Hundreds of students cheered and clapped when a senior activist of the Ambedkarite students’ organisation BAPSA (Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students’ Association) called upon Shabana Ali to address the gathering. PhD scholar at Arts and Aesthetics centre, 28-year old Shabana is BAPSA’s presidential candidate and seen as one of the frontrunners in JNU Students Union (JNUSU) Elections 2017. The site of the gathering was JNU’s Chandrabhaga Hostel where BAPSA’s mashal juloos (torchlight procession) called“Oppressed Unity March” terminated on the late Sunday night. Taking out procession days before the polls is a routine event for all the major students’ organisations. The usual route of the march has been from the famous Ganga Dhaba to Chandrabhaga Hostel. Situated close to the north-gate, Ganga Dhaba is the oldest food stall on the campus and an inseparable part of JNU’s political culture, which wakes up at the late afternoon and remains awake till the wee hours, serving students tea, samosa, paratha etc. By holding out procession amid slogans, students’ organisations attempt to animate their cadres and supporters, “woo” new voters but most importantly, exhibit their strength to opponents.
(Source: Abhay Kumar, ‘Holding onto Ambedkar: The emergence of BAPSA and the challenge to Left and Right’, TwoCircles.net, September 7, 2017)
Author(s): Abhay Kumar
Year: 2017
