An algebra of AMUSU Elections... A Kashmir Perspective.. !!

A month after AMUSU Elections, JKAA stirs a New Debate

by Shafa'at Wani

        AMUSU Elections were held on 29 Oct’14 and the results declared the same day. However, post elections analysis especially from the Kashmir community came a month later. It was yesterday when Jammu Kashmir Alig Association (JKAA), a body proclaiming to represent a section of Kashmiri community created a new controversy, leading to a new debate from within the community. Though many stalwarts in the debate are yet silent, and have not responded, but JKAA Supremo Manzoor Ahmad, JKAA President Ajaz Ahmad, a senior student from Jammu named Mujahid Mughal and one from Kashmir named Abu Bakr added inputs to this new discussion. I, being a part of the community was witnessing the Elections and the post election analysis found it necessary to join the fray...

Pre Poll senario...

To begin with, it the first time at AMU, at least upto my knowledge, that NON STUDENT involvement in the students’ politics at AMU was challenged by a candidate. He simply was daring all those people who owned hegemony since decades and thought that they are the ONLY king makers at AMU. Also, he called for a Value based politics, with a Principal criterion of "Service to AMU" than to the interests, vested as well regional. He simply was bulldozing the idea of VOTING in the name of Regions though accepting that Love for region is not BAD, except when it becomes the yardstick to decide the Right and Wrong. He struck hard against those who believed of no opposition from any side as they owned Kattas and Goondas. He was brave enough to face the threats from all corners who were loosing the ground because a new wave of General Student Politics was apparent in the campus. He was the man eying for the advocacy of marginalised & downtrodden community at large. Devoid of myopic interests...He was Abdullah Azzam, who clinched his way at the end.

Rival to him, was a candidate whose nomination was a consensus by-product of "Senior Students of AMU" who actually are Non Students and are termed as MATHADEESH (Alig lexicon) , especially the one who’s "Launched Candidates" were facing continuously defeats in the last three AMUSU elections. It was a symbiotic nexus. His firm belief was in regionalism and "Mathadeesh" involvement, so he tried his best to gather entire fraternity of "Regional Seniors" in his camp. This candidate was found addressing questions raised by his opponent more than presenting his election agenda. His campaign was totally a "Defensive Response" to his opponent candidate. He was Leyakat Bhai, who lost the elections and the election process was over.

& WHEN WE JOINED THE QUAGMIRE...!!

The election had something to cheer for Kashmiri students at AMU. It was for the first time, as my elders say, that students from J&K displayed a robust involvement in AMUSU politics. They campaigned vigorously for different candidates and entire Alig fraternity was stunned to see "Baechare Kashmiri Padnae Likhnae wale Bachae" playing active role in so called dirty damn "Politics". This is where the Kashmir perspective of the saga begins....

On one side, our senior most elder at AMU, Dr. Manzoor Ahmad Bhai, JKAA president Ajaz Bhai and JKAA Vice President Waseem Rana were seen in the first row in Sherwani Poshi of Leyakat Bhai. They declared their support for him by their gracious presence on this very first function. On the other side, another senior Rouf bhai, was seen in the first row in the sherwani poshi of Abdullah Azzam and he was one of the prime speakers cum Star campaigner of the said candidate in the entire campaign. JKAA secretary supported Abdullah Azzam in his personal capacity. This way Kashmir camp entered the contest and the contest tuned fierce with every passing day. Manzoor bhai, though a non-student openly campaigned for the loosing candidate and argued that He is a senior Kashmiri, and believes in regionalism and without regionalism no Students’ Union is viable. So, all Kashmiris as a lobby should vote for the ‘defeated’ candidate because according to him, both of them share the same principle. He argued throughout his campaign that Kashmiris should vote on his guidance as he provides them scholarship and helps Kashmiris whenever needed. He went to faculties, halls and rooms calling upon Kashmiris to respect him by Voting for Leyakat bhai. Manzoor bhai being an active senior and a great helper to Kashmiri students was expected to draw a certain percent of vote bank towards his candidate. (with inputs from kashmiri students from different Halls).

Rouf bhai, who was at the forefront for Abdullah Azzam argued that AMU has been destroyed by regionalism as all infighting at AMU has mostly the regional touch. He argued that AMU students should vote out of their own intellect and reject any dictates from non-students. He was ferocious in his language when he called upon all to vote on the basis of merit and credentials. He said it many times during the campaign that if Leyakat bhai is more meritorious and better for AMU, then all should vote for him. He gave a choice and not a decision. He, being an a dynamic Kashmiri at AMU who had largely contributed in opening intellectual vistas and social work in the last four and half years had a potential to drift a large vote bank towards his candidate.

It was the final speech by Abdullah Azaam that generated serious ripples across the campus and sent Shock waves that shook the Leyakat bhai’s camp. A defeat near with a humungous margin was felt in the fort of Leyakat bhai, However, they managed to reduce the margin at the end.

An ambiguous MEETING !! who won... ?? who lost..??

As the confused & polarised wave kept on waving in Kashmiri students...It was just a night before voting, that some Kashmiri students called for a General Body meeting of Kashmiris in Old University Canteen Lawns where the meeting was attended by more than 200 boys. The meeting was organised to understand views of Manzoor bhai and Rouf bhai on the issue of AMUSU elections. Luckily the entire conversation recordings are available and can be heard to deconstruct the respective stand...

Manzoor bhai spoke first and sought votes as a community; he praised regionalism and explained his association with out-side non-student elements. He said that JKAA is not a party to elections as JKAA had no meeting on the issue and is politically neutral. Rouf bhai sought votes on credentials and asked students to decide, whom to vote and whom not to vote for. He said that AMU must be a first priority as we all are burdened by its favours. He said he finds Azzam as a better candidate on merits, if anyone disagrees, he may follow his way.

Later many people spoke, JKAA VP said regionalism is a reality and idealism should not be followed, instead Kashmirs should vote as per Manzoor bhai’s wish, otherwise he would be hurt. Hafiz Waseem spoke later and said, we respect Manzoor bhai, but he can’t be allowed to make us vote for an inefficient candidate and a candidate with NON-STUDENT allegiance. Another senior student Farooq Ahmad said that Kashmiris should vote intelligently and should not be swayed away by anyone. He said Kashmris have faith in MERITOCRACY and they should vote on the basis of merit. The discussion ended with a bad taste as supporters from each side disagreed in a bad tune. Election was over and all ended well. People forgot the scene and moved ahead.

POST POLL SENARIO... !!

JKAA ignited a new controversy by calling a meeting in VM Hall. As per JKAA fb profile, EC members attended the meeting. However, when confirmed Rouf bhai, who is an EC member was not invited. Secretary JKAA did not attend the meeting. As per reports, the meeting was not called by JKAA President or its Secretary, but by the patron and he only decided whom to call and whom not to.

In the above meeting it is said to be decided,

"It was unanimously reiterated that the association is based on notion that students of J&K have their own special identity and constitute an interest group and caters and protects the interest of those students who agrees to have same belief.  . . . . THOSE WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE ON SPECIAL IDENTITY OF J&K AND CONSIDER THEMSELVES AS GENERAL STUDENTS ARE AGAINST THE BASIC PRINCIPLES ON WHICH THIS ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED".

Thus, those students who voted as General students in the elections and not as a lobby were declared to be "violating" the principles of JKAA. This way JKAA divided Kashmiri students into two categories. 1. Kashmiris 2. General student Kashmiris, and the second category lost its association with JKAA. I wondered at the first place as why meeting was called without informing the important EC member, as if JKAA feared a counter argument. Second, how does JKAA define General student, is it those who voted against the wished of patron are General Kashmiri students. Thirdly, who sets principles of JKAA and how are they constitutionally formulated. I was stunned by a political move of an apolitical organisation. I was amazed by the way the statement was formulated. I wanted an open debate on JKAA, its principles, its formulations and its amendments, but whom to talk to, constitutionally, I don’t know.

Later, I was stunned to see how people responded to this. One of the Hall Representative of JKAA Abu Bakr called this decision "A JOKE OF THE DAY", and JKAA president responded as saying, "This clash of egos only polarized the already existing groups among us..." A Senior student from Jammu region Mujahid mughal called for restraint and said, "I condemned and I condemn that meeting in the lawn of old canteen in the first place. I condemn the way Kashmir students were divided wilfully".

My Take …!!

Into the deep retrospection I will pause here with something for introspection.... isn't it regionalism that divided us & is still dividing us...?? Other than petty interests, Can't we aim bigger...?? Bigger than Regionalism!! sectarianism !! lobbyism !! Hasn't this varsity crafted ideas !! States & Charismatic Escorts... ?? or Do we simply have lost our hope, legacy & way & hence to think out of Box...?? Do we have Intellectual vacuum to sense what's good & what's bad at large?? We, the Kashmiris at AMU are known as the most intelligent folk and people around expect an intelligent way of dealing the things by us. They expect open mindedness and a perfect mechanism of working. They expect a good guidance from us. So we should behave like that, in isolation and in association. We must come up with a democratic mechanism with large scale students’ participation in our association. We must allow ideas to flow, disagreements to exist and leadership to rise. Let us not feel bad by variation in opinions, instead allow intellectual space for all. I vehemently disagree with the "cultivation & rearing" policy as it is greatest hindrance in the optimistic change. LET US UNITE AGAIN, and show the world that we agree to disagree and serve larger interests of being a Muslim, a Kashmiri and an Alig at the same time. Ours is a bleeding land, where coffins are raised every day, if we fail to think big, then we can never lead the world.