IITs becoming new hub of politics?

FOR THE last few months, premiere technical institutes especially IITs are turning out to be a new hub of politics in the country. However, it is not because of the Centre's plan to increase quota to OBCs in the IITs and the IIMs but because of setting up of two recent ventures (read organisations) both eyeing to build the nation through adopted profession of politics instead of their primary profession of engineering.

FOR THE last few months, premiere technical institutes especially IITs are turning out to be a new hub of politics in the country. However, it is not because of the Centre's plan to increase quota to OBCs in the IITs and the IIMs but because of setting up of two recent ventures (read organisations) both eyeing to build the nation through adopted profession of politics instead of their primary profession of engineering.

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Taking lead towards politicisation of intellectuals is Paritrana, already recognised as a political party by the Election Commission, while the Bharat Uday Mission heading towards the same goal plans by 2009-10.

Besides having virtually a common goal, both the ventures have IITians in the driver's seat. Founder members of the Paritrana include Tanmay Raj Purohit (IIT-Mumbai alumnus) who is president of the party, Amit Bisen and Ajit Shukla (also of the IIT-Mumbai) as vice-presidents of the party along with Chandrashekhar, an alumnus of the IIT-K and treasurer of the party.

Similarly, the Bharat Uday Mission has also been launched by a few current students of the IIT-K. Ajit is one of the core members of the mission. Not only both the organisations are being run by former and present IITians but maximum efforts are also being made by both to garner as much support as possible among aspiring technocrats, especially the IITians.

The effect is visible now. At any and every function being held at the IIT, volunteers from these two organisations could be seen either elaborating the purpose of formation of the organisations or distributing pamphlets. Only on Saturday while veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar was at the IIT-K to deliver a lecture, about a dozen students and probably supporters of the Bharat Uday Mission were seen distributing pamphlets.

However, there is a fear among a section of students and faculty members that these students may spoil their primary career and end up nonentities because of diversion towards politics. One of the faculty members even said that politics was now making inroads into such premiere institutes like the IIT, which, according to him, was not at all a good sign. Nayar who interacted with such volunteers straight away rejected politics on the campus and suggested that instead of vote bank politics students should learn politics of administration if they wanted to build a better nation.

Similar apprehensions were also raised by placement agencies. One of the officials of a placement agency said that it would be very difficult to recruit technocrats who had affiliation with any political organisation.

Membership of the Paritrana officially stands at 8000, out of which about 150 are from the IIT-K, the rest being from other IITs and IIMs and about 100 from the Harcourt Butler Technology Institute, Kanpur. Similarly, maximum members of the Bharat Uday Mission comprise IITians and students from the IIMs.

However, Paritrana vice-president Ajit Shukla while talking to the Hindustan Times on phone from Chennai allayed the fear that IITians and students of other premiere institutes were being distracted, and said that responsibility was proportionate to ability and they were making efforts to expand the share of responsibility among IITians towards building a better nation. Ajit said the Paritrana had also decided to field about a dozen candidates in the coming Tamil Nadu polls and he was in Chennai to look after the poll preparation only.
He said it was not politicisation of intellectuals but intellectualisation of politics. Once again time would be the better judge to tell.