Much dust of controversy has
been raised round the question whether or not the students are qualified to take
part in politics. Some people are of the options that politics must, under no
circumstances, be allowed to divert students from their studies, while others
believe that it is necessary for students to take a very active part in politics
so that they may receive some training for the struggle that awaits them.
Politics have some point of views. According to the orthodox view, it corrupts
the students’ mind, and degenerate his moral character; it develops in him a
love of worldly values. By taking an active part in politics he neglects his
fundamental duties of moral and intellectual advancement to which he is pledged
as a student. According to revolutionary view, politics is one of the noblest
gift of modern human knowledge. In a free country it is an important part of
culture and education. To cut the students off from this new source in education
is to deny democracy its true meaning, and to a country her own best. Those who
take a moderate view of situation suggest that full facilities should be given
to the students to study the political life. It is a great folly to regard
politics as a forbidden subject to them and thus to keep them in dark about the
various changes that are developing in their country. Political education should
be important to them in their schools and colleges through debates, discussion,
and lectures. But so far as their active participation in political life is
concerned we must draw a line. Political knowledge is good for them but no
political agitation. It creates in them undesirable excrement, disturbs their
studies and hamper their moral and intellectual growth. So far as the student’s
participation in the active political agitation is concerned, we must plea some
limits on it. Political knowledge is one thing but political agitation another.
The former means their intellectual advancement but the latter signifies their
complete ruin. So long as they study political problem from a detached and
dispassionate point of view there is no harms but moment they throw themselves
into the heat and dust of active political agitation they contract numerous
dangers to their personal and national life. On account of their impressionable
age and heightened susceptibility to propaganda, they are likely to be easily
deceived by interested groups and individuals of dubious political aims.
The students of today and the citizens of tomorrow. A student who begins to take
too early an interest in practical politics does harm to his country and to his
career. Therefore, he should make himself fit for the tasks before he joins the
field of politics. A soldier who is not drilled and disciplined proves a failure
if not a menace. Students may be encouraged to take an active part in social and
constructive programmes that lie before the country. Such activities will not
only provide the necessary and useful outlets for engaging their surplus energy
and spare time but will also help them in building their character. They will
create in them a sense of responsibility, a spirit of co-operation and
fellow-feeling, and above all, teach them valuable lessons in initiative,
discipline and leadership .