Babasaheb and Bhagat Singh to fire up students' imagination

The timing couldn't have been more perfect. Amid the row over the demolition of Ambedkar's legacy in Mumbai and the rise of the Dalit rage - a la the ‘cow politics' in Gujarat - the All India Students Association (AISA), the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), has begun Bhagat Singh-Ambedkar study circles on college campuses across the country.

Abhilasha Shrivastava

The aim of the study circles is to build a movement that will empower youngsters to understand history and current affairs. Formal and informal meetings of students will focus on socio-economic and political discussions. The campaign will culminate in a national convention - Utho Mere Desh - in November. In Maharashtra, AISA has homed in on Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur colleges.

Abhilasha Shrivastava, state coordinator of AISA, says at present, informal discussions are being held near colleges in these cities, at which participants are encouraged to brainstorm and debate on current events and personalities of historical significance, and initiate discussions based on literature.

AISA hasn't formed any study circle on campuses as yet. "Our team members are visiting different college campuses to generate interest in the formation of study circles," explains Shrivastava. "We have just begun the initiative. Most of the activities are conducted informally by our committees. We plan to soon penetrate to every campus across these three cities. Shrivastava, who is currently in Pune, says the timing is perfect. "There is already a national movement on the demand for implementation of Rohith Act to eradicate campus discrimination. These two great personalities (Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar) tell us how important it is to take a stand to bring about change. We are in a critical period now and we must not neglect it if we expect change."

In Mumbai, AISA has been conducting informal discussions near Mithibai, Sathaye, Dahanukar and NM colleges in Vile Parle. Formation of study circles doesn't require permission from college managements. AISA does not expect support from colleges and that's why it has been organising such events informally.

Shambuk Sankalpana Uday, Maharashtra vice-president of the All India Students' Federation (AISF), lauds the initiative, adding: "Such activities make a lot of difference. There is a perception that collegians may not be interested in current affairs of socio-political significance."

He says AISF has been conducting a similar activity - ‘Chala aajcha paper vachuya' (let's read today's newspaper) - for the past year. In it, current issues are discussed in great detail, sometimes also in the presence of experts. "I joined AISF through this activity. One might see 100 students at the first session and the number dwindling to 20 by the fourth or fifth. But the ones who stay on are keen on understanding and participating in such events."

Saqueeb Khan, member of Progressive Students' Forum, says the Bhagat Singh-Ambedkar study circle was started at JNU and other student associations are taking it forward.