New Delhi, September 21
The JNU Students Union (JNUSU) relay hunger strike that commenced last Thursday was brought to a logical conclusion last evening, after extended deliberations among the union office-bearers, the Vice-Chancellor and university authorities. The unanimous solution involves the review of the 10th plan – the major bone of contention – by a 14-member committee.
The committee consists of the V-C, nine deans of various schools, two rectors, the dean of students’ welfare and a coordinator. The deans have been handed over the responsibility of building consensus over the proposals of the plan within their respective schools and suggest amendments to the plan.
The JNUSU has been assured that the plan will not be implemented without gaining a prior clearance from the University Academic Council.
The hunger strike was a reactionary form of protest against the 10th plan, which was conceptualised and forwarded to the UGC by the V-C. The plan was based on certain recommendations put forth by the UGC itself, as bait for JNU so as to ensure an increase in grants from the funding agency.
The JNUSU had contended that the plan entails various proposals, which had signs of saffronisation written all over them such as the institution of a ‘centre for human conciousness’ – a proposal that had previously been rejected by the Academic Council.
Further, the proposal to establish short-term self-financing courses sparked off a “government plans of commercialising education” rhetoric from the student community. The JNUSU contended that the proposal would tarnish the reputation of the university and reduce the credibility of the degrees awarded by the university.
The strike had gained substantial momentum over the past week, receiving a shot in the arm by gaining the support of the teaching fraternity as well. The strike witnessed almost 10 students going without food everyday in a bid to “protect the sanctity of their alma mater”.
The V-C had previously held talks with the striking students and had also promised the institution of a committee to “look into the matters”, which didn’t go down too well with the JNUSU as it wanted the discussion to be “taken down to the school level”.
The UGC committee is expected to arrive in November to review the plan and approve its proposals. But with the student and teaching communities, standing arm in arm in defiance of the 10th plan, the UGC committee might be greeted with a plan, which bears little or no resemblance to the first draft that was forwarded to them.
Under any circumstance, the next couple of months in JNU will be dominated by discussions, arguments and counter-arguments pertaining to the 10 plan, unless the committee is able to facilitate a consensus amid fears of saffronisation and privatisation.
For the coming months, ten will mark the spot for the JNU teaching and students communities.
