This article is written by Riya Singla.
It is so much of fun to be in Delhi and even more so when you’re in one of the country’s best universities, the Delhi University. And the fantasizing continues when one can just look at what its electoral politics are. Delhi University elections had always been the mark of where Delhi politics are heading to and will continue to be. Simply put, it is not everyone’s cup of tea.
There have been two major parties for DU elections i.e., ABVP (Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad) and NSUI (National Student Union of India) which have their respective godfathers and mentors. When the names like Arun Jaitley, Rahul Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Sheila Dikshit, Sachin Pilot, Kapil Sibal are coupled with Delhi University, it makes a perfect recipe for a bit of masala and lots of tamasha.
As soon as the election dates are put up on the board, a month long festival seems to be on its way. Apart from academics and co-curricular activities, politics is also a major area of exposure when it comes to the country’s number one university. Bunking classes, taking part in the campaigns, convincing people to come to vote is all we do during the months of August and September. It is a battle ground and a beginner’s experience for aspiring politicians. One may call it a beta test for the big fat politics of our country. Of course, all this happens because we here get maximum funds, maximum opportunities and most importantly the will of major political parties to come into the eyes of youth.
But the other side of the same coin talks of a different story. Whether the tickets really given to truly deserving candidates; is a million dollar question. Someday or the other, we all have witnessed an undeserving candidate sitting in the College Council. Lakhs of money flown, dance parties organised, free movie tickets to anyone and everyone are the major practices during this time. Beating up dhols in the campus, putting up the entire college on hold, screaming slogans at the maximum volume, is this the way to go?. Also the politics, at times in the past has painted a dirty picture, and barely comes as a surprise if a serious crime gets associated with the whole agenda to procure a seat.
All in all, this university has the capability to give you a bit of tadka, a bit of padhaai, a lot of entertainment and lots and lots of experience. Talking of the elections in the university, I would rightly put it as ‘You can like it, you can hate it but you cannot ignore it’.
