The voice of resistance against fascist forces on campuses gives new hope for democracy and secularism, Allahabad University Students’ Union leader Richa Singh has said.
Richa, the first woman president of the students’ union at Allahabad University, was here to inaugurate the ViBGYOR short film and documentary festival. She told The Hindu on Wednesday that the student political power was posing a challenge to the government. “Campuses in the country are trying to fight for democratic rights beyond the boundaries of caste, class and gender. The most important thing is women and Dalits are in the forefront of these fights,” she said.
“Caste, class, gender and money power are ruling the university politics now. Dalit or women’s issues never find a place in its agendas. Only ABVP students are safe on the campuses now. Those who are protesting against the government are labelled as anti-nationals,” Ms. Singh, a D.Phil. scholar in globalisation and development studies, said.
She had protested against inviting hardline Hindutva leader and BJP MP Yogi Adityanath to inaugurate the Allahabad University Students Union.
Threats
The political atmosphere at Allahabad University was very much a cross section of the highly patriarchal, caste-dominated Utter Pradesh, she said. “They threatened to kill me, rape me and even tried to bribe me to withdraw from my campaigns for democracy, secularism and rights for Dalits, women and minorities,” she said. She is also the founder of Sri Mukti Sangethan, an organisation working for women empowerment.
“Being a woman leader is a real challenge. You have to be balanced and at the same time should prove that you have your own voice. My Women’s Studies background has helped me in this,” Ms. Singh, who is a gold medalist in M.Phil. programme in Women’s Studies, said.
