Jawaharlal Nehru University's poster wars

Walls of the varsity become ideological battleground over Naxalism

It's no guerilla warfare. The swords are out in the open and there for everybody to see.
The walls of Jawaharlal Nehru University have been painted red in support of the Naxal movement, and black, in equal measure if not more, to condemn the ultras.


Writing on the wall: A poster put up at the Jawaharlal Nehru University
by the supporters of the tribal movement PIC/IMTIYAZ KHAN

The ideological war being played out on the varsity's turf between pro and anti-Maoist supporters has acquired a different hue with a graffiti war now raging on campus. Posters, in all sizes and colours, have been pasted across the campus by different student bodies.

Sudheer Sharma, ABVP's JNU unit president said, "All issues relevant to Indian democracy and international peace find a space on the JNU walls. The latest war has started after the recent massacre of CRPF men in Chhattisgarh."

Though the varsity has not seen polls to student's union since 2008 but the university officials feel that this has not deterred the spirit of the scholars. Fateh Singh, Joint Registrar, JNU said,u00a0 "Pamphlets and posters at JNU are the barometer of public opinion. The graffiti adds a lot of colour to the campus and give a tremendous view of the student politics on the campus."

Banjyotsna of the pro-Naxalite Democratic Students Union (DSU) said, "Operation Green Hunt is an all out war on the Indian peasantry, of whom more than 2 lakh have committed suicide and 77 per cent live on Rs 20 per day. Our posters gets this point across."

Lal Salaam
Last week two bitter rivals - NSUI and ABVP - ended up on the same side of the fence after clash between student groups over a cultural programme that allegedly supported Maoists and the recent death of 76 CRPF jawans in Dantewada. ABVP, NSUI along with Youth for Equality (YFE) also floated a new group against Maoist sympathizers on campus. The meeting was organised by the DSU and the All India Students Association (AISA) on campus.