By Shankar Pandey
Dissent is integral to the right to freedom of expression. Right to freedom of expression, one of the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution of India is central to the democratic process. Indeed the democratic character of any country would look shallow if there was no freedom of expression guaranteed to its citizens. However, it is equally true that this right to freedom of expression is one of the most contested of fundamental rights and courts have had to repeatedly interfere to interpret its scope and limitations. Indian constitution itself states that fundamental rights are not “absolute” and are subject to reasonable restrictions.
Recent anti India sloganeering by a group of students of Jawahar Lal Nehru University and subsequently by another group at the Jadavpur University , two of India’s prestigious Institutions of higher Learning have once again brought the controversy surrounding the “ freedom of expression to the fore, splitting the Indian society vertically over the issue.
While some “intellectuals” including media houses have vociferously defended the action of the students terming such acts as part of democratic exercise by the students, others have vehemently condemned such acts on the ground of being antinational and seditious acts.
Before taking a stand on the issue, it is important to put the action of the students in proper perspective:
A group of students at Jawahar Lal University , New Delhi were shouting anti India slogans such as “Pakistan zindabad” “ Afzhal Guru Zindabaad “ Hindustaan ki barbaadi tak ye jung zaari Rahegi –We will fight on till India is destroyed” And Afzal we will give sustenance to your dream.
It is important to take a recap of who was Afzal Guru? A dreaded terrorist, who was the mastermind of the attack on Parliament of India; the symbol of Indian democracy. The attack resulted in the death of our brave security men. It is anybody’s guess as to what would have happened if the attackers had succeeded in entering the parliament premises. Scores of lawmakers from across party line would have been killed .It was only because of the heroic deeds of the security men who made the supreme sacrifice fighting the terrorist that such a terrible scenario was averted.
Now can the act of singing valedictory songs by the students in favour of such a terrorist whose only mission was to destroy India and also to take a pledge that “we” will fulfil the terrorists unfinished task of destroying India , be termed as mere “ dissent” ?
“Hindustan ki Barbadi tak ye jung zaari Rahegi” “We will fight on till India is destroyed” was another of slogans shouted by the students – Again it is evident that the students who were shouting such slogans have a single point agenda of “destroying” India. When you publicly take a vow to destroy your own country – you are crossing the line from dissent tosedition.
In Jadavpur University students were seen Demanding “Azaadi” or independence for Kashmir, Nagaland, Manipur And even Kerala from India. Mind you that such anti India slogans were not made by members of an insurgent group but by educated students of a prestigious university. One wonders what could be the common point of reference in making such secessionist demand for independence of these states by the students; other than just plain visceral hatred for their own country, India.
It is saddening to note that where as our soldiers are laying down their lives serving in the most inhospitable terrain including Siachen, while protecting the territorial integrity of India, our educated and intelligent elites are openly declaring support to our enemy nation and are also vowing to destroy the very nation that they live in.
It seems that for some “activists” freedom of expression amounts to shouting anti India slogans and taking anti national stands. Some “intellectuals “in Shillong as reported in the Shillong Times have gone on to say that students have the right to be “anti National “if the policies of the government are anti people. They surely don’t know what they are saying, for being anti government of the day is anybody’s democratic right. One may or may not be agreeable to the government’s policies and citizens have a right to express their disagreements with the government’s policies by way of protests, marches and through any other modes. But there is a difference between being anti-government and being anti national. Former is a democratic right, latter is not. This difference, though fundamental, seems to have been lost on the people who are supporting the actions of the students
For far too long Anti India stance has been the mainstay of the so called intellectual narrative in India. One has not truly arrived in the “intelligent sphere” until he/ she has made some anti India statements and lauded Pakistan and the west. Many so called intellectuals who have defended the action of JNU students need to do a reality check. Dissent doesn’t always mean saying “Pakistan Zindabad”. Would the United States of America, an epitome of democracy for the “intellectual classes” have allowed celebration of the life of Osama Bin Laden in Its universities? And would American media and its intellectual circle have reacted in the way as its happening in India?
Universities are places of higher learnings where future leaders of a country are shaped. It is equally true that participation in issue based activism and organising and being part of protest and rallies are part of student life. Frees speech and right to criticize and express dissent with the government’s policies is an integral part of democratic discourse. However such activities should remain within the realms of national interests and students cannot be allowed to go overboard and take anti-national and seditious stands in the guise of free speech and dissent. It is important to ensure that Universities or for that matter any institutions where young and impressionable minds are studying should not become hubs where anti national ideas are perpetuated.
(The writer is Co-convenor Forum for Integrated National Security –FINS, Meghalaya)