4 days ago
Don't use intuition to promote political agenda: Students after Voice of Devendra row
Students at the Savitribai Phule Pune University have spoken out against the politicisation of academic spaces like Universities after a row over the 'Voice of Devendra' elocution contest row. A circular by the National Service Scheme at Pune University dated August 5 encouraged participation in the competition named after the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. After protests by groups like Congress student's wing National Students Union of India, the circular was revoked and the Director National Service Scheme of NSS at SPPU Sadanand Bhosale clarified that the event was not being organised by the university.
'Organising a speech competition under the banner 'Voice of Devendra' in a public university, inspired by the name of the sitting Chief Minister, risks turning an academic platform into a vehicle for political glorification, undermining the neutrality and inclusivity that higher education institutions are meant to uphold,' said Abhijeet Vaidye, a postgraduate student at the sociology department at the university.
Sandip Gaikwad, pursuing postgraduate Diploma in Interdisciplinary Studies at the Ranade Journalism Institute at SPPU, expressed similar sentiments: 'There is no opposition to organising a competition. But holding or supporting programs in the name of a person in power in a university is not a sign of an autonomous institution.'
He added, 'If such steps are taken, the way political parties are supported without any thought on the streets, the same will happen in the university. I fear that these decisions will not create multi-minded and independent-thinking scholars who strengthen the foundation of democracy here, but will create weak-minded slaves.'
Postgraduate Journalism student Jitendra Tele told The Indian Express, 'If you are going to push your political agenda through an academic institution then it is wrong. This is not your personal agency or institute. It is a government agency which is run through the taxes of poor people, doing your own PR here is not correct.'
Dattu Patil, a postgraduate student at the political science department disagreed with this view and said that the event could be used by students as a platform for all views. 'There was no need to politicise this event. It was an elocution competition for the dissemination of ideas and people should have taken it as an opportunity to present their views. Naming the event after Devendra Fadnavis does not make it political. He is the CM of a state and not of a party. After you become the CM you are of all people and not just with a political tag. People from opposite ideologies also could have taken part.'
-In April 2023 a glass door on the premises of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) was broken after ABVP members protested against alleged permission given for a rap song video to be shot on campus.
-In November 2023 clashes broke out between Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena (ABVP)–the students wing of RSS–and the Students Federation of India (SFI)–the students wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Cross complaints were filed after ABVP members turned up during an SFI membership drive and the members came to blows.
-In February 2024, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha activists were booked for ransacking the premises of Lalit Kala Kendra at Savitribai Phule Pune University after they found a play on Sita and Ram objectionable. The police also arrested the head of the Lalit Kala Kendra and students performing the play.
-In April 2024, a Muslim student was beaten up and given death threats by a group of people accusing him of 'love jihad'. The victim claimed that the group accosted him on campus and demanded to see his ID card and demanded that they cancel his admission.
