Participation of students in political activities is old age phenomenon and has contributed immensely in the development and maturity of the Indian democracy. There has been a recent spurt in incidences of violence, strikes, protest movements in our educational institutions like Jawaharlal Nehru University, Film and Television Institute of India, Hyderabad University etc. albeit for different reasons.

To understand the need for politics in our institutions, the realities of society we live in need to be understood. Politics today, whether desirable or not, has become totalitarian in nature all around the world, varying only in terms of degree. It has become so pervasive that there exists no social institution that is not affected by politics or is devoid of internal politics.

Arguments in support of political activities in college:

1. If the goal of a university is not myopically defined to train students only in a particular subject, but is to prepare students for unforeseen and unimagined things that life has to offer, then politics is very important, as a part and parcel of college activities, for the overall development of an individual’s personality and character.
2. Politics is needed in institutions to produce better leaders instead of having leaders foisted upon us because of their money/muscle power, or by virtue of their lineage.
3. Democratic politics is not only about the ritual of elections, political canvassing etc. but refers to the dialectical environment of debate, discussion, dialogue and dissent in a peaceful setting.
4. It provides the voice for one of the most disadvantaged sections of the society.
5. It is very efficient tool to attract youth in national debate and train them to face the upcoming challenges of political and other purposes.
6. The Constitution guarantees all citizens with the following fundamental rights under Article 19 (1)(a) to freedom of speech and expression;(b) to assemble peaceably and without arms; (c) to form associations or unions.

 Argument against political activities in colleges:

1. Rather than an open forum for debate and idea exchange, Colleges have become proxy battlefields for political parties.
2. In many cases Students are forced to adopt “identity politics”.
3. Right not to practise politics lost in the pressure created by student groups and political parties.
4. In many cases the genuine debate is missing and the groups are mere extension of political parties.
5. Political affiliations among students may leads to violence and huge inefficiencies as well.

Way forward-

The interim order of the Supreme Court to implement the Lyngdoh committee recommendations on students’ union elections is widely accepted by the academic community. It of course was a setback to the vested interests that advocated for apolitical elections in colleges and universities. The six-member committee headed by the former election commission Sri. J.M. Lyngdoh, was appointed by the MHRD on the direction of the Supreme Court in December 2005. The spirit of the Lyngdoh committee report, which expressed strong observations about the need for organizational liberty and necessity of students’ union elections to the democratic bodies can be an eye opener to all those who are engaged in malicious campaign against campus politics. One of the important recommendations of Lyngdoh Committee is about the right of universities to decide the mode of elections. The Lyngdoh committee recommendations designed to streamline the election process are broadly welcomed in the academic domain. The committee not only entertained the argument that the academic excellence as an eligibility criteria for contesting in the elections but rejected even the High Court finding that allowed the education institutions to prohibit political activities within the college campus and forbid students from organizing or attending meetings other than the official ones within the college campus.

Currently, only a politics of disruption and destruction is practiced both in the national parliament and in college campuses. This adversely affects the legislative process and academics respectively.

The need of the hour is that the leaders of tomorrow must rise to the occasion and devise new and innovative ways of dissenting and protesting through their writings, movies, plays, songs, using the power of social media and the internet without disrupting the academic discipline of the institution. Also, they must not deprive others of their right to study in a peaceful environment.