recent violence in Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) campus than meets the eye. The university administration’s attempt to project the violence as a conflict between two student organisations is far from the truth

The conflict, in fact, is primarily between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and students of HPU’s Summer Hill campus. But, more than a conflict between two groups, it is a conflict between two interests -- of common students and of RSS.

The primary question is whether universities (or any education institution) belong to students or RSS; whether RSS activities have a place in educational institutions, whether RSS shakhas (drills) should be given priority or student activities.

The recent incidents also raise concerns about the role of the Vice-Chancellor and State Education Minister (the state has a BJP government) and their bias in favour of RSS, as also the implications of holding shakhas in educational institutions.

The ground (an open place) of Potters Hill, adjacent to the boys’ hostels of HPU campus, is normally used for activities ranging from morning walks to sports, to organising departmental picnics. The ownership of this ground may be with Himachal Forest Department but it is used as a common area by the university students.

In the past, several efforts have been made to organise RSS shakhas on this ground, but these failed in the absence of any support from common students. Recently, emboldened by a Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) government in power, RSS tried to organise a shakha on this ground, which led to its confrontation with common students and student leaders of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI).

There have been claims and counter-claims about who initiated the violence in HPU. While any kind of violence in educational institutions is condemnable and all stakeholders of the university should try to prevent such incidents, the student organisations have more of a responsibility to maintain peace on the campus and to promote an academic environment. But, when it comes to a communal organisation getting involved in such violence, then a greater responsibility lies with the university authorities.

It is well known that when an organisation tried to displace students from the ground, there was tension, which grew in the absence of any intervention from the administration. The situation became serious when an RSS person reportedly used muscle power against the protesting students.

First, that the violence took place was a clear-cut case of negligence and lack of responsibility on the part of the university authorities. Everyone knew that there has been tension in the campus between students and RSS pracharaks since the past few days. Why did the university did not intervene and prevent the violence? Or, was it a case of tacit consent by the authorities?

While some people have termed the university authorities as ‘pro-RSS’, some others do not find this allegation surprising, as the approach of the authorities after this incident seems to have proved this point. Basically, it was the responsibility of the VC to protect students from outsiders, as there is no statutory provision that indicates RSS as part of the university. Instead, the VC seemed more aligned to the Sangh, disappointing the entire university community. The state education minister met RSS activists in the hospital, but did not bother to utter a single word on the common students and SFI leaders who were injured and admitted in the same hospital. The

Chief Minister, too, gave statements directly in favour of the RSS activists and against SFI leaders.

In this whole episode, the basic question is, what were these RSS activists doing on the campus.? There is so space for communal forces in our educational campuses as they have never engaged any educational issue. When the RSS already has Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in the campus to take forward its agenda, what is the need for shakhas in education institutions? Our Constitution has declared educational institutions as secular.

It is ironical that politicians and university authorities always complain about the role of students in politics, which was one reason why the previous Congress government banned student union elections. This is being continued by the present BJP government. The university authorities and state government are hell-bent on curbing student activism in education institutions and are using all kinds of methods -- from general opinion mobilisation against student politics to introduction of undemocratic rules in campuses -- but at the same time, they are not only justifying RSS shakhas but also promoting these in campuses.

This incidence of violence in HPU raises a serious alarm for the education fraternity. A small example of how RSS shakhas can be used in campuses and society was evident the next day of the violence. Students said that over 100 RSS activists came in trucks to the boys’ hostel, marched in typical RSS fashion with bamboo sticks, raising communal slogans, pelting stones on hostels and threatening students. This is a horrible sight for any educational institution. However, common students should be appreciated for their efforts to restrain from violence and take this as an ideological fight. Unfortunately, this march by the RSS cadre was led by at least two university teachers.

The same evening, one of the ABVP activists was seen in the girls’ hostel, carrying a sharp-edged weapon, breaching all security measures. However, there are reports that the campus authorities “escorted this ABVP activist, who created fear among girl students, without even registering an FIR against him.” The same person was seen roaming freely in the campus the next day. This should give an answer to all those who are raising questions about who was responsible for violence in HPU campus? This incident is also a wake-up call for all progressive and peace-loving people as well as the academic community, to demand that the state government should ban any kind of RSS activity in educational institutions.

In this situation, one cannot but acknowledge the valiant struggle of HPU students to save their space in the campus. After this conflict, seven SFI leaders were booked under various sections and kept behind bars. At the same time, no action was taken against the attackers even after complaints by students who sustained serious injuries.

In HPU, all organisations have time and again raised issues related to students despite their political and ideological differences and have protected the university family and space as an arena for debate and discussion of ideas. This gradually built up a campus culture that has no place for the communal and divisive agenda of the RSS in universities or in any educational institutions, which is being resisted by students.

The writer is former All India General Secretary of Students’ Federation of India and now works with the All India Agricultural Workers Union.