In Kerala, Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has faced criticism for notoriously overstepping his constitutional duties, flouting federal values and zealously pursuing agendas associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). As Chancellor of Kerala’s state universities, he has abused his constitutional authority by unilaterally appointing RSS and BJP nominees, sparking concerns over democratic representation, impartiality of constitutional offices, and the integrity of academic institutions.
In one such scenario, Mr. Khan recently appointed BJP representatives to the Calicut University senate, disregarding merit and university norms, after delaying the syndicate polls by not clearing the governor’s nominees for a prolonged period. The University of Calicut has never had a BJP member nominated to the Senate in its 55 years of history. Members of the Syndicate, the chief executive body of the university, are elected from among the over 100 members of the Senate, where the BJP has no presence. However, Mr. Khan was charting his own course by selecting individuals of his choice and disregarding the VC’s list, an attempt to surreptitiously insert Sangh Parivar loyalists into the university. Chancellors usually nominate rank holders and accomplished students for such roles. However, here, ABVP lumpens were chosen, bypassing norms.
In response, the progressive student community, led by the Students’ Federation of India, flooded the streets in resistance against the surreptitious infiltration of Sangh Parivar influence and the saffronisation of the higher education sector. The statewide protests, militant yet peaceful, encompassed protest rallys, the display of banners, artistic expressions, and songs highlighting Mr. Khan’s RSS links, along with slogans against Hindutva. However, Mr. Khan, infamous for his “grossly erratic behaviors,” amid his visit to Calicut University for inaugurating a Sangh Parivar gathering, fumed against SFI’s protest banners and slogans, akin to a mad monarch. He also ordered the removal of protest banners from campus premises, assigning the task to police officials, a display of arrogance inconsistent with democracy. In response, SFI intensified the struggle and taught the governor that for every banner taken down, the student community would raise a hundred others. Every time he came out of the Raj Bhavan’s embrace, Black flags danced in the air, tasting the solemn grace of student resistance. As the protests continued to gather momentum with each passing hour, the governor’s behavior took on a juvenile tone. He directly confronted and verbally abused activists, exerting pressure on state police to arrest students and charge them with non-bailable offenses. Many students found themselves behind bars, subjected to arrest, imprisonment, and even physical assault.
Three young women comrades of SFI were arrested and walked into the jail with their heads held high, for fighting against a monarch disguised in constitutional attire but injected with RSS venom. These three women, Sandra, Absalna, and Arya, who were at the forefront of the protests against the anti-constitutional dictates of Mr. Khan–their university chancellor–share their valiant story of struggle with Indian Researcher.
Sandra from Thrissur is a student at Govt. Law College, Calicut. Her life as an SFI activist, was motivated by several of her comrades who worked relentlessly for the oppressed. Coming from a politically left leaning familial background, Sandra has been active in student politics through the daily organisational activities. Her 14 days of imprisonment began with intensely dramatic displays of terror by the police force. A group of 6-7 vehicles arrived at her home on an evening setting the neighbourhood in alarm. While several of her comrades were arrested and confined in the men’s jail, she was separated from them, alone but not frightened. Seeing her parents and grandmother in tears, her biggest concern was the condition of her parents back home. Although her parents would playfully tell her about being arrested, this situation presented them with an opportunity to develop their newfound determination to stand with their daughter in the path of resistance that she and her comrades were forging. Among the upsetting concerns including her injured comrades, family and adaptation to a new setting, she embraced her strengthened spirit for the values of Independence, Democracy and Socialism, that she was upholding.
Jail for her resembled everything the popular culture presented through the media. Every day is a struggle against the darkness of isolation for the depressed inmates. Being a political prisoner Sandra was given proper instructions on how to conduct herself in the cell. With around 25 other women who are serving their time for various crimes, Sandra was seriously told to be alert of the situations. Being a law student herself she was well informed about her life of confinement and has managed to convince herself about the reality on the initial day itself. Cells in the women’s jail became a place of solidarity though . The curiosity of the inmates to know about the world outside of the confinement, their cooperation and shared leisure activity of reading books have made the experience a bit lighter for her. Yet the challenges are wretched.
After two weeks of isolation from the outer world, Sandra walked straight into the bosom of her dearest mother who received her with greetings and teary eyes. Small gestures that change the entire course of convention where a girl is not treated as a disgrace or a burden, rather as something to be proud of.
Absalna who is an MSc student at the University College, Trivandrum was associated with Balasangham, which has blurred her point of transformation into an SFI activist. The couple of days spent in Attakulangara Women’s Jail accompanied by her fellow comrade Arya came to Absalna as an unexpected event. Being the daughter of a police officer, Absalna has clearly discussed the nature of the protest with her father that the protest will be based on the values of peace and non-violence. Whereas Mr. Khan engaged in a display of ridiculously theatrical performance by calling the students criminals and refusing to move an inch until FIR is filed against them, adding to the existing tension. Instead of being back to her anticipating mother for dinner, she was one among the several comrades who were beaten up and dragged, from where they were sent to the jail after necessary formalities on a Saturday evening.
After sleeping off the Saturday evening, the next day was interrupted by the realisation of the depth of loneliness. Being a holiday, the library was closed and there was a strict rule instructing the inmates not to share books with each other. Jail defined itself as a place where freedom is denied. People came to meet them, yet the thought of their fellow comrades in the Men’s prison bothered them. Books being the biggest companions of solitude were not accessible. Books on political subjects were prohibited for unreasonable claims. Yet after an unpleasant encounter with the welfare officer who was in charge of the library, she left the cell with more than half of the story of the novel Manjaveyil Maranangal by Benyamin, which she completed later after getting out. Absalna and Arya together stood with each other through their journey of confinement, getting to know each other better, holding on to each other stronger and making each other believe in the strength of the slogans raised by their precursors.
Arya is a graduate from SN College, Kollam. Contrary to the general feeling of the fear of uncertainty, Arya was more in excitement. Imprisonment for fighting against injustice is always a pleasing experience. It makes us stand face to face with the heroes in history who have introduced the oppressed to the taste of freedom and liberty. Guided by her parents into political activities from a very young age, Arya started working with SFI gradually after being active in DYFI. The presence of her fellow comrade has given her incredible strength to stay positive and motivated even in unpredictable circumstances. The thought of how a peaceful protest turned into something that’s chaotic in nature is a major concern for her. Although she has tried her best to stay brave there were times when the good memories of her family, especially her little brother, disrupted her composed self. A girl who’s been to jail is met with numerous regulations instructing her to be controlled. Arya has bravely assumed a nonchalant attitude towards such factors.
Exposure to other inmates who have committed crimes including violations and rape made her uneasy. But the company and comfort of Absalna has helped her navigate the 3 long days they’ve spent in the jail. But there were also other inmates who were very affectionate and hospitable to them. One among them is a woman whom they call ‘Girijamma’, who treats them with utmost care and consideration. Although they had so many visits from comrades and friends, the moment after that seems to be passing at a depressingly slow pace. They hardly knew about the time. But the solidarity and inspiration they found in each made them walk out of the iron gate with elevated determination. If Sandra could do it alone, they believed they both could handle it effortlessly. With the solid support and love showered over her and her family by the comrades, Arya has sharpened her will to keep fighting for justice.
She recalls the way Mr. Khan said “I will make it!” when Absalna asserted “It’s not your UP”. Arya firmly says that she will not let Kerala be torn down!
In a country where resistance remains the only powerful weapon, these young women have led us by example. From their solitary cells they kept on dreaming of world built on love and solidarity. Contemporary India is a battlefield. A battlefield that is characterized by the struggle of Indian citizens to live a life of peace and justice. The murder of the values of democracy, secularism, federalism and social justice are deemed to be written in the mythology of this new Ram Rajya. When the Indian student community upholding the flag of Independence, Democracy and Socialism march forward towards a hopeful tomorrow, these girls would keep on reminding us not to fall back. To believe in collectivity, to believe in compassion.