The question has always been open to criticism whether students should be kept at arms length from politics or they should be allowed to take an active part in politics. In this age of political advancement and awakening, the students’ life in itself has been a politics for the last many years.
Moreover, every young man has some inspirations and some sentiments. These inspirations and sentiments can only be given a practical shape if they are allowed to enter politics. The question that remains unsettled is the shape and kind of politics.
The students must be allowed to understand their problems and they should have a full say in making those problems solved in the right way. If they are debarred from doing so, it would mean nipping in bud the political awakening that is natural in every heart.
Students are the backbone of the society and if they are not brought up properly, the future of the society will be darkened. Orthodox people cite old examples to prove that the students’ life was the life of penance and hardships.
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Students have nothing to do with the politics of the country and they have to devote their full attention to their physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual growth. Their studies and the method of education in that age went ahead in helping them to grow properly as an asset to the society. Such people are also mistaken.
The students have full say in their own affairs and the best way of teaching was by discussion. That discussion involved their personal politics and the politics of students’ life.
Huen Sang, a well known scholar, of China, visited India in the days when Nalanda University was in its prime. That was the oldest of the Universities. He writes that the students in that University had full right to express themselves. They had not to follow the teacher; serving of teacher does not mean captivity of the intellect.
Modern critics who are of opinion that students should be kept away from politics forget that our society within organic concepts can only advance. The students are also a part of our society that is our body. Any organ of the body which is undeveloped makes the body cripple and infirm.
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Thus we can assume that for the betterment of the society, of the welfare of the student community, for the prosperity of the nation and for every lasting peace in the universe, the students should be allowed to have their say in all matters, which concern them.
There is also the dark side of it that is being witnessed these days. In the garb of politics, students take to destructive means. They ignore their studies and they think that copying is their right. Attendance should not be a condition for taking an examination.
The indiscipline and unrest among the students prove that the modern politics has totally failed to tackle their problems. The students should not be allowed to take active part in politics. I may be excused if I assert that the fault does not lie with the students who are as delicate as the new branch of a new plant; the fault lies with the politicians who try to use the young blood for the welfare of their own party purposes.
Party politics and politics are two separate things. As far as the former is concerned, the politicians should understand that to meet their selfish ends, they should not misuse the young blood. They should remember that the coming generation would never pardon them. The students should be allowed to take an active part in the politics and in all those matters which are concerned with their present and future. They should not follow the slogans and the dogmas of the so-called politicians who proclaim themselves to be their friends, well-wishers and their saviours.