Their calls for change through strikes and movements are a driving force for joining such unions, which political analyst Krishna Hachhethu describes as ‘vital’ for political change within a political structure.[break]
RED TIDE: Students under the ANNFSU banner march the streets of Kathmandu during a CPN-UML rally. Political parties often mobilise their sister organisations such as student unions in a show of strength.
Zakaria Zainal
These unions are a strong lobby in Nepalese society. For example, in June 2008, eight student unions strongly objected to the government´s decision to hike public transport fares by 28%. They warned of stringent protests if the government fails to meet their demands within the next seven days.
In a recent Kathmandu Post commentary (The Wild Bunch Jan 30th), Dr Khagendra N. Sharma explains that in a multiparty democracy, various political parties run sister organizations to mobilize special segments of society and provide support to the main party.
The main political parties, such as the Nepali Congress (NC), Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML), and the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (CPN Maoists) have their sister organizations in the Nepal Students´ Union (NSU), All Nepal National Free Students´ Union (ANNFSU), and All Nepal National Independent Students´ Union Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) respectively.
Attractiveness of Change
Most of the students who join these unions, some of which remain members for as long as 15 years, are attracted to the idea of bringing positive change to the country.
"Bringing about social change is my major motivation, and I hope I can influence the country in a positive manner," ANNFSU president Ram Kumari Jhakri said. The postgraduate in sociology and anthropology made history last year by becoming the first female president of the union.
"We are motivated by the progressive role we can play in society," ANNISU-R central department member Gopal Neupane said. The Tribhuvan University (TU) mathematics major added that the radical approach by his union, unlike other student unions, attracts many students.
Home Remedies for Fever
Nonetheless, the 29-year-old maintains that union activities are educational in nature, such as extracurricular activities, quizzes and essay competitions.
Student Politicians
Some members of these unions, like Kumar Laudari, went as far as calling themselves student politicians. He has been involved in the Nepal Students´ Union, sister organization to the Nepali Congress, since 1998.
Harking back to the Panchayat era, where there was a lack of freedom and civil liberties, the TU political science major insists such student organizations are necessary for the country to remain free and secure.
For others, politics runs in the family. TU economics major, Mitra Bhattarai reveals his father is a member of the Agauli Village Development committee in Nawalparasi, and was inspired to follow in his path. In his own time, he actively engages with friends, neighbors and local leaders about health and education issues in the country.
UNION FLAG: A student stands in front of an NSU logo imprinted on one of the many walls in Tribhuvan University. This is in preparation of the Free Students´ Union elections in the coming month.
Zakaria Zainal
Students should have a stake hold in the country and become watchdogs to the government. A single man cannot do anything in their life. In a group or committee, we can do something good for society and the country," 26-year-old Laudari said.
Influence of the students´ unions
These unions have been influential at critical junctures of Nepali political history, according to Center for Nepal Asian Studies (CNAS) director Professor Yagya Prasad Adhikari. He cited the example of the Jana Andolan in 1990 and events in 2006.
"When the king seized power, the students led in a movement which proved to be a remarkable contribution. They suffered a lot – some were even killed," Professor Adhikari said.
"Besides protesting and fighting for certain rights, they also played the role of mediators between conflicting groups," said TU political science lecturer Bed Prakash Sharma. He highlighted how TU´s Free Students´ Union played mediator between university administration and Kirtipur locals during the 20-day closure of the university.
However, CNAS Professor Hachhethu believes student unions can only do so much. "Within a political structure, students are pioneers for political change. But they are not an instrument for making government policy and planning," he said.
Likewise, Professor Adhikari highlights that strikes and movements are easy to conduct, but administrating a country is very difficult.
"They might play a subordinate role. But they are young and educated; their talents must be used for the transformation of the country," he said.
Just a tool for the parties?
Students interviewed are quick to deny political parties use student unions to push political agendas.
Political science major Kumar Laudari robustly replied that no one has forced him to join the union. "It is my own interest to serve politics."
In addition, ANNFSU president Jhakri asserts that her student union is an independent organization and they need not follow everything the party says.
But Professor Hachhethu believes the activities of student unions are overwhelmed by the interests of political parties. In any Asian country, the party uses its student wing to run bandhs and chakkajams.
"In our country, it is almost impossible to separate the politics from the students," he said.
Stepping stone to the real thing
After completing their studies, most students harbor ambitions of taking the next step and joining the party.
This is not unusual as most view the unions as a platform for their careers. One example is former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who was once the president of the Nepal Students´ Union.
"I want to continue politics because there are many things to do transform society and I believe that being part of a political organization is necessary for that," said ANNFSU president Jhakri.
Colleague Laxman Lamsal, department chief of the ANNFSU, echoes her sentiments.
"Now is the time to practice becoming future leaders of Nepal."
