A circular issued by the Directorate of College Education in April has raised the question of the role of student bodies on campus.
The circular advises colleges not to host functions of a political nature and permit spread of ideologies of a political outfit or a party at college functions. The Director, J. Manjula, said such events interfered with the students’ education.
The timing of the circular has surprised many as it is the end of the academic year, and colleges have shut for summer vacations.
A retired professor and member of the Association of University Teachers K. Pandiyan said it was for the first time that the State government had taken such a step. “To my knowledge, no such attempt was made by the government till now. Even during MGR’s and Jayalalithaa’s period as Chief Minister, which were the worst form of police raj, such attempts had not been made,” he said.
Academician and theatre person A. Mangai said though the government restrained its employees from actively indulging in political activities both on and off campus, reiterating it has only strengthened the belief that “the government is scared that young people are waking up to all the atrocities” they see around them. “It is very clearly a move to make students guinea pigs of the establishment. I don’t see any reason why they have suddenly triggered off this now,” she said and hoped that the younger generation would understand that their role and responsibility in the society were being undermined.
Ms. Mangai felt that the circular should be seen as one curbing their freedom of expression. “In institutions if they block this, then the message they are sending out is that the education bodies are about creating employees and not thinkers,” she added.
G. Selva, former State secretary of Student Federation of India, said, “It is anti-constitutional, we have the fundamental right to form groups and discuss. If there are protests it is because we are affected. Students have always contributed to make it a vibrant democracy.”
