FYUP protesters keep decibel levels high

NEW DELHI: With all the hectic activity Delhi University is witnessing, it's hard to believe that it is actually holiday time on the campus. Tuesday began with just about every student and teacher group protesting. Those in favour of FYUP want to keep the pressure on; so they - mainly teachers' group like Academics for Action and Development (Aditya Mishra) - sat on a hunger-strike.As news of the VC's resignation - which later turned out to be dubious - spread, there were celebrations and exchange of congratulatory messages.
Members of AAD, teachers and students sat in front of the VC office. "The political system is trying to strangle the university. The autonomy of the institution is being threatened. I will stand in favour of the system until death," said Aditya Narayan Mishra, president of AAD and current DU Executive Council member. He unsuccessfully moved the Supreme Court, filing an PIL on the same issue which the court declined to hear.
Sunita Swami, a commerce teacher at Ramjas, said, "FYUP has a job-oriented course structure. It is a practical programme which will benefit students ahead in life, enhancing one's personality and presentation skills." Added Dhaniram, president, DU SC-ST Teachers' Association, who's pro-FYUP but wasn't on protest: "A change in government doesn't mean a change in the principles of education."
Those on the opposite side of the FYUP debate were stationed at Arts Faculty. All the three major students' organizations were present-AISA which was the first to raise its voice against FYUP; ABVP, which joined in August 2013; and NSUI, which joined a few weeks ago.
"The university has autonomy at the level of syllabus but not at the level of structure. Also, the MHRD and UGC are apex bodies," argued Sunny Kumar of AISA. "The academic and executive councils may have passed them, but if they didn't pay heed to the thousands protesting, surely there's a problem!"
Saket Bahuguna, state secretary, ABVP, said: "The VC is responsible for the complications and deferment in admissions. He should resign." ABVP had brought out its dhols for what turned out to be premature celebrations. Bhupendra Chaudhary of NSUI also said, "FYUP created a lot of chaos. It led to an increase in fees as well. We demand an absolute rollback of FYUP."