JNU Has Always Been a Patriotic Institution, No Need to Prove It

Mr Jagdish Kumar, impart knowledge like the guru you are, don’t eulogise weapons by installing a tank at JNU.

By calling for installation of a tank at JNU campus, VC Jagdish Kumar is backing away from the role of an ideal guru.

(Photo: Rhythum Seth/The Quint)

Who would ever have thought that an august institution like the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) would one day have a Vice Chancellor who has argued in favour of installing a tank on campus? Thousands of people, who have studied there like me, cannot fathom the recent turn of events.

News about an army tank being installed at JNU was like a surreal nightmare for me. JNU VC Jagdish Kumar was quoted as saying that a tank would help foster a feeling of patriotism among the students.

Former Army chief and BJP MP General VK Singh, currently serving as the Union Minister of State for External Affairs, accompanied the VC when he made this statement.

It might seem that the VC was trying to impress the retired Army chief; or perhaps it was a slip of the tongue. Had the VC come prepared to make such a statement? The VC perhaps thought that this was the best way to close the chapter on the controversy that the campus had been mired in last year.

JNU Hit by Controversy

Liberalism and leftist ideology have been synonymous with JNU. This is an institution that is known for its intellectual ability, not just in India but on a global level.

It is said that thoughts that originate in JNU will be echoed elsewhere a few years later. In 2016, JNU was in the headlines for all sorts of reasons, with many mocking its intellectual ability. Questions were raised about the very existence of such an institution.

Most importantly, it was alleged that JNU has emerged a fertile ground for ‘anti-national’ elements. Such incidents are unbelievable, shocking, and cause anxiety.

Kanhaiya Kumar speaking at JNU on 3 March 2016. (Photo: PTI)

College Life in the 80s

I remember when I was at JNU in the early 80s. There was no ragging back then, and no discrimination against junior scholars. All of us were encouraged to call our professors by their first names. There were hardly any incidents, if at all, of eve-teasing within the campus.

After a hard day’s work at the library, female students could go to their hostels through deserted roads without any fear. There were no walls between men and women – they were all equal. There was a healthy academic atmosphere that prevailed at the campus. One could approach a professor any time to ask questions or engage in debate. The student-teacher relationship was one of equals. Debate, the lively exchange of ideas, was a cherished tradition.

At the dhabas inside the campus, we would sit around and discuss turmoil in Nicaragua or Mexico for hours on end. Respected scholars from all over the world would experience trepidation at the prospect of being grilled by JNU students.

There was an emphasis on ahimsa. All debate and discussion would be conducted with civility. Those who used to engage in fisticuffs or violent behaviour were boycotted socially.

Cultural Ethos of JNU

Once, a bunch of new male students picked up a fight at the Periyar hostel. One student was injured in the tussle. Later that evening, a meeting was called in the mess. Everyone unanimously condemned the incident. A resolution was passed that the group of boys responsible for the incident would be boycotted socially. As a result of the ensuing isolation, the boys soon left the university.

On another occasion, there were reports from the Kaveri hostel about two male students eve-teasing a female student. Another meeting was held in the mess. Another round of social boycott followed. As long as those boys stayed at the campus, no one ever mingled with them. Others also got the message. So there was neither retaliatory violence nor use of invectives. This was the Gandhian way of finding solutions.

I remember another time when a boy had brutally beaten up a dog at Sutlej hotel. The dog was given medical attention and the students made the boy apologise to the dog. The incident made the rounds outside the campus as yet another example of JNU’s wackiness and caused much amusement. However, it simply shows that JNU doesn’t discriminate between man and animal and endorses the right to a peaceful life for all.

Students from metropolitan cities like Kolkata and Mumbai or states like Odisha and Bihar, they are all equal because JNU values talent above all.

Students agitating during protests at JNU in March 2016.  (Photo: PTI)

When the Spirit of Communism Was Shaken

Communism had a dominating influence across the campus. But after the Tiananmen Square incident of 1989 in China, when tanks crushed student protesters to death, JNU was mired in sorrow and anger. When the SFI tried to justify the Chinese government’s action, this anger boiled over. The foundation stone of communism was jolted for sure. A group, named ‘Solidarity’, was formed that year. It won the student union polls by a huge margin.

While several of the scholars were communists at heart, liberalism was still dominant in the campus. There was no space for narrow-mindedness as reason would always prevail. This is why Stalinism was roundly condemned as much as Hindutvaad.

Kashmir was also the subject of spirited discussion. Everyone had a right to voice their opinion, provided they didn't violate the spirit of the Constitution. There was no space for superficial nationalism. Radical communism was also shown the door if needed.

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JNU students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya were arrested on sedition charges for their speeches and subsequent protests on 9 Feb 2016.  (Photo: The Quint)

‘National’ vs ‘Anti-National’

This is why I couldn't believe my ears when TV news reports claimed that JNU students were shouting slogans in support of dividing India. The way TV channels reported the news and sullied the image of JNU raised many questions in my mind. It seemed like a mission to paint JNU as the hub of ‘anti-nationals’ – a place where only terrorists reside.

Youngsters like Kanhaiya Kumar were jailed and beaten up. It is surprising that the students who were purportedly raising anti-India slogans in the video were never caught. Given these facts, it is not surprising that some people smelled a conspiracy here.

In all my years at JNU, I came across all sorts of opinions. But it never appeared as though anti-national activities were being encouraged in the campus.

If JNU is forced to prove its patriotism to the rest of the country, it is a matter of great shame for all of us.

Reasoned, civil debate strengthens convictions and sharpens our thought processes. India has a long and proud tradition of scholarly debate and discussion.

The fact that JNU is being punished for not falling in line with the current political regime does not bode well for India. We should remember that we are the descendants of Yagnavalkya, Shankaracharya and Swami Vivekananda.

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Purpose of an Educational Institution

Under India’s gurukul tradition, the student-teacher relationship is special. The teacher is akin to god. This is immortalised in the saying, “Guru Goving Dau Khade, Kako Lago Paye; Balihari Guru Apne, Govind Diyo Bataye (When both the God and mentor are standing in front of me, who should I greet first? It should be your mentor, God replied)”.

In the modern world, the VC is equivalent to a guru. If the guru only creates obstacles then wouldn’t that be considered as a failure on their part as a teacher?

Mr Jagdish Kumar will have to understand that he is at fault here, and not the students of JNU. The university has always been a supporter of the nation and will continue to be so. It does not need to prove its nationalistic credentials.

If anyone needs to prove their patriotism, it is those who have never participated in the freedom movement and have mocked others. Tanks are a symbol of war and violence, not peace.

They don’t fit well for an educational institution in Gandhi's country. It is an insult to his legacy of ahimsa. Ultimately, it is books that motivate and inspire students. It is the legacy and works of great learned people that students need, not weapons of war. Mr Jagdish Kumar, you are a guru, so impart knowledge, don’t eulogise weapons.

Also Read: JNU VC Credits BJP’s UP Victory to Development, Gets Trolled

(The writer is an author and spokesperson of AAP. He can be reached at @ashutosh83B. This is an opinion piece and the views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for the same. This article was originally published on QuintHindi.)

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