Open Letter to MIT Students and ABVP activists on 'Historic Fight Against Injustice
BEING WITH YOU FOR TWO DAYS CHANGED MY LIFE!
I join my hands in respect for the spirit I witnessed in MIT. Tears roll down my eyes remembering each and every moment of your Indefinite Hunger Strike against atrocities on MIT Student being denied admission inspite of court orders and attack on ABVP Activist Mohit Gandotra by MIT Director Mangesh Karad. The historic indefinite hunger strike by 9 students and rotational hunger strike by 40 students witnessed support from all corners of society. Continuous sloganeering with songs of protest with dafli echoed at the gate of the campus.
It all started on 17th August, when you staged a 6-hour protest at Erandwana police station demanding action against MIT Director Mangesh Karad. Around 11p.m. when a case was registered, you all were completely exhausted. The first shocker to me came that time when you declared indefinite hunger strike the next day at 10a.m.
With no preparations made and empty stomach, you initiated mass campaign at 8a.m. to garner support for the hunger strike. I saw hand-made posters, markers, flags and dafli, but was curious to find no mattress, no shed, water-cans! Your reply that 'We need slogans, not comfort' made me feel that I have landed myself between people of sheer determination! The hunger-strike began on the streets with no shed even in broad sun-light.
Since morning, I had started getting feeling that something unusual is there among this protesters. To began with, this hunger strike of yours have completely changed my view on hunger strikes. From scenes in movies of few people silently sitting on hunger-strike to actual MIT's visuals of 49 students sloganeering and campaigning since the start with number increasing every hour. During your hunger strike, you campaigned every moment to fight for your demands loud and clear. The doctors advised me to not let you get up for protesting or speak much, leave sloganeering aside. That was the only reason I forced you the same. But forgive me, you proved everyone wrong. Even after 2 days of indefinite hunger-strike with day-night campaigning, your determination to fight until death became an inspiration for me to take unscheduled job leaves for two consecutive days.
Within few hours of hunger-strike, you managed to turn MIT Gate into a vibrant protesting ground with painting roads with slogans, hand-made posters and make-shift shed made from thrown-away posters. I thought you forgot that you had started your hunger-strike on a Rakshabandhan when you should be sitting with your sisters instead of sitting on streets. But you were determined to prove me wrong each time! ABVP activist Mohit who was attacked tied Rakhi to MIT Student Sadhana and both sat on the hunger-strike. Each one of you were forcing the other to quit the indefinite hunger-strike but you himself were reluctant to eat. The song 'Anshan par baithe hai bole khana hai nahi khana' became your anthem. You were such determined that even the repeated warning from police to vacate the place didn't shook off your spirit. In the evening, various social workers visited MIT and supported your fight against injustice. The support you got from local residents and shopkeepers unknown to you is a proof of your genuinity towards your goals. The power-source of your firmness was surely the photo-frame of 'Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar' symbolising Sadhana's fight for 'Right To Education' that you had put up in front.
With the day ending, most of your faces showed signs of tiredness. I decided to be of your help as much as I can. As part of that, I tried to assure that all you sleep early. But you had decided that I would be met with shockers every hour. Whole night went with Bheem Geet and Lok Geet of Shahir Annabhau Sathe. I couldn't believe that three girls amongst you were sleeping on the streets empty stomach. I was angry on what is being done with you as you spent the whole night on streets with no blankets and empty stomachs, but your reply that you have choosen this path willingly and are ready to face any hardships made me feel that my search for my life's idols is reaching it's destination.
The morning of the second day was quiet which made me feel that the intensity has started its downward turn. I was again and again proved wrong. At 7a.m. in the morning, when students were having their breakfast, you were clapping your hands with the sound of dafli and songs of protest. As the time went by, support from the MIT Student Community grew manifolds. Not only they stood for support, but even campaigned to reach out to every student. This huge support made the police officers changed their mind about the 9a.m. deadline set by them for you to vacate the place. But the growing support activated the dirty-tricks department of MIT administration. Starting from complete black-out of media for the whole second day to threating students who would stand with the protesting students. Such for their level that they even clashed with an ABVP activist who went inside the campus to fetch water for the students on hunger strike. They started creating pressure from politicians and admission-brokers who had shared vested interests with them.
I know you were deeply hurt by this cheap tricks, but your spirit got stronger. You performed aarti of Sant Dnyaneshwar and prayed to expose everyone who was using the Saint's name to hide the Mafia behind them. Every time they tried their tricks, they were hit back with your enthusiasm. They tried manipulating the MIT Student Council to protest against you, but your past convinced the students to sit along with you instead of protesting against you. When they failed to pitch MIT Students Council against you, they forced all faculties for sloganeering in support of Mangesh Karad. To their dismay, their 5-min sloganeering was responded by hour-long sloganeering from your side. Witnessing this, I learned the difference between paid workers and activists. Unfortunately, your continuous stressful campaign with empty stomach made your health condition worst. Around afternoon, the environment became tensed with ambulance being rushed at the spot. A chill went down my entire body imagining the visuals of the coming days.
As this news got viral, hundreds of students symbolising #OccupyMIT campaign started arriving in the campus. The whole campus echoed slogans against the unjust MIT administration. 'Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Humara Dil Main Hai. Dekhna Hai Jor Kitna Baju-e-Katil Main Hai' went on for hours. Shivers went inside the walls of MIT administration, and hurriedly they requested ABVP for discussion. Being a firm believer in working for solution, a 10-member delegation walked inside the campus. When the delegation reached the security check-post, they denied entry to ABVP Maharashtra State Secretary Ram Satpute. ABVP delegation immediately walked out of the security-post and joined the vibrant protest. Every Mafia fears a common man who can expose them any day. Same was the case with MIT administration. After repeated requests and apology, ABVP delegation met MIT Founder V.D. Karad. After an hour of brain-storming discussion, all demands of ABVP were accepted by MIT administration. Karad Sir himself came at the MIT Gate requesting students to call-off the indefinite hunger-strike. As clock struck 12, MIT Campus broked out with celebration slogans 'JEET GAYA RE... JEET GAYA RE... HAMARA SANGARSH JEET GAYA.' Empty stomachs, dry throats with tears in their eyes were witnessing the power of student movement.'
How can I thank you is a big question mark ahead of me. This memories would help me in my entire life to not accept defeat against injustice. History will remember that an attack on a student activist from a campus director lead to the later being stripped off his powers. I congratulate all you and wish you all the best! I am proud to have people like you around me!
Long Live Student Movement!
- Bharatiya Anand,
A Witness to Making of History
Read the poem that echoed in this protest:
अनशन पर बैठे है बोले, खाना है, नहीं खाना....
I join my hands in respect for the spirit I witnessed in MIT. Tears roll down my eyes remembering each and every moment of your Indefinite Hunger Strike against atrocities on MIT Student being denied admission inspite of court orders and attack on ABVP Activist Mohit Gandotra by MIT Director Mangesh Karad. The historic indefinite hunger strike by 9 students and rotational hunger strike by 40 students witnessed support from all corners of society. Continuous sloganeering with songs of protest with dafli echoed at the gate of the campus.
It all started on 17th August, when you staged a 6-hour protest at Erandwana police station demanding action against MIT Director Mangesh Karad. Around 11p.m. when a case was registered, you all were completely exhausted. The first shocker to me came that time when you declared indefinite hunger strike the next day at 10a.m.
With no preparations made and empty stomach, you initiated mass campaign at 8a.m. to garner support for the hunger strike. I saw hand-made posters, markers, flags and dafli, but was curious to find no mattress, no shed, water-cans! Your reply that 'We need slogans, not comfort' made me feel that I have landed myself between people of sheer determination! The hunger-strike began on the streets with no shed even in broad sun-light.
Since morning, I had started getting feeling that something unusual is there among this protesters. To began with, this hunger strike of yours have completely changed my view on hunger strikes. From scenes in movies of few people silently sitting on hunger-strike to actual MIT's visuals of 49 students sloganeering and campaigning since the start with number increasing every hour. During your hunger strike, you campaigned every moment to fight for your demands loud and clear. The doctors advised me to not let you get up for protesting or speak much, leave sloganeering aside. That was the only reason I forced you the same. But forgive me, you proved everyone wrong. Even after 2 days of indefinite hunger-strike with day-night campaigning, your determination to fight until death became an inspiration for me to take unscheduled job leaves for two consecutive days.
Within few hours of hunger-strike, you managed to turn MIT Gate into a vibrant protesting ground with painting roads with slogans, hand-made posters and make-shift shed made from thrown-away posters. I thought you forgot that you had started your hunger-strike on a Rakshabandhan when you should be sitting with your sisters instead of sitting on streets. But you were determined to prove me wrong each time! ABVP activist Mohit who was attacked tied Rakhi to MIT Student Sadhana and both sat on the hunger-strike. Each one of you were forcing the other to quit the indefinite hunger-strike but you himself were reluctant to eat. The song 'Anshan par baithe hai bole khana hai nahi khana' became your anthem. You were such determined that even the repeated warning from police to vacate the place didn't shook off your spirit. In the evening, various social workers visited MIT and supported your fight against injustice. The support you got from local residents and shopkeepers unknown to you is a proof of your genuinity towards your goals. The power-source of your firmness was surely the photo-frame of 'Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar' symbolising Sadhana's fight for 'Right To Education' that you had put up in front.
With the day ending, most of your faces showed signs of tiredness. I decided to be of your help as much as I can. As part of that, I tried to assure that all you sleep early. But you had decided that I would be met with shockers every hour. Whole night went with Bheem Geet and Lok Geet of Shahir Annabhau Sathe. I couldn't believe that three girls amongst you were sleeping on the streets empty stomach. I was angry on what is being done with you as you spent the whole night on streets with no blankets and empty stomachs, but your reply that you have choosen this path willingly and are ready to face any hardships made me feel that my search for my life's idols is reaching it's destination.
The morning of the second day was quiet which made me feel that the intensity has started its downward turn. I was again and again proved wrong. At 7a.m. in the morning, when students were having their breakfast, you were clapping your hands with the sound of dafli and songs of protest. As the time went by, support from the MIT Student Community grew manifolds. Not only they stood for support, but even campaigned to reach out to every student. This huge support made the police officers changed their mind about the 9a.m. deadline set by them for you to vacate the place. But the growing support activated the dirty-tricks department of MIT administration. Starting from complete black-out of media for the whole second day to threating students who would stand with the protesting students. Such for their level that they even clashed with an ABVP activist who went inside the campus to fetch water for the students on hunger strike. They started creating pressure from politicians and admission-brokers who had shared vested interests with them.
I know you were deeply hurt by this cheap tricks, but your spirit got stronger. You performed aarti of Sant Dnyaneshwar and prayed to expose everyone who was using the Saint's name to hide the Mafia behind them. Every time they tried their tricks, they were hit back with your enthusiasm. They tried manipulating the MIT Student Council to protest against you, but your past convinced the students to sit along with you instead of protesting against you. When they failed to pitch MIT Students Council against you, they forced all faculties for sloganeering in support of Mangesh Karad. To their dismay, their 5-min sloganeering was responded by hour-long sloganeering from your side. Witnessing this, I learned the difference between paid workers and activists. Unfortunately, your continuous stressful campaign with empty stomach made your health condition worst. Around afternoon, the environment became tensed with ambulance being rushed at the spot. A chill went down my entire body imagining the visuals of the coming days.
As this news got viral, hundreds of students symbolising #OccupyMIT campaign started arriving in the campus. The whole campus echoed slogans against the unjust MIT administration. 'Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Humara Dil Main Hai. Dekhna Hai Jor Kitna Baju-e-Katil Main Hai' went on for hours. Shivers went inside the walls of MIT administration, and hurriedly they requested ABVP for discussion. Being a firm believer in working for solution, a 10-member delegation walked inside the campus. When the delegation reached the security check-post, they denied entry to ABVP Maharashtra State Secretary Ram Satpute. ABVP delegation immediately walked out of the security-post and joined the vibrant protest. Every Mafia fears a common man who can expose them any day. Same was the case with MIT administration. After repeated requests and apology, ABVP delegation met MIT Founder V.D. Karad. After an hour of brain-storming discussion, all demands of ABVP were accepted by MIT administration. Karad Sir himself came at the MIT Gate requesting students to call-off the indefinite hunger-strike. As clock struck 12, MIT Campus broked out with celebration slogans 'JEET GAYA RE... JEET GAYA RE... HAMARA SANGARSH JEET GAYA.' Empty stomachs, dry throats with tears in their eyes were witnessing the power of student movement.'
How can I thank you is a big question mark ahead of me. This memories would help me in my entire life to not accept defeat against injustice. History will remember that an attack on a student activist from a campus director lead to the later being stripped off his powers. I congratulate all you and wish you all the best! I am proud to have people like you around me!
Long Live Student Movement!
- Bharatiya Anand,
A Witness to Making of History
Read the poem that echoed in this protest:
अनशन पर बैठे है बोले, खाना है, नहीं खाना....
It's history for ABVP n I'm a very small part of this history. All this done because of your support n help. It's life changing movement for me forever. I heartly thanking all of you,who supported me in my worst time.May the ABVP reach beyond the sky limit. Proud to be a part of ABVP.
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