In the weeks following the mass shooting in Florida, the survivors have been vocal – in interviews,
at rallies, and on social media – about their call for gun control amid their
grief. Emma Gonzalez, one of the survivors, who is spearheading the student
movement, delivered an impactful speech last week, directly calling out US
President Donald Trump and the National Rifle Association (NRA), America’s
longest-standing civil rights organisation. The video of her powerful speech
went viral on social media across the world with netizens applauding her
courage and determination to stand up for the cause. Right now, amid demonstrations
by high school students who are speaking out about gun violence, it’s worth
remembering that these high school students are the latest student activists,
though not yet old enough to vote, to hold aloft the proud banner of the
tradition of student activism.
Student activism is a powerful force to
reckon with. Goa in the past has been witness to a few strong student movements
that have effectively fought civic issues in a way nothing else has. But of
late, student activism in Goa has been on hibernation mode and the state hasn’t
seen any noteworthy student movement in the last 4-5 years. That is not to say,
however, that civic issues in Goa have ceased to exist. Issues like the taxi
issue, issues related to traffic rules, women safety, etc have largely not been
addressed effectively by the political authorities and haven’t seen any
patronage from student/youth activists either.
Ahraz Mulla, the President of the Goa Unit of National Students’
Union of India (NSUI), feels that student activism is almost over in Goa,
courtesy the inappropriate process of student elections in the state. Mulla
says, “The Goa University election pattern is not an open election where every
student has the right to vote for the entire main council. The University Class
Representative (UCR) elects the University Faculty Representative (UFR) and the
UFR represents the college. There is no direct involvement of students.” To
fight this issue, NSUI started a movement last September, calling for open
elections, demanding voting rights for every student. The movement received
support from smaller student groups but couldn’t gather big momentum. For now,
NSUI has taken up an initiative, titled, #BleedWithPride, demanding
availability of sanitary pads in public toilets in educational institutions.
Another reason for dying student activism in the state,
according to Mulla, is largely the absence of a strong opposition. Mulla points
out that Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) that is considered to be a
staunch rival to NSUI in other parts of the country, is almost non-existent in
Goa, thereby making the Goa unit of NSUI unenthusiastic.
Atmaram Barve, who has been affiliated with ABVP and BJP Youth
Wing in the past, feels that youth movement is about individuals with an aspiration
to bring about change that they wish to see in society. Barve says, “Activism
does not always involve causing inconvenience to general public or damaging
public property. Activism is all about promoting an idea.” Barve has been a
part of youth movements that include starting a stipend for students of the
Ayurveda college in Shiroda, among many others.
Student
movements have played a very important role in Goa’s history and have shaped
the Goa of today. Student activism has been at the forefront in dealing with
issues like Konkan Railway, Nylon 66, etc and has also seen students be at
loggerheads with the current Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in the past, while
opposing the hike in the fees of professional and non professional colleges.
The movement ended with the government having to roll back the hike in the
fees. However, in the recent past, a vacuum in the space of youth activism has
developed, which has to be looked at by the society at large.
