Corrupted people's daughters go to Padma Kanya Campus for politics.....
"This movement will continue until people's sovereignty is restored"
President of Free Students Union of Padma Kanya Campus in Kathmandu, Ms. Binita Adhikari, was injured when police attacked a group of student activists within her campus on Sunday afternoon without provocation. The firebrand student leader spoke to Nepalnews from the hospital bed of Miteree hospital at Baghbazar Monday where she is undergoing treatment. Excerpts:
It seems students are now graduating in fighting with police, rather than in their studies.
As you know, students are in the forefront of on-going pro-democracy movement in the country. Police have time and again intervened in our peaceful protests leading to clashes. On Sunday, we were protesting against the arrest of opposition leaders and rights activists within the campus. Women police tried to intervene but could not. Then, policemen were called who entered within the campus and started beating up the students brutally. Some 16 of our colleagues were injured during baton-charging by the police. I became unconscious when policeman hit directly on my head. I regained consciousness only in the hospital.
What are you agitating for risking your own life?
The on-going movement is not for me, my family or my friends. Our current protest is against the imposition of prohibitory orders and curfew in the country. The curfew has panicked specially the people with small businesses and those who work during nights or have to return to their residence late night. In wider perspective, this movement is to make Nepalis free of this repressive government. We may be affected for a short period, but I want to say is that we must suffer for ‘seven days’ to gain liberty for centuries.
Where will this movement lead to?
The movement, not only of students but also of all the Nepalis people, will continue until people's sovereignty is restored. King must remain under the constitution. People's representatives should have the authority to decide upon king's rights and privileges. Army should be under the control of parliament and there must be constitutional monarchy where king acts as per the people’s wishes. The agitation will continue till we achieve all these and the supremacy of people is guaranteed in governance.
Students are supposed to study, not engage in political activism. What have you done during your stint as FSU president at the Padma Kanya Campus?
If students don’t express their concerns towards what is happening in the country, then who will lead the nation in future. If students are restricted from participating in political activities, I cannot imagine that nation may give birth to a successful leader in future. The failure of present leadership in various fields is due to their absence in politics during their student life. Many say that student politics has spoiled the educational environment in government-run colleges but I disagree with them. May be the students get less marks in the exams, but they have extensive knowledge than those who study in private colleges. And one cannot guarantee that students of private colleges are not involved in politics simply because student unions don’t exist there.
As the president of FSU, I could not deliver to the extent I had wished. Masters' in Business Studies programme has begun in the Campus. Girls’ hostel is under construction, which I had hoped to inaugurate in my tenure but could not do so. The FSU is leading the efforts to convert it into a women's university. `Saree’ is no more a compulsory dress; students can wear `kurta’ of the similar colour. These are a few things that I can recall now.
How do you see the women's place in Nepali society? What is your personal goal?
They are suppressed by ‘male chauvinism’ to be confined within four-walls. Despite the on-going debate that improvement in the life of women can bring positive changes in social and economical sectors, no concrete works have been done so far to bring women in the decision making processes and increase their participation in social activities. This has put in me the impetus to carry sickle and mow prevailing patriarchal psychology that women should be a second-class member of the same society. This can be possible only when I can be a respected political leader committed to the welfare of the people and the country. So, I want to be a patriotic and sensitive politician who can contribute towards creating a society where women are treated equally.
nepalnews.com Indra Adhikari jan 23 06
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