=rfrr !

lzl|n tn|i l-<i +| (+ ||= <| t|-| t

lzl|n n <|l|n + =|| ti tn ~- l-<i +i (+ -i
<tni | t|- t := <tni = =+| |- - t (+
l+ -|l+ + -| tni | tn t - +-| t|-| t l+
tn +|-=| |-| ~l-| + := ~tn n| tn ~|= +
=|n + =|+| ~| + |- =|| +-| -|t- t
frfur' t =rrtrr =rt
rrr t frnrtt
-n|n l+n + =- n+ tn +-= n <|l|n t|- t tn
=|i + -| + --|n+ +-| -|t- t tn =|i + ~-<
+ + - ~-i (+ ~n t-|- -|- ~| =n| + ln(
+ +- +i -n t|-i t tn| =|n- -n|n l+n + +l
-|- + n||- n|< t|- t lz|-|+ z|||+-| l=ln =
|+| |+ :il- ~|l< = n+ -|- n <|l|n ~|
l<z| n = |- + =- tn| t- n -- = ti | |- t
<|-| ln= + || |i (= ti =-| +| t- n |
+-= n ~| t| l-t|- t-i n|+ +i -|-|z||ti +| -||
+| :=i | |in +i =+| +| lz|-|| ~| lt- +
z|-+ |= n- +| n + <- |n ~|-<|n- n z||lnn
|||||~| - |i + (= ti n= || t| -ilz|| n
-|-|z||t - ~ni +| --| n <- |n |||||~| - |i (=
ti | =|( t| ~| =|| ti i=i =<i n :|-lz||
= |= l- -i- - :|- ~|l< n +|l--+|i |||
~|-<|n- |i tn| ~| = -||-| - ti -n|| || |i tn|i
-t +-=| n + -- + + l<||- + =- n+ ti ~|
|: --+ =|n- |i -t-t + +l -|- + n||-+|i |-
|n t( |: -|t- -| --| t +| + -n n ~| <n-
= ~|| + ~-i l+-- -|t-| ~| =-| +| | +-
+i <<|t< n n t =+- | l-lz-- = --n = +
~-| n-=-< +l -| |i n- nl+- z||< l :- <z|| +|
:l-t|= +|i ~n t|-| lz + :l-t|= n -n|n +|l--| n
lzl|n + ||| +i (+ ~tn |ln+| ti t =|i l=
~- l+-- | ~- l| + =-| +| t+i+- n -<in
+- +i nltn n ti |- t| |- -| z||< +|l--| +|i =-|
- t: t|-i - -| |= +| <n-+|i |--| |n t|-| - = ~|
^;wlhMhbZ* vkids chp D;ksa\
Why is UCDE amongst you?
Friends!
University is a special phase of our lives. As we step
in the university we are at a new threshold in our lives. A
hundred paths is possible from this threshold. For the first
time we have to decide as a mature citizen, which one of
these paths we want to travel on. At this crucial juncture
we want to share with you a few questions, a few concerns
and a few issues.
The Concept of University and
Students' Burden
We enter the campus with an array of dreams. We
all want to do something new, we all want to be creative;
we all have a spirit to do something, to carve our own
nche and to do something for the society. There are
temptations to build different kinds of career confronting
us; we have been filled up with dreams to be a teacher,
researcher, civil servant, journalist, doctor, engineer etc.
to the dreams of getting into management courses and
have a settled life abroad and so on, right since our
childhood.
Friends, the students of Egypt who overthrew the
dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak must have entered the
campus with same panoply of dreams; the students who
only this year forced the Brazilian government to roll back
the hike in education and transport fee through their
movement must have planned something similar; the
students who overthrew the dictatorship of Ben Ali in
Tunisia must have dreamt similar dreams; and similarly
in the 20
th
century in Indonesia, Russia, France, Britain,
China, Spain, Iran etc. they were young people like us who
forged revolutionary student-youth movements. They,
like us, had entered the campus dreaming to make it big,
to achieve something! Various lucrative career options
were open to them too. If they wanted they could have
silently closed their eyes at the atrocities, pillage and
oppression and could have simply toiled to fulfil their
personal dreams and desires. Certainly, some of them
might have indeed made a career of their choice. But, in
that case, the history of these countries would have been
quite different. In the history of the world, the role of the
students in all the revolutions has been cardinal. If they
had given up themselves simply to transform their
personal or familial dreams into reality then perhaps
-i- n +|l--| t|-i - n|l-- ~nl+| n =|n|-|<l||i
~|-<|n- t|- ~| l= :- <z|| +i |- +| + ||- n |i
~||<i +| =|| -ti n| | =+-| ||
=rf=rt r rr =r-rr rnrrr nrr =rnrf
=rt trtfa-=rfr ftar n q=t nrat +rfnr f+rr;
r? :=+| | lzl|n + :l-t|= n l-lt- t -|-i
||-| ~| +|| --|lz|n| ~| -|n-<| + |-i- lzl|n|
+ <| = ti lzl|n l= == ---- ~| a|l-+
l-|| + -n +| +-< t t r, +rra-, ta-rar,
=nrar, =rnrf -r = -n|n l-|| +| -n =n| +
= ||| = l- t| + lzl|n + -=| n ti t ~| lzl|n
= ti l-+n- |n :=|=-< ~| t|< |||||~| -
n < | l|| <ln- | i-|~| <ln-| ~| -n|n z|| l|--il -
n|| + ~|-<|n-| +| -- l<| (= -n|n -||- l-- ~|
l-n|| + |- +|- |i t| z||< -- '=-|' +| |
-ti + | t| | -- = || =n| ~| =|| ti l|
,|| --+ t- n | t| nl+- l-lz-- = ~|
:=|l-- t| -+ -++i + =+i t --ti -||-| +i
+|-i ~| z|t|<- = =-| t~| t l+=i |i <z| n
z|||| <n- n -i- - =n| +| at|- + l<| t
|i =n| n =+ <| t( t -| lzl|n = -a- |n
=||| - l-- + ~|-<|n-| n ||i<|i +i t ~| ~+=
:-+| -- l<| t
nrr = =rt or r
~| i <l-| + <z|+ + nt|n-<i + |< +
== l+|n ~|l| + =+ +| lz|+| t lz i|<i ||
:= =+ +| | ~|n nt--+z| ~|n ||| |~| ~|
l|| |n ti t ~|n n|| +i | +| l--|+ <|+|
+|| ||-| +| l-i =||-| ~| ||i l-n| +|
'n~|- +' l< | t t rnrt rr n +rt r far
rtt r 'nn|n ~| ~l' <-|- ++ <z|
+i |+l-+ =-<| +| ||ln|~-|-il-<nln-n =|
+| =|| | t| t t +| + || +| |n l+| | t| t
-t|z|| l-i+|-<|i+| l+| | t| t ~| :- |--|=a|
+ n-| n l+=i l+n +i +| - ~| :=+ ln( t +|
+ >n +|--| ll-n-+|i :ni| +|--| ~|l< +| |n
l+| | t| t n t =rfr tfar' +i z|~|- +
=n -l=t | +i =+| - t +t| || l+ l-i+| =
+z|n-| i ||-| |n t|| ~| || <z| +
lz||| :|-i l+ ~ni|<| + |=:| =nlz ~|i -| t
l=l=+ ~|n --| -+ t- |i nl+- -<|i+| +
ln . || - :- =|i <|| +i =--|: +| < + l<| t
||-| |n -ti t~| l-+ -=+| |i l-i+| t| | t
=| l+ lz||n+| +|| |||n| - l<|n|| t || +i
< - +i | -+||n+ t| i t | || lnn |i t
t --n = ~l|+|z| a+ ~| +~n + n lnn t t
l=+| ~| t i +i -- ~| n|ni ln . || -
these revolutions might never have been possible.
Neither the repressive monarchy of France would have
been ended, nor there would have been revolutions in
Russia and China, nor there would have been anti-
imperialist movement in Latin America and why should
we talk only of these countries, even in India the struggle
for independence could not have been possible.
Why is it that student movements have always
played such an exemplary role in social and political-
economic transformation? The answer to this question
can be found in history of university itself. Since the period
of the ancient universities in Greek republics as well as
Kandahar, Takshila and Nalanda, university campuses
have been the breeding ground of the most advanced and
scientific thoughts. Ideas like democracy, fraternity,
liberty, equality, social justice were all born in the
university campus under the influence of social struggles.
It was the justice-loving and courageous students of the
universities indeed who gave leadership to the
movements of workers, women, oppressed nationalities,
dalits and all exploited and oppressed peoples. These
youth sacrificed their all on the path of transformation
and creation. They might not have fulfilled those dreams
that were taught to them since childhood by the market,
society and the family itself. But it is certain that the stage
of progress where humanity has reached today would not
have been possible without the sacrifice and martyrdom
of these youths. Whenever oppression, repression,
pillage, atrocities have made the society of any country
stagnant; whenever there has been a crisis in the society
then the struggles emanating from the university have
participated in the movements of transformation and
quite often have led them too.
Present Crisis and Some Important
Questions
Today the world is inflicted by the greatest economic
crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The global
capitalist system is putting the burden of this entire crisis
on the shoulders of working masses, students, youths,
and women. Humongous corporate houses, banks,
financial institutions and multinational corporations are
being given bailout packages by draining the last dime
from the pockets of common people. Even in our country
this process is ongoing. MoUs are being signed and the
natural resources of the country are being given to the
Tatas-Birlas-Ambanis-Jindals-Mittals, all kinds of
employment are being annihilated, there is a mad rush
of privatization-liberalization and so that the profits of
these Shylocks are not obstructed in any way, all
provisions of labour laws, regulatory laws etc. are being
written off. In 1991, at the beginning of the New
Economic Policies the Narasimha Rao-led government
had said that with the advent of privatization there would
be an increase in efficiency, corruption will be finished
and there will be an increase in employment; when at
the top of the nations pyramid (meaning thereby the
=|l- l+| t l+ =n| + lz|| =nlz i=<i n|| +i
nt-- +i n +i <|n- ti ~| =+-i t ~| 'l+n |--'
l= (+ ti -i +-i tii -|ti <t|ni: :- . ||
= tn |i i| ~| ~|n n|| + t|n|- +|: t- t- -ti
| f ; zs rrr r ftrfa r r? =+|i ~|+|
+ n-|l+ ti := <z| n +n : +| lz|l-|- || t .i
|= +- |n =|i ||| n = +n l-z|- ti +-= n t-
|- t <z| +i +n ~||<i +| i=<i lt=| . |
-== +n +i l-l<- ~| i-| t <z| + +i i=<i
-- ~| +i i=<i nltn|( +||| +| lz|+| t +n
~||<i +| +| ||| =|-| t ~| ~- +|
l| n t-| t <z| + - + i=<i n|| +| <z|
+i +n =-<| + +i i=<i +| t <=i ~| <z|
+i ==< n t|- |ni | +i +||: +i n||
|- t| |- t <z| + nl-|nn ==< =<| ||-n-|i
l| -|+z||ti --| t | || +| |- t|-| t | l+
--| +i = ti =n| |-| t ~nii + i- +i ||:
~| <z| n ~|- t ~| n|-| ti t
=r r r rtar, f r q= nrrr n r; +rt
;=r=- rr r =r ftt rar tr =ar
r? r r; +rt =rrt r nr = fana =r
=rt =rfrrrr t +rrn =ar r? rn q=r rt nar
+|: |i =|--=n- |n| | ~| := |- +| |ni||l-
=n-| t l+ t lzl|n n | t| t -| t := <z| +
~|n nt--+z| --| +i <|n- t | ~- --| +|
lzl|n n |- +| =-| |i -ti <| =+-i (+ (
| |( t|- |n +n |- +| (+ t< || lt=|
|| +i = |-| t |+i | |- =+|i ||- = ~|-| t
=+|i ||- +| +i i=<i lt=| ~-| +| = ~|-|
t | l+ := <z| +i ~|n --| ~-| +|+|+ <-i t
|-i tn|i lz|-|| + |- +| | lt=| := <z| + n< ~|
i l+=|- <- t =|i lzl|n| +n| ~|l< +i :n|-|
+| -|- = n+ tn|i - +| t+ =|n|- -|- +| +|n
ti i=<i nt--+z|| +i ~||<i +-i t l-+ --
+ni |: |i i -ti + |- t ~| <z| n -n|n t
n< ~| ~|n i l+=|- ~- t+| +| n+ =+| --
t t n|l- =+i n< ~|-<|n- l<-ni nl||-| ~|
|| + n<| + ~|-<|n- = n+ -n ---: ~| l-
+ n<| +| ~|-<|n- t| | l i +i -i n + l|n|
~|n i l+=|-| + ~|-<|n- t| tn <| =+- t l+ <z| +i
i=<i nt--+z| ~|n + = +| -|n| ~ n+ t| t
=|| ti lz|-|| + n|-| nt t|- |- ||| + |- |- +
l|n| <z| n ~|n ||| ~| |~| + |i -n|n ~|-<|n- t| t
t nl+- :- =|i ~|-<|n-| + =|n- ~|i +|: +|l--+|i
l+- ~| -- -ti t --i-- -- ~|-<|n- l=
l- = <| t| t t -=i l- = |n |i t| | t t nl+-
:--| t l+ =|n|l+ ~|l|+ ~| |-il-+ =+ ~-
-n t ~| <z| + n| := i || + l+- +i -n|z|
already filthy rich!) will be prospering then prosperity will
slowly trickle down to masses. But the last 23 years of
liberalization has made these claims sound hollow and
render it naked. There has been no end to corruption, in
fact, even that has been privatized as evident by gigantic
corporate scandals; the rate of employment instead of
increasing in fact is running negative; even the
employment that is available is mostly contractual and
casual in nature which translated in plain language means
the naked and barbaric slavery to capital; past 23 years
have proved that the prosperity for those on the top of
the pyramid can only be achieved through the pillaging
of the work of 80 percent of the people and things which
actually trickle down are: poverty, destruction,
desolation! Even before these 23 years the condition of
poor and common people were nothing to speak of, but
what is the condition after these 23 years? Even by the
admission of government data there are total 4 crore
educated unemployed in the country; only 7 percent of
the total pass-out from Std. 12 get into the university
campuses; 77 percent of the total population is
condemned to survive on Rs. 20 and less per day;
approximately 56 percent children and 50 percent women
are malnourished; 18 crore people sleep on streets and
pavements and another 18 crore live in dilapidated
hovels; the top 3 percent are sitting on 60 percent of the
total resources. On the other hand, in 1 hour of business
of nations parliament approximately 16 lakh rupees are
sent down the drain; the ministries, members of
parliament, prime minister and the leviathan bureaucracy
of the country is run on billions of rupees that is extracted
from the pockets of the masses. The gulf between the
rich and the poor is now unprecedented and constantly
on the increase.
The question, friends, is whether in a situation like
this any justice-loving youth can simply and silently keep
on making individual careers? Can any sensitive youth
run after merely individual dreams and desires? We do
not think so. Any thinking student-youth today is quite
aware that if he is able to study in a university it is because
of the toiling masses who themselves cannot even dream
of giving their children a university education. A very
miniscule part of the entire cost of making a graduate or
a postgraduate comes out of the pockets of the students.
The rest of the entire cost comes from the government
coffer. 90 percent of the government coffer comes from
indirect taxes which the toiling masses of the country give
through their teeth. Which means a large part of our
education costs is borne by the workers and poor peasants
of the country. From constructing the buildings of all the
universities and all the schools to making every bit of the
things that we use are produced by these 80 percent
toilers whose children cannot even complete their school
education. Today in various nook and corner of the
country workers and poor peasants are taking to the
streets for their rights. From Maruti Suzuki workers
movement, to workers movements of Delhi, Ludhiana
+ t t l+- ~| -- :- ~|-<|n-| +| +|- < =+-|
t ~| tn|i :=n +| |ln+| t| =+-i t` (= n tn 'l-l=i
+-l-i | n|+=i ( :+|lni' +i ~| = ~|= +
|- =|| +-| -|t- t
r n frr rt n...
+t- +i - -ti l+ +|: |i --|i |i +|: l+-
-ti < =+-i :-ti --|i |l| +i -il-| + l-|z|+|i
l||n| + l|n| ti -| ~|-<|n- t| t t -|t +|=
||| =| =| ~|l< =i |ni i|<i |l| t| | l
||+|n|+| =i ==<i |n|i" |l| t| :-+ | n
--| + |n +|i t< -+ -+ t
~l-< +i|n +i '~|' |i t <|| +- t(
~-l- t: t l+ t =|i --|i |l| = ~n t: +i|n
- <z| +i =|i =n|~| +| (+ l-< n|+ +l-<- + l<|
t||-|: ||-| +| z- + n|| +i '~-|:' | '|:'
n|+ |n + l<| | t: |-i '~-' n| =-| n t| -|
||-| -ti t|| ~|i '' n| =-| n t :=ln( ||-|
t '~|' ~- ~| :n|-<| n|| +i |i t: t i || ti
-+|-i t +|: <|:z|i '~-|' | '|' -ti t|-| l+--
':n|-<|i' ~| ':n|-i' +| n<<| -|+ ~l-< +i|n
~=ni =n| = +--i +| |- t=|i =n|~| +i
nrr-f-a trr t: -+ =n| n -|<- = n+
l-| =n| +i -| +| | +- +i | nai | n||
+ n-| + ln( t|| -+ t ~|l|+|-il-+ l-ll|
+ i nn + - n-|| t|| - -+ n-| +i ~-|i t=
t|i ~| - -+ ||-| |i t|| ti: ~l-< +i|n
= +t- t l+ := n-||+l-<- i|<i || +
l||i -ti t = '|-| |n i|<' :`| + l||i t
' i|<' + l||i t: '~|' +| n+=< ||-|n+-
'~-| i|<' t: <z| n |-il-+ =|n|l+ ~|
~|l|+ =+ <| t( t -| (= + ==<i ~| ==<i
=|||<i <| t( t | --| +| (+ '=-- i|<' +| =-|
l<||+ |n|- t |- n :=i || +| -|- +| +|n
+- t |lt t (= n<|l| = l+- +i --ni< +-|
n|-|| t||
(-.i.~|.=|||< |i +|: l+- -ti < =+-| +|l+
-=+| n+=< ti i || n ~|nn-n <n| -ti l-+
:=i || + +| = |- + || +| ||-| t|-| t t (+
'=+i |-' + =n|- +|n +-| t | || + lz -
~|+|z| a |-i +| l+| +-| t ~| --|| |~|
+| --||i +|l--+|l-| +| ||n+ |-| l<|n|-| t:
<z| n (+ |n"<=|t=|<i +|l--+|l| +i ||| |i
t | --| = -|<| -<+| +i- +- t ~| t n|-- t l+
nai | t|< +|l--+|l| +i +|-i <|+ <z| +i --|
| -ai ~| +|l-- + |ni := <=|t=|<i |n|i |||
+ n|| +i <z| + +|| n<| ~|n i l+=|-| ~| ~|n
||| ~||<i n | -| +|: t- -ti t | - t- t
|lt t t ||| |i ~| <z| + n<| ~|n i l+=|-| ~|
and Gorakhpur to the workers movements of Yanam,
Chennai and Tirupur to the movements of poor peasants
against the naked exploitation of capital, we can see that
the patience of the 80 percent of the toiling masses is
now at the end of its tethers. Alongside this, there are
several student-youth movements in the entire country
against the regularly increasing costs of education and
decreasing employment. However, there is no
revolutionary alternative or leadership in front of these
movements. As a result, these spontaneous movements
are ending with the same alacrity with which they are
beginning. However, it is clear that the social, economic
and political crisis is at its peak and people of these
countries are searching for an alternative to this entire
system. Who can provide an alternative and leadership
to these movements and what could be our role in it? For
this we, University Community for Democracy and
Equality wants to share a few thoughts with you.
On Fake Alternatives First
It goes without saying that any electoral party
cannot give an alternative. It is against destructive
outcome of the policies pursued by the self-same parties
that these movements are occurring. Whether they are
openly bourgeois parties like the Congress, BJP, SP, BSP
etc. or parliamentary left parties like CPI-CPM, the
people are now fairly disillusioned with them.
AAP of Arvind Kejriwal descended on the claim that
they are different from all other electoral parties! Kejriwal
reduced all the problems plaguing the country to one
point: corruption! The question of corruption has been
reduced to the good and evil of a few individuals! Thus,
if there are good people in power there will be no
corruption; currently, evil people are in power hence the
corruption; AAP is a party of 'good' and 'honest' fellows!
This entire analysis is infantile. No one is born good or
born evil. By raising the issue of individual honesty and
crookedness Arvind Kejriwal sidesteps the real issue--
the root of all problems is the Profit-Centric System! Till
the time production and distribution in society happens
for the profit of the few instead of the needs of the society;
till the time the prime mover of all economic-political
activity is profit, till then there would be a blinding lust
for profit and till then there will be corruption too! Arvind
Kejriwal clearly states that he is not against profit-centric
capitalist system but only against crony capitalism (?),
only against bad capitalism! The goal of AAP is
corruption-free good capitalism! Whenever there has
been a political, social and economic crisis in the country
such parliamentary and non-parliamentary reformists
have invaded the scene who kick a smokescreen of saint
capitalism in front of people. In reality, they are at work
saving this system! Evidently, to hope for alternatives from
tricksters like them is foolishness.
NGO reformism cannot provide any alternative
because its goal is not to fundamentally change the
system but to wash the bloodstains off the clothes of the
existing system. It works as a safety valve which sprinkles
||||~| + =||| +| (+ =| n l|- ~| -= |t|l+
+|l--+|i l+- <- +| +|n -ti + =+-i t
(= n <z| n (+ - +|l--+|i l+- ~| +|l--+|i
-- +| l-n|| ~| +i - t l-lz-- = t (+ |
~| n-| +|n t nl+- :=+i z|~|- +ti - +ti = +-i
t|i ~| lzl|n =n<| lz|| -| ||| ~| -|<i
l-z|in lz|-|+| +i t l-n<|i --i t l+ ~| := l<z||
n =|-l-| ~| =l+ |ln+| l-||: (= n lzl|n
+ -|<i l-z|in ||| lz|-|+| ~| +n-|l| + =n-|
z- t t l+ (= +|l--+|i l+- -- + l-n|| + ln(
+| |ln+| l-|| =+- t +-= n t- t( tn +| + =+-
t` +|- = nt| z- t l- lzl|n + -|<i
l-z|in =n<| +| =|--| t|| ~| '' n-| t||`
=tzt;' r tarfa ran
ff=t rft rt znra=t qz ;rft'
<z| + -|| -=||| +| ~-| =n|- <-| ~| -=n ||i<|i
+-| ~- n-| n = (+ n|--| t '=ii:' +| t
n|--| t l+ lzl|n =n<| +| +- nt ||| lz|-|+|
~| +n-|l| +i +-=+l-<- n|| + ln( =|| +-| -ti
t l-+ -=+| +- t -|| -=|| n lt=<|i +-|
~| |i =-| t| -= +|l--+|i -- <-| t =|| ti
'=ii:' (+ - +|l--+|i l+- + l-n|| + z-
l----n-- l-|lnz| ~| t=n|lt= +| ~||l- +-|
~- n| +|||| n = (+ n|--| t
=tzt;' lz|-|| + ||i+| + l|n| =|| +| |i
~- ( n nt | ||- < -| t ln . || n lzl|n
+i i=| n -| +i lz t: t := || - <z| +
||||~| = |<| l+| || l+ t lz|-|| =+n |n
-|< +| l-z|- |- +i nl+- =+| := nlz+n =
l-z|- |- + ti t =+| - ||| + l<n| n t
:+|-+ la| l<| t l+ '-|i =+| =|i +| lz|-|| <- +|
|- += -a| =+-i t`' =--|: t t l+ =+| + |= :--
~|l|+ ==||- t l+ t =|i |~| +| -i lz|-|| < =+
nl+- -l+ =+|i ||- +| +i = i=<i lt=| t
n +|| ||-| +| + + n|i l|-i ni-
lni ~- =l||( ~|l< <- n |- t| |-| t :=ln( --|
+ lz|-|| l-l+=| lt|z| ~|l< |- +- + ln( +
--| ti -ti t t =+|i ||-| ||ln|~-|-i + =|
= -ti --| l-+ --| = ln( ~-| +| = --| t
ln +: | = ~-| + n|-| |( | t t ~|
|l-+ | +| -| +| + | = n+- l+| | t| t:
=tzt;' r tr nrr r f =r rr-r =r-r r
-t nr r =+rt fq frrr =nr frrorr =+rt
fq trnrt'! :=+i +in- tn tn ti ~<| + -+ t ~|
t tn|| -nl=z ~l|+| t := n| +| n+ - l= +-=
+ |i- l-+ +-= + |t lt|z|i :n|+| ~|:.i.~|:.
|nil+-+ ~|l< = -+-i+i lz|-|| =||-| + |~| +
i- |+-| n|-| '=ii:' ~- n-| n = (+ n|--| t
cold water on peoples anger against the system and
shows the path of salaried revolutionism to the pro-
people youth.
There is a line of left-adventurist revolutionaries
in the country as well that have more faith on guns than
people and who believe that by witnessing the sacrifices
of a handful of courageous revolutionaries, the people of
the country would be awakened and do the revolution.
This "left"-adventurist line has either no or little presence
among the crores of workers, poor peasants and common
student-youth population. Evidently, even this line cannot
perform the task of combining and giving a viable
revolutionary alternative to the movements of countrys
workers, poor peasants and student-youth.
In such a situation, the building of a new
revolutionary alternative and a new revolutionary
leadership in the country is the need of the hour. Indeed
it is a huge and time taking task. But its beginning has to
be made from somewhere and it is a responsibility of the
university community especially students and democratic
and progressive academics that they think today along
this line and play an active role! The question then
confronting the democratic and progressive academics,
students and employees of the university is: what role
can they play in building up this revolutionary alternative
and leadership? What can we do while we are in the
campus? What are those important questions that the
democratic and progressive community have to think
about and take a stand?
Proposed Programme of UCDE
University Community for Democracy and Equality
believes that to support and participate in the just
peoples struggle in the country is one of its goals. It is a
clear belief of UCDE that the duty of the university
community is not merely to struggle for the campus-
centric issues of students, academics and employees but
its duty is to participate in all just peoples struggle and
give a revolutionary leadership whenever it is possible.
Alongside, UCDE believes that one of its prime
responsi bi lities is to organize and conduct
contemplations, discussions and polemics on the question
of building of a new revolutionary alternative.
UCDE gives an important place in its agenda to
struggle against the commercialization of education. In
the last 25 years, the university fee structure has seen a
hike to the tune of multiple of 11. This system had
promised the student-youth of the country that it would
spend 6 percent of the total gross domestic product. But
the government is hardly spending 1 percent. The
government has given this (il)logic to the students that
how can the poor government spend on the education
of all? The truth is that the government does have
enough resources to provide every youth a quality
education. The rub is that since 70-80 percent of every
budget is spent on giving tax concessions to corporate
houses, debt relief, land, electricity and other facilities
on almost gratis basis, therefore, nothing is left to provide
=tzt;' +| n|--| t l+ ||| ~||<i :- l-|<i
n|| +| n+ =la- - t| | :=+ ln( ti -n|n --|i
|l| =+|i =a- =ftnarrt trtfa +| ||
<- t --i-- |~| +i ~||<i +|i n|ai n|ai
lt-< n=nn|- ~|l< + n |-i t -| +|i -=+ i-
|l-- |- -||- || <| + l<| |-| t ~|-||
+| z- (+ ~tn z- t tn|| n|--| t l+ ||||~| +|
~|-||l| |i | ~|-||=n| + ~l|l- -ti ~-|-i -|lt(
t z||=+ + '' n =- + =n|- t tn|| n|--| t l+
~|-|| (+ n<<| t | n| ~|-||l|| +i |-il-
+- t( t -+ <- t l+ :== nl :-|n-|| +i ~tn-| t|-i
t --= | |-| -|lt( l+ -= =n -|n-| +| -+ +| -ti
< t | -n|n -|- :il-l nl+n + =||-| n
(-.~|.~|:.+|| n-n +|| -|| | t| || +| =|i
~ni|<| +i ~|n|< 'il-=' <| t|-i t` +| --+ ln(
+|| |-| -|n-| + =|| l|n| -ti t` :=i = -| -n-| t
l+ ~|-||l|| +i |-il- +- |n =||<i n|-l=+-| =
- t nl+- =|| ti tn ~|-|| + =n|+| = |i -| -|t
l+ ~ lz|-|| || + -|| n +i -i- <z|+ + ~|-|| +
|< ~| |i +i l-z|- <ln- ~||<i | -| t< i
|l-t n< t | l +|||-| n< t -| := -il- = |-
n +| t|l=n t~| t` + < =+- +i | +| t ~|n
|| | ~||<i +| | -ti < -|` || | ~|-<| n-
~|-||=n|- | ~|-||l|| +i ~l|l- ~-|- +| |
-ti t ~| t (+ -i=i l-z|in ~l|l- ~-| =+-| t
~| t t '=|i + ln( l-z|-+ =n|- lz|-|| =|i + ln(
||' +i n| ti t n| t | ~|n || = ~|- |n |||
+ i- =|-<|l+ |l-- -||- |- | +| |n +
=+-i t ~| (+-| +|n + =+-i t
=tzt;' +| n|--| t l+ r= r rttr
(znrar;rr +i n| ~| tn|i (+ ~tn n| t tn
lzl|n ||| +i =| + l-+ |-il-+ =|n|l+ l-ll||
+| +-< t~| +- | :- l-ll|| = ti ||| + -n|n
~|-<|n- ~| l-z|in =a- <| t( ti +|| t l+
t+n|-| - - <| <z|+| n +-=| + |i- + -|<i n|t|n +|
=|-=n -| |n l+| t --i-- ~| +-= i--
~| =l+ -ti t t :=+ ln( z||=- - =|-=n -|
i= |: t ~| =i ||i t | ~|z+-|- -ti |:
t :== +-=| +| -l| |i|i <n| t ~| --+|
+ni-i+| t~| t ti <=i ~| +-= + |i- | -|<i
'=' n|< || -= -t-t +i |+ ~| l-|||a|( n|+
|n l+| | t +-= n (+ =|+l-+ +|+n |ni --|
-+ <z|-i ||- ~||l- +|- + ln( :|- lnn-|
|i (+ nlz+n +|n t| | t ~ ||| <z| +i =n|~|
--| l-|lnz| t=n|lt=| -ti + ~ --t
~-i --|n+-| +| ||n- + ln( =|+l-+ =l+-| +|
'=' -ti l<| || ~ --t ~- l-| ~l|+- +-
+i ~||<i -ti <i |i -| lzl|n --| = =|--
for education, health, housing etc. for the masses. This
government coffer is not made of the money of Tatas-
Birlas-Ambanis but by the indirect taxes paid by the
masses. In the last many budgets the indirect taxes are
being increased and the rich are being liberated from
direct taxation! It is a clear belief of UCDE that the central
demand of student-youth movement today is Free and
Equal Education to all and Employment to all. We have
already paid for it and it is our birthright. UCDE considers
one of its goals to increase awareness of this demand
amongst the youth of residential areas, ITI, polytechnic
and similar technical institutions.
UCDE believes that in order that the student-youth
population does not get organized around these demands
that several electoral parties and non-governmental
organizations fan the politics of identity. As a result, the
youth population is divided in the dichotomy of Marathi
and non-Marathi, Hindu and Muslim etc. or sometimes
they are divided in the name of caste, nationality and
region. The question of reservation is an important one.
We believe that student-youth should not take either the
position of pro-reservation or anti-reservation. This is akin
to falling in the trap set up by the ruling class. We believe
that reservation is a non-issue. People who give the
argument following the politics of anti-reservation that
it negates merit must be asked why they dont give the
same argument when NRI quota and management quota
are implemented in several management, engineering
and medical institutions. Are all the scions of the wealthy
born geniuses? Is it not negating merit when there is a
quota for them? This itself suggests that the people in
anti-reservation politics have an upper-casteist mindset.
Simultaneously, we will ask those who support
reservations that even despite three decades of
reservation in education and employment if 91 percent
dalit population is either extremely poor agricultural
labour or factory worker, what, in fact, has been achieved
by this policy? Instead of giving something does it not
divide the common student-youth population? Student-
youth movement is not obliged to take an anti-reservation
or pro-reservation stand and it can take a third and a
progressive stand which is the demand for free and equal
education to all and employment to all. This is the
demand which can negate the divisions of religion, caste,
region, nationality and forge unity.
UCDE believes that the demand for Democratization
of Campus is today our important demand. In the past,
university used to be the centre of cultural, political and
social activities of the students. It is during these activities
that several movements and progressive organizations
were engendered. This is the reason why the rulers in
the past two decades deliberately finished off the
democratic atmosphere inside the campus. As a result,
campuses are no longer vibrant and active. For this
administration has consciously increased the fees and
decreased the seats or has not increased it according to
the need. This has resulted in a gradual change in the class
|ni | ii -ti <| + l-+ | +i n|-l=+-| =
- |~| + <| + rt rtr r f rnrt rr n
arf, rrt, =rfr-rt, =rf n =rt far
, r , =rfr- =rf rr r
rra r :=ln( '=ii:' +| n|--| t l+ +-=| +|
| =|+l-+ |-il-+ =|n|l+ l-ll|| +| +-< t|-|
-|lt( ~| :=+ ln( +-=| + |i- ||| + |= |--
-|<i '=' t|-| -|lt(
=tzt;' +| t |i n|--| t l+ +-= + |i- ~|
|t t +| +i =|-<|l+ |l-|<i -|||<i ~| l+=i |i
+| +i t-|- +i |-il- +- |ni =+i|-||<i z|l+-|
+| tn | l|| +-| -|lt( ln=|n + -| <z| +
l+=i |i -|| n |n |l- -|| ~|l< + =|n +| n+ |i
l=|=-i -|+- || + < | n|+| +| -| tn
=+| --+ -=+| l|| +-| -|lt( -=+ l|n| -|
+-| -|lt( ~| n|| + i- | -(+-| ||l- +-
+ ~l||- -n|- -|lt(
=tzt;' i l-z-| + =|| trt-=rr =nrar n
lz|= +-| t l+=i |i =n| n l- + - +| =--| n|-|
t| l|| +i l|l- t|-i t ~ := n|-| n|-| | -| |lt|
-| ||-i =n| tn nlz+n = ti + | tn
n|-- t l+ l|| +i ~||<i +i n|: nt l|| +| n=n|
-ti t l-=-| +i n|ni l= l|| -ti +-i l-+ |
|i +- t = + :--| t|-| t l+ | := | n =-- -ti
t|- tn =|i =n|--|l || ~| --|-|l l|| +|
~|t|- +- t l+ l|| +i n|ni + =|i | +| |
l|| + l|| +| l-=-| = ~||<i <- + ln( == tn
|< ~| ~|-| t|| --t +|: ~||<i '<' -ti =+-|: ~||<i
--+i t ~| --t n+ t|l=n +-i -|lt(
=tzt;' +| n|--| t l+ ||||~| +| t +<n
t +| + |l-|< +| | l|| +-| -|lt( |l-|< +|
+i| ||-i -n|-= n t|: = n| t ~| tnz|| ti
:=- --| +i (+-| +| -|- +| +|n l+| t ln|
n -+ n |l-|<i ---| +| ~= t (= n :=+ l|n|
n|-| -| nltn -|l++-| =| ~l||- ~| =|+l-+
nltn -n|i |-i -|lt( := |l-- ||+ +| -|- + ln(
||||~| +| ti == tn ~| ~|-| t|| t l= <ln-
~||<i +i l-n<|i -ti t ~| tn +-: -ti n|-- l+ <ln-
nl+- + | n ~| |tn||< + l|n| l= <ln- | <ln-
=a-| +| ti |n- +| t+ t t t+ -|l =<-z|in
~| =n|--| +i -|t- |- |n :=|- +| t+ t ~| '=ii:'
(= n|| +| (+ n- <|- +-| ~- n-| n = (+ n|--| t
=tzt;' -n|n <ln- |i-|~| + =|| +| =n|-
+-| t ~| n|--| t l+ t | +i --| +| ~-| |l
--| = - +- +| ~l|+| t -n|n <ln- |i-|~| +
=||| +| <n-+|i +|-- = l+ ~|+| :~|- |= z|n
|= (+| l (l| (+ ~|l< n|+ -i- l+
|- +| tn | l|| +- t ~| =|i |i-|~| +i =-|
character of the campus and has been elitized. On the
other hand the democratic space that was available inside
the campus has been done away with by implementing
various bans and prohibitory orders. To get permission
even for organizing cultural programmes, open
discussions, book exhibitions, seminars are becoming
increasingly difficult. If the student-youth do not discuss
and debate the problems of the country; if they are not
given a space of cultural activity to unleash their creativity;
if they are not given the freedom to express their opinions
then the university cannot produce a young generation
that can think independently. Instead they would produce
a flock with the mentality of sheep. This is the reason
why we have less scientists, artists, literateur, etc. in our
country and we have more clerks of science, clerk of arts,
clerks of literature etc. This is the reason, why UCDE
clearly believes that campuses should be the centre of
healthy cultural, political and social activities and for this
students should have enough democratic space inside
campuses.
UCDE also believes that we should strongly oppose
the parochial forces indulging in communal, casteist,
regional and any form of identity politics. As an
illustration, whenever the ruling powers design riots or
pogroms in the name of religion, caste or region we
should take to the streets in protest, we should engage in
propaganda against it and we should campaign for
militant peoples unity.
UCDE committedly believes in Man-Woman
Equality. In any society the true benchmark of its progress
is the condition of women. If this is set as a benchmark
then obviously we can hardly be proud of the Indian
society. We believe that the struggle for womens
liberation is not merely an issue of women. It is not only
the women who slave under patriarchy but men too. The
difference is that men are not conscious about it. We call
upon every equality-loving man and independence-loving
woman to strongly oppose slavery of women. Women
themselves have to come forward for liberation from
patriarchy. Nobody can 'give' them their freedom!
Freedom is theirs and they have to fight to achieve it.
UCDE believes that student-youth should strongly
oppose all forms of casteism every step of the way. The
snake of casteism has dug its fangs deeply in the Indian
psyche and it has always broken the unity of the people.
Even the educated middle-class is under the influence of
casteism. In such a scenario, constant propaganda,
campaigns to promote rationality and cultural campaigns
must be organized. Student-youth must take initiative to
break this caste segregation. This is not only the
responsibility of the dalit population and we do not
believe that it is only the right of the dalits and dalit
organizations to speak against Brahminism and for dalit
liberation. This is the right of every just, sensitive and
equality-desiring human being and providing a platform
for such people is one of the goals of UCDE.
UCDE supports the struggle of all oppressed
=n|--| n lz|= +- t =|| ti tn n|-- t l+ :- =|i
|i-|~| + -|<i l-z|in --|| ||| |~| +
i- ~| ||= -| :- =|i |i-|~| + n<| i
l+=|-| ~- nt--+z|| + i- | (+-| +|n +- +i
- t
:=+ ~l-l+- =tzt;' |||| -|| | l+=i |i t-|-
+| ~||| -|+ l+ |- |n t +| + <n- +| |
l|| +-| t ~| n|--| t l+ l+=i |i |||| | =+l- +|
l+=i |i -|| ||| -ti | =+-| :== --| + i- +i
(+-| -i t ~| (+ =|n|l+ ~n| <| t|-| t | ~---
-=||| +| l||l- ~| +n| -|-| t
=tzt;' :- =|i +|||| +| | +- + ln( ||| +|
~|t|- +-| t nl+- =|| ti tn|| n|--| t l+
+||| - -+ -ti t| =+- -+ l+ =|i --||
-|<i l-z|in =+n lz|-|+| +n-|l| +| =n|- tn
t|l=n - t| tn t +|n ~|+ =t| =| ~|n|--|
||i<|i ~| n|<z|- + =|| ti + =+- t tn|| =|| <: tn
:= lzl|n +| =-- n|- n lzl|n n -<in +-
n l-lz-- = +|n| t|: lzl|n tnz|| = ----
l-|| + -n ~| l--+|ni ~|-<|n-| +i -n|ln t t
~| (+ | l =n| +| lzl|n +i := |ln+| +i
- t '=ii:' +| ti n+=< t l+ (+ | l =
--|| lzl|n =n<| ~-i := |ln+| +| l-|| |:
ti +- ~| :l-t|= +i tn= n| t: := nltn n tn t
-|l =<-z|in ~| =|t=i | +i - t:
=r r =rt =rr ;-art n,
arf-artt =f+rr =rr,
nationalities and believes that people of each nation have
a right to independently decide their future. We strongly
oppose the repression of the struggles of oppressed
nationalities by repressive laws like AFSPA (Armed Forces
Special Powers Act), Disturbed Areas Act etc. and we
believe in complete equality of all nationalities. Also, we
believe in the necessity of forging a militant unity amongst
the democratic and progressive student and youth of all
these nationalities and especially amongst the workers,
poor peasants and other toilers of these nationalities.
Apart from this, UCDE strongly opposes all forms of
oppressions based on language, region or any form of
identity and believes that any language or culture cannot
be imposed on any region. This breaks the unity among
the masses and results in a social alienation that, in the
last analysis, divides and weakens peoples struggles.
UCDE calls upon all students to fulfil all these tasks
but we also firmly believe that these tasks will not be
fulfilled until all pro-people democratic, progressive,
secular academics and employees do not support us. We
can do this only with your support, advice, critique,
participation and guidance. Be with us! We will definitely
succeed in transforming this university in true sense of
the term! University has always been the birthplace of
advanced ideas and transformatory movements; society
today again needs the university in this role. This is the
purpose of UCDE that the pro-people university
community once again becomes able to fulfil this role!
This is what time and history is demanding of us! In this
work we need all just, sensitive and courageous youth.
Awaiting your Response and Association,
With Revolutionary Greetings,
ff=t rft rt znra=t
qz ;rft (=tzt;
University Community for Democracy
and Equality (UCDE)
=r. rrr-a-ve+vosvzvs, rtrr-vzevvosssv, ;n- ucde.mu@gmail.com
rn- www.ucde-mu.blogspot.in, = n- www.facebook.com/ucdemu
Contact: Prashant-9619039793, Narayan-9769903589, Email- ucde.mu@gmail.com
Blog- www.ucde-mu.blogspot.in, Facebook Group- www.facebook.com/ucdemu