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PaRCha - JNU - ABVP - 2003 ID-383 by PaRChA project — the Pamphlet Repository for Changing Activism

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54 YEARS IN NATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION : ABVP .

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0 9/o7/2003 .

o n 9th July 2003 Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) is going to create a unparallel history by completing more than five decades of successful constructive activities in the field of education. Founded in 1949. ABVP has now attained the stature of not only an All India Student Organisation but also the largest. studer« organisation in India, through a process of organic growth. It is working in 3279 colleges &areas of 485 ,districts all over India and has a membership of eleven lakh eight hundred forty eight, out of which thirty percent are girls. The development and growth of ABVP is essentially an illustration of progressive unfoldment. The history of its growth proves that it is a live organisation with organic development: growth within the environment and growth in spite of the environment. .

The firm belief in the motto of; Knowledge Character & Unity has helped ABVP to proudly spearhead the national student movement in the field of education with a wider perspective of national reconstruction. ABVP works with a faith in the collective existence of the educational community, a firm belief in constructive work and a nationalist' approach which stays above partisan politics. .

The fact that India's developmental process and the initial growth of ABVP began in late 1940's proved to be blessing in disguise as this gave an opportunity to a newly founded organisation to grow and mature in adverse circumstances. Initially, for about 20 years, ABVP engaged itself only in constructive activities -(i) activity that may help the students to show their talents & to develop them: competitions, first class first felicitation, etc. (ii) activity that will create a feeling of mutual self-help. Useful projects: Book bank, vacation employment bureau, vocational guidance, etc. (iii) activity that will generate & reflect a feeling of national brotherhood, social awareness Jayantis, Social Welfare activities etc. With the increasing demands of the students ABVP widened its scope & introduced new dimensions & began organising activities under these heads (i) Constructive (ii) Agitational (iii) Representative activities. It was in the midst of the political turmoil of 1970's that ABVP gave a slogan, "Student today is not a citizen of tomorrow, but is very much a citizen of today" and this gave a new direction to the entire student movement in the nation. People realised that in the exacting struggle for life, the student does not stand on a pedestal. Alongwith other sections of the society, he also suffers from the same socio-economic stresses & strains. They are young, capable of loosing inhibitions and vested interests, capable of looking for the future, capable of working to bring about change, in necessary by paying a price for it. This community of the young by virtue of their numbers and characteristics is a distinct and identifiable social class. This very social class played a historic role in the 1973 'Nav-Nirman Andolan' which began as a reaction to the hostel fee hike in a Engineering College of Gujrat and slowly grew into a state wide movement against price rise, corruption and congress misrule. This very successful movement ended with the resignation of the then Chief Minister Chiman Bhai Patel, the Nav-Nirman Andolan of Gujarat presented an example before the entire nation. Inspired by the same, Parishad started a new student movement simultaneously in Bihar against corruption of the then Bihar Govt. Very soon this movement took a nation wide turn. Later on Jay Prakash Narayan also joined the movement. J.P. Movement played a master role to save the democratic rights of the citizens. This glorious chapter of student movement enclosed played a key role in overthrowing the dictatorial regime of Indira Gandhi & ultimately re-establishing the democratic credentials of the country. This movement is still remembered as one of the landmarks in the history of student movement all over the world. .

As we approach 21st century, the eyes of the world are turned towards. Asia characterised by rapid eCDnomic growth, as unmatched diversity of political and economic systems and a Kaleidoscope of people, Culture &religions. In the midst of these diversities, India is facing the problems of adverse impact of globalisation policies on economy, media and society, commercialisation of culture and the rise of strong Eurocentric messages. Education continues to be the neglected sector. The forces of status-quo commercialiation & corruption controls the apparatus. The obscenely vulgar advertisements and serials on T.V. are encouraging the worst kind of consumerism, particularly among the young people. The developmental model adopted by and the new found craze for high tech are presenting newer threats to ecology and environmental. This situation has been efficiently analysed by ABVP, which has taken it as a challenge of national unity vs secessionism, political uncertainty and the politics of minorityism, violence, social inequality and strife, economic bankruptcy educational status-quo, consumerism, moral decadence and three-0 culture. And ABVP has already decided to face this challenge head on. The organisation is geared up with projects like Afforestation, students for development, clear atmosphere of educational institutions, electoral reforms in students elections, educational seminars etc. .

Today ABVP is celebrating its 54th anniversary and in these fifty four years has become not only the largest student organisation in India but also a unique & uncomparable organisation in the world. .

"VIDYARTHI DIWAS" .

gTH July 2003 .

All are cordially invited to attend .

Cultural Programme .

(Ganesh Vandana, Tandava Nritya, Folk, Classical and other dances & songs) .

TIME : 900 P.M. VENUE: OAT (Behind K.C.) .

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~ Special Attraction-KUCHIPUDI PERFORMANCE BY A NINE YEAR DANCER OF INOlA FAME 4 SALONJ .

Sdi-.

Ajit Kumar Singh Shrish Chandra .

Secretary, ABVP, J N U Prsident, ABVP, JNU .

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