STUDENTS AND POLITICS

1 he importance to learn and engage in politics in practical life cannot be overlooked. So

for the involvement of students in politics is concerned it has been a topic of great
controversy amongst the intellectuals. The question is whether the students be allowed to
take part in politics or not. There are different kinds of opinions. Some people say that the
students under no circumstances be permitted to engage in political activities and so ruin
their academic career. While others are of the opinion that the students must take active
part in the politics so that to receive t) necessary training which is required for practical
struggle in future. The following schools of thought have their separate view-point
regarding the issue.

The orthodox approached the issue with the contention that politics is the last resort of a
scoundrel. It corrupts the student's mind and degrades his moral character. It engenders in
him a love for mundane life and debases his noble thought. By diverting his attention
towards politics he forgets his actual duty of moral development and intellectual uplift to
which he is pledged as a student. He should therefore be strictly forbidden to be indulged
in the politics. He should merely concentrate upon his study with full zeal and devotion.

According to the revolutionary school of thought politics is one of the essential and
noblest gifts of modern human knowledge. In an independent country it is an
indispensable part of culture and civilization. Detaching the students from politics in an
educational institution is tantamount to annihilation of democracy while true democracy
demands the involvement of each and every

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The Study of Education

class of people in the politics. So depriving the students to take part in politics is just to
weaken the very function of the political system of the country which is in no way
recommended. V

Now let us consider the view-point of moderate school of thought who thinks and
suggests that adequate facilities should be available to students in order to study the
political background of the world in general and their country in particular. Thinking the
politics a forbidden tree will be a great folly because the students, as an important part of
elite class, should keep themselves abreast with what is happening around them. They
should be well acquired with the changes that are developing in their country and abroad.

However their participation in practical politics should be discouraged. They should be

imparted political education in their schools and colleges through debates, discussion or
lectures. Their theoretical involvement in politics is extremely necessary for them but
their practical indulgence can never recommended.
Going through above lucid data can be easily inferred that so far students' participation in
political agitation is concerned it should be banned altogether. Because political
knowledge absolutely different than political agitation. Former aim at their intellectual
advancement and the. later leads to complete ruin of their career. If they adopt the habit to
look the things as they are then there is no harm but the moment they become
dispassionate and take step into active politics they ask for danger and hazards in their
academic as well as practical life. They should therefore delineate a line of demarcation
and try to only learn what they are to utilize in their future life.

It is however a fact that an individual is nothing without his society. In the present day
world we face with new issues and problems on each and every step and the 376

The Study of Education

students vis-a-vis educational institutions are no exceptions. The students who are
reading in these institutions face a lot of problems. He finds it extremely difficult to solve
these problems on individual basis. Therefore he is compelled to make an organization
and initiate a joint struggle to resolve issues faced by him. In this regards the formation of
students union is a healthy activity. This is also a kind of political activity but this activity
is confined to a certain limit. These activities of students need to be encouraged because
it creates a sense of brother hood, unity, self-confidence and a close working relationship
amongst them.

But our students as a young men and women cannot afford to stand as a silent spectator to
the events happening around them. They are natural to show their reaction. In modern
world some strong and powerful countries want to thrust their wishes upon weak and
poor nations and subjugate them to meet their personal interests. The examples of former
USSR, USA, India and Israel are before us. The tyrannies of these states provoke the
sentiments of all of us and students who demand justice and equality from the developed
nation of the world hardly afford this treatment of the poor nations. Their rallies and
protests are of paramount importance and a kind of moral support for the oppressed and
powerless nations.

In spite of these activities the students need to be aware of their actunl responsibilities.
Their primary duty is to form their career and after leaving the educational institutions
they should focus on the service of their country and countrymen. Students' activities on
the basis of their respective organizations if confined to a certain limit must not be
objected by us. But they should also restrain themselves to indulge in active politics of
the country. They should take part in social and welfare activities for the sake of their
country but should not waste their time and energy in absurd and meaningless hobbies.