Student Politics in the midst of synthetic Narratives
By: Fahad Baloch
(Central Information Secretary)
The student politics has become the most important part of the Baloch political landscape which has not only produced intellectual figures but also established the course of the Baloch political sphere. The student politics since its inception has became a crucial source of awareness, knowledge, education and national consciousness. It has not only helped in understanding the needs and necessities of the society but also assisted in adapting to the modern world challenges. Baloch student politics has shaped the Baloch political system and encouraged the development of new political ideas to be adopted and then implemented in the Baloch political arena.
Since its inception, it has confronted many challenges of internal matters including hypocrisy, crackdowns and political suppression. Every passing year, there have been many diverse incidents to limit and suppress the student political activism. In the early decades of the ’70s, ’80s and *90s, student activism has confronted two folded challenges; one, the internal hypocrisy by the Baloch political elites, including some ideological crisis; and the other, is the crackdowns and political suppression from the hostile itself.
Nevertheless, the student political activism has been one of the core ways in educating the youth to cope with the challenges and problems inherent in the present political system as an undeniable truth.
The political development, ideological revolutions, advancement of science and technology and the emergence of ideas have become more complex to be understood and adapted to. The student political activism has been the firsthand source and key mechanism in interpreting and expounding these complexities and facts.
Moreover, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, the student political activism developed and expanded in terms of direction, leadership and ideology producing intellectual figures and know-how individuals despite facing crackdowns and being politically suppressed.
However, it now confront a growing, drastic narrative- either a synthetic narrative or a stereotypical one. Once it was called a group of fugitives and rouges, it was then termed a conspiracy group manipulating the youth. Later, it was labelled a group of gangs and ruffians. But it is now shockingly being portrayed as anti-educational activism and a hostile party to the peaceful environment in the institutions and academic environment. Such labels are, indubitably, far from the truth and reality, yet they are more concerning and alarming to the true meaning of the politics.
Furthermore, the world, including the most powerful nation (which we intentionally consider developed and powerful), has been encouraging and inspiring the growth of student political activism, which they believe will, undoubtedly, lead to shaping opinions for a stable society and create a well-equipped generation to govern the country in near future.
Though, it is an irrefutable fact that student political activism has been at the forefront in reducing academic bias and eliminating stereotyping environment for establishing a well-developed society.
Contrary to the principles of natural justice and the theory of speaking order, student politics is facing challenges, including a widespread crackdown, for which a group of pseudo-intellectuals, including some ill-educated individuals, are consistently spreading disinformation, conspiracy theories and manipulating the truth to build a negative narrative about the student political activism to serve their self and partisan interests.
They with lowest average followers, in their self-created podcasts, relentlessly promote negativity and hatred vis-á-vis student activism.
Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC), has not only built a platform for students to engage in constructive criticism, mutual discussions and debate on various topics with a diversity of views, but has also stood up against the societal vices including drugs and addiction. We have advocated for the basic rights of students since our foundation. The organisation has always supported students in achieving a healthy environment of education and learning. It has been struggling for “Knowledge and Unity” as its core slogan. The organisation believes in a struggle that combines unity with knowledge, which is sign of the spirit in believing the power of pen for a well-established society.
Nonetheless, the student political activism is continuing to grow and develop with every step forward despite facing culmination of escalating challenges like crackdowns, forced disappearances, academic suppression, campus violence and challenges like negative propaganda, skewed narratives and manipulation.
As for as it is concerned with education and knowledge, it is indubitably linked to the student political activism. Student activism is directly proportional to focus on educational priority; denying and suppressing one will, undoubtedly, affect the other badly.
The student activism must remain steadfast and unaffected in the midst of these synthetic narratives.
However, this very principle requires us to be mindful and cautious about the consequences of non activism and disorganised activism. We are the fortunate generation who have most organised, disciplined, effective and most structured student organisations around us, which are the main source of motivation for persuading student political activism in the midst of war of ideas and narratives.
