Daily Times

It came late but it is better that, finally, it has made its way into the mainstream media including both social and electronic with a lot of buzz. Pakistan’s youth under the stewardship of students are making headlines across all media platforms in the wake of Student Solidarity March taking place on November 29, 2019, in more than 40 cities across Pakistan in which an outstanding demand of the students from the government is to withdraw an inclusive ban on the formation of student unions in universities which resulted in students’ depoliticization. Students’ campaign for Student Solidarity March gained popular traction after a video from the recently held Faiz Festival in Lahore went viral in which one of the students’ activists Arooj Aurangzeb almost moved everybody with the recitation of verses from one of Faiz’s poems in the most passionate way. I must say that the passion with which she recites, it’s contagious.

As we are moving near Student Solidarity March, the students’ activists in the Faiz Festival’s video are making appearances on different media platforms and are mobilizing youth across Pakistan for their march with the most convincing arguments for their demand of allowing students to make students’ unions in the universities. For the first time, it seems that the case of more than 60% youth of Pakistan is being advocated selflessly by advocates among their ranks. Their way of communicating why students must be exposed to political training in students’ unions across universities so that they can take a stand for their rights and connecting the lack of students’ unions with core issues of our society simply say that these students are not only a reflection of an energy but they also have a vision and a direction.

Unfortunately, for the last more than three decades, students in academic institutes have been kept aloof from politics through a concerted effort. Engaging in any kind of political activity is considered against the ethos of education and is perceived as something which is not in consonance with someone who is engaged in learning. Because the term “politics” has been demonized, its understanding among the students is quite narrow and thinking about participating in any of its form, be it about their rights, is perceived as a violation of code of conduct designed for ideal students.

Actually, politics, in essence, is one of the core values of education. It helps you visualize the world from one’s own perspective which is the most empowering virtue. It enables you to not get lost in the clamor of masses and take a stand for what you believe in. Its literal reflection we can observe in the interaction taking place among political parties across the political spectrum of Pakistan which has nothing concrete in its lap except protection of vested interests but politics is more than what it looks like on the face value. Its essence lies in taking a stand for all those values in the form of women empowerment, justice for all, climate change, etc. which help humanity attain its true potential.

Allowing the formation of students’ unions in universities can pay off phenomenally. It will provide a channel for students to actually learn how to assert themselves for their rights and prepare themselves for dealing with the challenges which our society has been facing at large

Because, in the majority of our academic institutes, we don’t help our students how to question things and take a stand for their rights, these students have no approach of their own at the end of the day. They can’t evaluate critically. They don’t see any point in questioning things and society around them. Their whole duration of stay in academic institutes revolves around a superficial understanding of textual concepts and they can hardly relate or evaluate the efficacy of those concepts in practical life.

Allowing the formation of students’ unions in universities can pay off phenomenally. It will provide a channel for students to actually learn how to assert themselves for their rights and prepare themselves for dealing with the challenges which our society has been facing at large. It will make academic institutes more inclusive as when there will be a channel for students to participate in the actual working of academic institutes. It will give them a sense of empowerment and value. This development will help students to mould academic milieu as per their choice. Taking a stand for their rights and planning how to convince others for the attainment of those rights through an educated approach can make students prepared for challenges in professional life. Moreover, engaging students with students’ unions will help students to speak from their minds instead of becoming a lot who gather information without any insights which unfortunately is statuesque.

Currently, it’s a moment of celebration for youth across Pakistan that their case is being advocated by students’ activists and that too with no nefarious agenda. The current momentum should not die and this can only be possible through inclusive support of students across Pakistan. It’s a moment of taking back the space which was taken away from the students more than thirty years ago.

Moreover, the government should make sure that it pays heed to the demands of Student Solidarity March. The current government came into power with a youth-centered agenda. It’s the time to actualize that agenda. The other day, Prime Minister Imran Khan, like a teacher, tried to help understand the economic problems of Pakistan to youth in Mianwali and asked youth that he needed their support to build “Naya Pakistan” through chasing the ones who looted money of this country. PTI’s crackdown against money launderers is a step taken in the right direction and it developed a narrative in Pakistan against corruption which is PTI’s biggest contribution but this narrative seems reactive and is losing traction with the passage of time because of other impending problems in the likes of inflation and many others.

PTI’s government currently needs to be proactive in its approach. This is what Pakistanis are looking for from the government’s side. The best way for PTI to inculcate pro-activity in its approach is to accommodate the demands of Students Solidarity March as that will in true sense sow the seeds of “Naya Pakistan”.

I wish best of luck to the organizers of Student Solidarity March!

The writer teaches at the Department of Political Science in University of Management and Technology, Lahore and works as an editor at KENZ. He can be reached at uinam39@gmail.com