The Brain in the Drain: Student Politics at IIT Delhi

Student Politics
Ankit Ratan & Pranjal Choudhary

It is a bit strange that we should call student body elections in IIT as Student ‘Politics’. I have spent four years in this institute, entitling myself to speak with some knowledge about the whole process. At the same time I should also admit that I haven’t been too enthusiastic about it (Elections) in any case. While this does make me a bit of an outsider, it has allowed me to view the whole process dispassionately.

Let’s get back to my initial idea of an apolitical environment on this campus. There are supposed to be no formal political parties on campus, atleast on paper. Still, I am sure most people are aware of Axis (it’s amazing how iitians come up with such grandiose terms for almost everything). There are supposed to be two major Axis on the campus and almost all posts are influenced or decided between the two Axis. But unlike parties there is no political agenda which binds the different factions of an axis together. The axis is formed more from personal bonds and characteristic hostel bonhomie than a common agenda. Thus IIT student body elections are devoid of any political propaganda, there are rarely any issues which are heard of. Securing an IIT level post involves a detailed bargaining for posts between the axis and distribution of certain posts to satisfy people to earn support.

Getting back to what politics is. Foremost is the requirement of an agenda, which defines why a specific group of people have come together. That obviously seems absent. Most parties and people (in colleges and other institutions) want to come to power to enforce their agenda upon the system in which they wish to get elected. Not only is any such motive clearly absent amongst almost all candidates, what they do about issues that crop up during their tenure is also least heard of. Then what is the drive that forces most candidates to work relentlessly for weeks; carrying on propaganda; giving parties to would be supporters and delivering infinite fundaas to convince people of their suitability for the post. I am sure there is that temptation for power and post but it can still not fully explain this mad drive for being Gen. Sec. etc.

Did someone say CV! While it unethical for me to brand the whole student election processes as a CV enhancement exercise, I am sure there are few more who would agree with my point of view. The control theory suggests that when output is a function of input, and if output has to be controlled , then control the function . The input for IIT is talented students, math genii, numerical problem solvers . Most of the people at IIT have previously nill exposure to voluntary services at their school , because they chose to limit their extravagance of time on non academic activities . But this change in colour is something more than an unreasonable mimicry .A past few years have seen a visible change in eligibility conditions by recruiters where there has been too much stress on holding posts inside the campuses. The training and placement cell which is yet to respect the Minor degrees of IIT itself in its auto resume generator , has given special columns to the posts that students held during their stay at IIT. Even during the visit of the President on institute’s golden jubilee, when the General Secretaries represented the institute , the authorities didn’t find people with high academic caliber or mouthwatering CGPAs and good sportspersons at IIT , eligible enough to be introduced to the President (or is it that they looked for people having same credentials as her excellency the President). Whereas institutes all over the world impose fines, or suspensions to punish students as disciplinary actions, IIT may be the only institute where Students are punished with ineligibilities for posts at the campus, proving that administration too acknowledges eligibility for posts as necessary component of incentives and punishments at IIT. And it is here we crack the code , the feedback loop in the circuit is being sent to the students by the IIT itself . The rules, incentives , punishments at IIT exposes the next batches to the virtual importance of the posts at IIT , leading to the fuss during the election period.

The voluntary component in the voluntary activities , ceases to be voluntary when there are incentives for holding that voluntary post. Students posts no longer remain voluntary , and desire to hold them is slowly turning to greed. Though, The hostel posts are decided by an all student vote, none of the other posts are based on the concept of universal adult franchise. Even the freshly elected representatives from the second year are supposed to vote for these posts. How are they supposed to make an informed choice is anyone’s guess. Hostel elections do involve basic infrastructure issues, casteism, regionalism etc., thus in a way displaying the typical characteristics of any student election and can deservedly be termed as political in nature. The elections on the bigger stage though are devoid of any political colour. The term ‘Student Politics’ (or ‘poltu’ as it is popularly called), therefore can only be used in the context of hostel elections. The lack of a political agenda has rendered the institute’s political environment impotent. The institute policies are only debated in AIC and SAC meetings, where the Director’s word seems to be the final argument (reference to minutes of such a meeting is ample proof). The system seems more like monarchy with certain ‘noble class’ representing the people infront of a king, who finally makes a judgment based on his idea of fairness.

Certain reforms are needed to give some credibility to institute elections and the executive processes performed by these elected representatives. Foremost being the formation of an independent review committee which will monitor the actions of all elected and non-elected post holders on campus. Such a committee should be a mixture of students, faculty and few members of alumni as external members. The other more important reform needed is the formation of an Institute Secretary similar to the hostel secretary. Thus there will be an office equivalent to the Prime Minister and there would be no ‘passing of the buck’ on critical issues. Such a representative would also be a true representative of the students. The election of such a representative should be based on principle of universal adult franchise, without which the whole process might again just end up as another post on the CV.