Democracy thrives on the active participation of its citizens. But a democracy without student politics is incomplete, a mere farce. I say this from my experiences — I am a product of student politics. It shaped me, my understanding of the world, and the role I have played in politics ever since. For me, student politics is not just an element of democracy — it is its lifeblood.
When young people, especially those in universities, engage with politics, they bring fresh perspectives. Their ideals are sharp and they can see society with a clarity that we, the older generation, may sometimes lack. It is this clarity and idealism that makes students capable of understanding the struggles of society and charting out the vision to take it forward.
I was born and raised in a poor, backward-class family where education was almost non-existent. My parents and ancestors were illiterate, as were most people in my village. My life could have followed the same path, but everything changed when I joined B N College at Patna University in the late 1960s. At the time, I had no idea that entering the university would shape my life in such profound ways. But it was here, under the tutelage of my guide, guru, and philosopher Jayaprakash Narayan, that I was introduced to student politics. Through my activism on campus, I became deeply sensitive to the issues of poverty, deprivation, social inequality and economic injustice. The university had little to no representation from marginalised communities. Those from backward classes who managed to make it to university struggled — many didn’t have enough to eat or a means to commute to campus, let alone focus on their studies.
This stark inequality angered me, and I knew something had to be done. My activism started with small protests — demanding free college buses, more hostels, better food in the mess. These may seem like simple issues, but for students like us, they were essential. And this was where my politics truly began.
Fast forward to today, and I can proudly say that my party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), remains deeply rooted in students’ politics. Our existence as a political force would be unimaginable without the foundation laid by students and their activism. And this commitment to nurturing young political leaders continues. Priyanka Bharati, Jayant Jigyasu, and Kanchana Yadav — all three have been students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and were recently appointed as national spokespersons of our party.
These are not random nominations. Priyanka Bharati led fierce protests against fee hikes at JNU, Delhi University, and IITs, and was even injured during these protests. Jayant and Priyanka contested JNU’s presidential elections on Chhatra RJD tickets in 2018 and 2019. Now, they are putting forth our party’s vision and stand on national platforms. The youth we support have the energy and courage to challenge the status quo, and I couldn’t be prouder of how they represent us.
I want to emphasise that these are not isolated examples. Afroz Alam, another bright activist from a poor background, contested the JNU presidential poll in 2023. Tejashwi Yadav, my son, is carrying forward our party’s vision to nurture and support these young leaders. Even our leader, Nawal Kishore, has been instrumental in strengthening our presence at Delhi University, Jamia Millia University, and other campuses.
All of this is to highlight one simple truth: Student politics is essential to shaping not only the future of individual leaders but the future of our democracy as a whole. Democracy thrives when it is nourished by the wisdom, passion, and energy of young minds. Every era presents new challenges, and it is the youth who must rise to meet them. That is why it is so important for political parties and leaders to encourage and promote students’ politics. Without this, democracy itself risks stagnation.
Today, we face a grave threat. The current government led by the BJP is doing everything in its power to destroy our education system. It is no secret that they are working to privatise educational institutions. This is a direct attack on democracy because it blocks access to education and opportunities for the majority of India’s population, who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The RSS, the ideological parent of the BJP, is also working to infiltrate campuses with its divisive communal agenda. They are altering our history, culture, and even the Constitution itself, promoting the ideas of M S Golwalkar and V D Savarkar, figures whose views are dangerous for our democracy. Golwalkar’s writings are full of venom against minorities, and Savarkar was accused of conspiring in Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination.
In such a situation, it is even more urgent to promote students’ politics, especially those rooted in the principles of Mahatma Gandhi, B R Ambedkar, Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, Periyar, and Jyotiba Phule. These leaders fought for an inclusive, democratic India, and it is their teachings that should guide us today. We need students to be actively involved in politics if we want to purge campuses of divisive forces.
India is a poor country, largely inhabited by farmers and labourers. But with rising educational awareness, more and more students from marginalised communities are entering universities. It is essential that political parties rooted in the nationalist spirit of Gandhiji support these students.
By supporting and promoting students’ involvement in politics, we are investing in the future of our country and ensuring that our democracy remains strong, vibrant, and inclusive.
The writer is president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal
