A model Students' Union for AMU | Mohammad Allam

The purpose of any educational institution is to develop all-round personality of the student through keeping education in the centre. If education is not in the centre, no model of students union will work to improve the educational culture of the institution and all-round personality of the students. To achieve the aims and objectives, the function of the concerned educational authority is to construct such a model which inspires the students to perform better at all levels by placing education in the centre.

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In present scenario of development of political philosophy of students in an educational institution is not intentional motive to serve the alma-mater and the nation but to glorify the personal achievements and open the path for rise in political career. This sort of philosophy can be tolerated in a Machiavellian democratic political set-up of nation but not in politics of the students Union of an educational institution.

The case of AMU Students' Union in present time reveals a unique pattern of dominance by the various forces operated in the Campus. Every vested interest visualizes the Students Union from own perspective without considering the interest of the institution and educational culture of the university. The nexus among the different sections of the university power brokers present the dangerous trend in the history of Students Union for the last few years. From students, teachers and administration want a peaceful and constructive Union for the university by neutralizing it from vested interest. What should be done to achieve this goal?

In my opinion the solution lies in the changing in the structure, mode of election, composition and functions of the Students Union. The structure of the Students Union should be based on:

1) General Body and 

2) Elected Council. 

The Elected Council should be considered the ultimate authority of the students of the university. The General Body can comprise all students of the university. 

The Elected Council could call General Body meeting to consult on any important matter like Strike, Dharna etc. 

Without consent of General Body, such acts of the union would be considered illegal.

As for election, the demand of the time is to change the election process. Till now the election used to be held for the post of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Cabinet. These office bearers used to be elected by the university students (No right to vote or any thing to 10+2 and schools students. While in practical the students from these two sections make tempo high during the election campaign.

In changing scenario the students union should have two stages of election.

Primary stage:

At this stage there is no need to have any election. All the toppers of all the Departments should be accepted as elected members of the Elected Council of Students Union. While one member should be elected from each faculty like Social Science, Commerce etc. by a system of vote by the students

Secondary stage:

At this stage, members the Elected Council comprising toppers and elected ones would elect President, Vice-President, Secretary and Cabinet and other office bearers for the students union.

This sort of students union would bring a well balanced Students Union. Such union would have both the value of merit and leadership quality. This would bring the reach of the student leader to minimum and would not allow him/her to have nexus with the vested interests. The various vested interests would not be in position to use such union for their own sake. In terms of functions of the students union, there should be a clear demarcation line. They should be given more saying in matter related to the problems of the students. There should be regular time bound meeting with the office bearers of the Students Union. By this way, one can hope that AMU can put education in the centre of all activities of the students and the doors can be opened for both meritorious and political oriented brain.

Mohammad Allam is a faculty member at S.T.S. High School ( Minto Circle), AMU, Aligarh. He can be reached at mohammad_allam@rediffmail.com. Article Courtesy: TwoCircle.Net