Last week, 22-year old Kanupriya, representing a non-party affiliated, left-leaning student organisation called SFS — Students for Society — became the first woman president of the Panjab University student council. Kirron Kher, BJP MP from Chandigarh, tried to slot this as one of those cute character-driven tales beloved of Western non-fiction about democratic dreams, when she commented in the media saying, "Students have voted for the girl, not SFS — maybe she touched a chord." But, Kanupriya herself seems to have absolutely no confusion about what that chord is. In an interview she said, "Some friends tell me that people see it as the victory of a woman in a man's world. Others see it as the victory of progressive thinking. But I think of it as part of a growing students' movement in this country. I was confident of winning because I believe in the issues we are fighting for. We decided votes would not be sought on the basis of identities, but on the basis of the dream of a better world, the concerns of an advancing youth and the issues related to our life."

Only the folks who made sententious declarations following the 2014 elections, about it being a vote for development, a vote against caste, a break from the past, vaghera vaghera knew what they meant. It may have been a break from a past static party, but so far there is no such inclusive vision on offer, only a kitsch utopia peddled through rhyming slogans and relentless graphics. There has, however, been plenty of vindictive violence, persecution of students, especially Dalit students, and intimidation of college professors.