Political activities have played an inevitable role in Kerala campuses for a long time. The state is known for its political vibrancy and campus-students focused organisational works. Probably no doubt in accepting that Kerala’s youth is politically sound, whether they have left, right or neutral leanings. Despite that, the lacking factors in Kerala campus politics are tolerance and brotherhood. Whereas the violent dictator mindedness of student leaders and intolerant mindset of party ‘slaves’ growing day by day in the political arena of campuses. This thought has finally been shaped due to the recent brutal incident that has taken place in The Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) campus in Pookode, Wayanad.
What happened in KVASU Campus Pookode?
JS Siddharth, a 20 year old second year BVSc and Animal Husbandry student in Pookode Veterinary college was found hanging, died by suicide in the college hostel’s washroom on February 18 afternoon. According to the sources, Siddharth had gone through an inhumane way of ragging and brutal physical abuse. The perpetrators were a group of students from the same college.
On February 14, Siddharth participated in a Valentine’s day program that was held at college and he danced with seniors, expressed affection to a female student on the same day. Unofficially this is the reason why seniors interrogated Siddharth in the coming days.
On February 15, Siddharth had informed his mother that he will come home due to a sports event in college. In the same day itself he had informed his parents of a delay in coming citing traffic obstruction and later said he will come by train.
On February 16, Siddharth received an emergency call from the hostel when a group of students instructed him to return back.
During this time period Siddharth was reportedly assaulted by perpetrators in a rocky area and near a water tank.
On February 17, Siddharth faced a ‘mob trial’ inside the hostel. He was forcibly stripped and subjected to physical violence. The perpetrators had beaten him with belts and Siddharth was paraded naked.
On February 18 till morning he had to undergo severe abuse, on the same day he informed his mother that he will return home on February 24. But on 18th afternoon he commits suicide.
Subsequently, a huge political storm has emerged in Kerala after Siddharth’s death. As per the media reports and investigation Siddharth was the victim of ragging on campus. Postmortem report revealed that he was brutally assaulted by his college mates. According to the sources, the culprits who are involved in his death have the political backing of Students Federation of India (SFI), a leftist students organisation. Shocking details revealed that there is an ‘abuse room’ (Idimuri) in the hostel of Pookode Veterinary college.
As per UGC directions there should be an anti ragging cell in every college. The committee had convened in college after Siddharth’s death. The accused who was included in the mob trial of Siddharth represented SFI in the committee.
“Its Dictatorship not Democracy” students alleges
After Siddharth’s death some of the students in Veterinary college Pookode came to his home and shared some crucial information to parents. The students whose names remain anonymous said that the active members of Students Federation of India (SFI) perpetrated this cruel death. There are multiple opinions about the leftist student organisation’s rule in Kerala campuses.
As per the words of students and former students in Kerala campuses SFI is posing a serious threat to all the students who are not aligned with leftist ideology. Organization’s intolerance towards other ideologies makes students in distress. They are forcibly joining to majoritarian rule due to immense pressure. Proving this, another incident of SFI attack was reported in Koyilandy. A case has been registered against 20 SFI members in R Sankar Memorial SNDP Yogam college Koyilandy for beating up a second year BSc student.
Indrajith, a former Kerala University student, Kerala Students Union (KSU) Karunagappally block secretary shared his experience with SFI
“When I came to SN college Kollam, there was only a single student organisation in college that was SFI. I being from another organisation and ideology of Indian National Congress decided to work for Kerala Students Union (KSU) unit formation in campus. There was no ragging in SN College, but when they came to know that I am a non-leftist person SFI targeted me.
SFI members meet fresher students every year, they will go to class rooms and say something, compelling students to follow them. Colleges should not be run in ‘one party rule’.
Propagation of all ideologies should be allowed inside campuses. But SFI is employing dictatorship. I even remember how my friend in the same college who belonged to ABVP was brutally attacked by SFI members for trying to form an ABVP unit. SFI mentally tortured me since I am not a SFI activist.
They are creating martyrs on their own and trying to build a cliched emotional bond with fresher students. Students are misguided and misled by this left organization. SFI is functioning with complete autocracy on campus. When I was contesting campus election as a KSU candidate SFI members verbally threatened the nominees of mine. Finally I had to discontinue my course in SN College.
Do you want to form a non-leftist unit in any Kerala campuses? Then be ready to receive an end number of threats, be prepared to face iron rod. Sadly this is how the so called SFI functions.
I feel that SFI comes under a majority crowd, they can not stand alone. SFI will give you classes on how to tackle fascism, irony is they are the perfect examples of fascists. Students are afraid to speak out because SFI’s left leaders are ruling. We need campus politics and inclusively need all student organisations. There should be diversification not a single party autocratic rule.
Suppression and dictatorship are the key highlights of SFI functioning in Kerala campuses. I was verbally abused by SFI members many times, mentally they put me in a weakening condition. SFI is doing witch hunting on non-leftist students. This must be stopped soon”.
‘Mob trial, student court, abuse room’- trends in campuses
In the case of JS Siddharth he was the victim of a mob trial. Siddharth was paraded naked and beaten brutally during this time of mob trial. There is an unofficial ‘student court’ in the hostel, that dragged Siddharth to severe mental torture. Perpetrators mercilessly tortured him. Two belts were used to assault him and after it broke into pieces; iron rod and wires were used by the accused students. The anonymous audio clip of a female student revealed that Siddharth was beaten to death. In fact the question that arises is, Does Gundas exist in student parties?
Suppressing dissent & spreading autocratic rule
Eswara Prasad, ABVP Kerala state secretary is of the opinion that dissent is being suppressed under SFI.
“ABVP members have met the parents of Siddharth. We want police to arrest Dean MK Narayanan, he is one of the main culprits. SFI is not allowing any other ideology other than communism in campuses.Even in times of Youth festivals SFI targets students who have not joined their organisation.
SFI’s autocracy is transparent in Kerala campuses. Students have been forced to follow leftist ideology. Fresher students in colleges get threatening words to join SFI. If they refuse, students have to face the consequences, they will isolate students with other political leanings. Sometimes they have to quit the course to save them from atrocities.
This particular organisation called Students Federation of India is only good in suppressing student voices.
Students get physical threats and abuse if they oppose or throw criticism against SFI. Irony is that such an autocratic approach is practiced in a diverse country like India by a student organisation which speaks a lot about ‘Freedom, Democracy and Socialism’. What level of intolerance are they upholding?
If SFI is organising some rallies in campus all the students are compelled to come for it, otherwise students will be targeted. If this organisation is democratic they would have allowed other student organisations in colleges.
Under them, there is no freedom of speech and expression guaranteed. If SFI is ruling and someone criticises them their freedom will be at a dead end. This organisation is full of dictators.Since years, they have been following a strategy of Idimuri (abuse room) in colleges.
SFI is posing a majoritarian threat by suppressing dissent. Regarding this and similar student related issues ABVP has communicated to UGC. ABVP supports organisational works on campus. It should not always be political but yes students should be politically aware. We, as a responsible student wing, demand a creative and organisational work space. Colleges need all student organisations not a single party rule. All ideas should be discussed”.
Question of ban on campus politics rises
“In reality a ban on Campus politics will not be a better solution. Union activities should be carried out in a creative way not by violent means.” says Eswara Prasad.
The death of Siddharth raises the question of the necessity of student politics on Kerala campuses. Public is on alert. Parents hesitate to send their children to colleges where politics is active.
Siddharth’s father claimed that there were loopholes in the investigation during the initial stage of the death case. After this, a special investigation team was formed on the instructions of CM. Now the case is under CBI.
Whereas the Vice Chancellor told all these happened due to the intolerance from the side of student politics. Initially the police had registered a case of unnatural death, but the postmortem report revealed about the horrific torture Siddharth faced before his death.
However, sources reveal that these abusive political tactics are not new in Kerala. Since years the intolerant nature has been upheld by some political party student wings. It is proving that such an undemocratic way of practicing student politics causes terrible trouble to the educational spaces. A proper reform is needed to change this threatening condition. Or else what alternative can bring to end this Gunda Raj? In fact the role of student politics in upholding human rights is crucial.
Do the students lack values and courage to speak out ?
Siddharth’s college mates in Pookode remain silent for a few days, the reason is unclear. Students are afraid to join student political organisations.
“Major thing is that students are afraid to speak out about this harsh reality. They are worried about their career, studies and future. Most of the students in colleges lack civic consciousness, it’s not their mistake but our curriculum is not giving preference to such values being taught. The solution here is to bring up values in educational spaces. The sole purpose of ABVP is to inculcate student values in campus. We will conduct debates, discussions about campus atmosphere to tackle the ongoing issues”. ABVP state secretary said.
Is Campus politics enough to counter ragging in educational institutions? How to reform campuses from intolerant activities? What is an alternative? How will the ban on politics affect the campus ecosystem? All these questions remain unanswered in the current heinous situation in Kerala.