Violence on Youth: A new expression in World’s largest democracy?
“No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts off from its youth severs its lifeline.” — Kofi Annan
Youth are the most vital and dynamic part of the population in any country; shaping its future. Today, India is one of the youngest nations in the world with more than 54% of the total population under 25 years of age. The voice and concerns of this segment has been used as a political weapon and power changes since the pre-independence era. After 1947, world’s largest democracy gives them right to express via Article 19(1)(a) which has resulted in many movements and revolutions led by the youth.
The events that unfolded on and after 15th December 2019 in country’s three premier universities united University students across the country and pushed them on streets overnight. In Jamia and AMU, it was police violence that triggered the protests while what followed after the mob attack on students at JNU magnified the protests. Students from the University of Oxford, along with many national universities, held demonstrations in solidarity with the students afflicted in these universities.
Before the brutality, the massive participation of youth who were not mobilised by any political group protested against the controversial Citizen Amendment Act (CAA). A majority of the youth protested at India Gate, Red Fort or Jama Masjid did not belong to either of the two communities directly affected by the CAA: the Muslims and those from the northeast. The protest took a new direction and students from different came together against the brutality.
Universities have a reputation as a safe enclave for free speech and open debates, leading to the intellectual growth of the youth and preparing them for the future. But what followed after the violence was mayhem. The media-backed official narrative of stone-throwing and rioting by the students was soon overshadowed by stories of police brutality against students. Mainstream media was filled with debates between left- wing and right-wing supporters while political parties initiated their blame games. Amidst all of this, students who were peacefully protesting against the brutality were labelled as “anti-nationals”. Meanwhile, a few leaders contributed in the hate speech leading to various clashes in the country.
The violence on students depict how democratic values are being hampered by the people in power who misuse them to supress dissent. The protest against police atrocities in Jamia is also a protest against suffocating authority figures who seek to infantilise university students.
Communicating opinions, voicing dissent Ideological differences can be expressed in a million ways, last of them is violence. Considering India’s democratic setup, we must refrain from adopting brute force to prove a point. Violence begins where rationality ends. It is an admission of the defeat of ideas and thought-out responses.
This episode has exposed the shallowness of the times that we live in. Democracy may not be a symphony, but its variegated voices must be provided with an equal platform; or at least respect. By stifling the very expressions that lend plurality to the vast country and its diverse thoughts and ideologies, we would be striking at the very root of our core; and doing ourselves the biggest disservice and damage.
