Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Mar 25: Former professor of political science at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Prof Valerian Rodrigues, on Friday March 25 said that democracy as espoused by Dr B R Ambedkar is only kind of nationalism that the country needs in the present context.

He was speaking at a discussion on 'Nationalism' with reference to the recent happenings at Jawarharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi held at Kalaangann here on Friday March 25.

Addressing the gathering, the former professor who has taught in JNU for 14 years, said, "There are four ideas of nationalism. First, the idea of our nation - a nation constituted by ethics, traditions and values and all the people put together. It has an ethical past according to Nehruvian and Savarkar views. I feel bad when the phrase 'Bharat Mata' is insulted. It is a phrase which has a sacred connotation about the nation and comes from values, tradition and literature.

"Secondly, there is secular nationalism, which is also a problem as it automatically makes people unequal. There will be interference of state in religious laws. In a secular nation when the state interferes in religious affairs, the question arises as to 'who is the state to direct me?' Religious law will then interfere in secular law. This will be a constitutional difference.

"The third kind of nationalism is regarding equality of beliefs, in which all religions are considered equal. There is untouchability in Hinduism and to some extent in Christianity and Islam also, but in Hinduism it is centred in religious norms but not in the other two religions. If the state intervenes in Hindu religious norms to abolish untouchability and does not do so in Christianity, would you say the state is practicing heirarchy and holding Christians on a higher pedestal than Hindus? Even the concept of 'Sarvadharma Samabhava' has a problem.

"The fourth kind of nationalism is the concept by Dr B R Ambedkar, which says nationalism is nothing but democracy - democracy as a way of life, and treating everyone as equal. This is the only kind of nationalism required for deliberative democracy in India," Prof Valerian said.

"Azadi (freedom) is nothing but freedom from what we all share in common - from hunger, casteism, and communalism," he added.

Elaborating on JNU as an educational institution, he said, "I joined JNU in 2003 and worked for 14 years including as chairman of political science department. Students coming to JNU are very bright, and they wish to see a radical change in the country. Today, the composition of the students of JNU has radically altered. There are over 9,000 students in JNU.

"The advantage of JNU is that it exposes students to a complex of traditions, administrative and global views. The composition of the students is an experiment of significance which most of the universities refuse to do. JNU admits students from different kinds of social constituencies of India. It is also a central university where there is 15 percent reservation for SCs, 7 percent fo STs, ten percent for women and students from certain areas which are backward. So weightage is given to certain backward areas. Even (student leader) Kanhaiya Kumar hails from a backward area of Bihar. Women constitute 44 percent of the student strength in JNU. Students from all over the country and also from the best colleges of Delhi come here. Social justice of a university is very important," he said.

"The University Grants Commission (UGC) regulates the universities. People think it regulates universities, but actually it dismantles them. It has become a stooge of the government in power. During 2,000 when A B Vajpayee was the PM and NDA was in power for the first time, the government curbed radical voices and saffronized a place like the Indian Insitutute of Advanced Techhnology, and it also wanted to curb the JNU. Though the research calibre of JNU is not so high, 60 percent of the faculty are from Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore and Australia, and hence there is a global teaching community," he added.

Commenting on the JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, he said, "There was a purposiveness in the march held after Kanhaiya's release. It was like a military march. The entire JNU campus is like a cultural festival. The youth who come here are recipients of public opinion. There are various organizations in the campus that follow deliberative culture. There are organizations which are deeply political and there are those which are affiliated to political organizations. Majority of them are leftists. All India Students' Association (AISA) is suported by the CPI(M), and Kanhaiya Kumar belongs to All India Students Federation (ASFI) which is a small body in JNU. He was elected president of JNU students' union because he was the voice of the students. ABVP is the second largest organization in JNU."

On the Afzal Guru debate, Prof Valerian said, "Afzal Guru's execution has become a huge debate in the country. Afzal was not granted pardon, partly because of the political context. I am not saying he should have been excused, but he has been seen as a political victim. A large number of Kashmiri students hold meetings in JNU campus, and generally in Kashmir as a whole, today there is a breakage of sympathy for Afzal. This year on his death anniversary, the ABVP linked this to the state and power and also informed the police. The new vice-chancellor who was recently appointed allowed the police into the campus. University is an autonomous body and to enter it you need a search warrant.

"Why do Hyderabad Central University student Rohith Vemula who committed suicide and Kanhaiya Kumar have iconic presence today? I knew Rohith Vemula well - he addressed the voice of his constituency which has found little place within the structure of democracy, and it rings the bell of authenticity when these people say 'what does your freedom mean to us?' It may not sound well to the people who are in the seats of power and the corporate houses, but it will sound pleasant to the poor," he said.

Mandd Sobhann gurkar Eric Ozario introduced Prof Valerian and welcomed the gathering.