Priorities for AASU

The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) central executive meeting held in Guwahati on Friday has taken certain crucial decisions in view of the current socio-political and economic situation. As reported, it discussed among other things the New Education Policy, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act fall-out, implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, and the hardship faced by people because of Covid-19 and the unprecedented economic slow-down. First and foremost, AASU must remain an apolitical body which has been carrying forward the legacy of the Assam Students' Conference presided over by Lakshminath Bezbaroa in 1916. But it must also remain alert to problems faced by Assam and her people. In doing so, AASU, however, must not forget that it is primarily a student body – the largest and most important – and hence its first response must be towards Assam's student community. It is a fact that issues that AASU raises are also political. But then these are related to the very existence and protection of identity of the Assamese and other indigenous communities of the state. It is a fact that political parties of all hues have by and large failed, or shamelessly compromised with those forces which have been working overtime to convert Assam into another Bangladesh both linguistically and religiously. The state's intelligentsia have also miserably failed to influence governments and policy-makers. Thus the burden has always fallen on AASU's shoulders. Student wings of different political parties on their part see Assam and her problems – particularly the question of protecting Assam's identity in the face of large-scale influx from erstwhile East Bengal/East Pakistan and present-day Bangladesh – only through prisms provided by their respective political masters. In the given circumstances, and in the current situation, the first priority of AASU must be the welfare of students, especially when educational institutions have remained closed since March. Simultaneously, the AASU must also help students identify the right careers and prepare for that crucial phase of life. Yes, the New Education Policy, the CAA and its fall-out, and implementation of the Assam Accord must also be on the list of priorities. But the idea of floating a political party should be totally discarded by the AASU. Instead, let the AASU float ideas for empowering the masses in general and students in particular to generate strong public opinion on the New Education Policy, CAA and the Assam Accord. It should remain such and act in such a manner so that political parties think twice before deciding things related to Assam's identity, and also related to the student community of the state.