Description
Introduction PressureGroup Politics constitutes a prominent aspect in the study of politicalliterature. Most of the scholarly works on pressure groups have been ontrade-unions, socio-religious or communal groups, occupational or businessgroups. But very little attempt has been made to probe into the significantrole played by student political associations as another important segment ofpressure groups. As student politics and student leadership are the steppingstone to state/national politics and leadership, the student fronts ofpolitical parties-the student political associations-are considered to beconspicuous pressure groups in the body politic. These associations constitutea dynamic force on the campus and also play a greater role in off campuspolitics. They continue to be a subtle but significant propelling agent for thepoliticization of the campus even in the midst of the recent Lyngdoh Committeerecommendations and, at the same time, they play a very prominent role in theoverall modernization and social transformation in developing areas. In thecontext of democratic process, shared powers and responsibilities, when themost desired and sort for reforms do not go through or get support of studentsand student political associations, unless they have been given a voice and avote; the role of student political associations as a pressure group can hardlybe ruled out. Student political activism and unrest, especially the growingphenomenon of student radicalism, has led to the reappraisal of interest instudent politics in many countries. Students demonstrate, boycott the classes,manhandle the authorities, hold meetings on and off campus, shout slogans inthe street, damage public property, disrupt both academic and private life toregister their dissent and demand. The issues that push them towards agitationare many and varied, ranging from the proximate campus problems to the issuesrelating to broader plane of the socio-economic spectrum. More pertinentperhaps than the sporadic manifestations of the agitational behaviour of thestudents, is the domain of student politics per se that acutely mirrors in allrespects the political overtones of the ‘professional-world.” Politicalintrigues, manoeuvres. the characteristic features of the power struggleat the micro-political centre seem to have its reflection on our universitycampuses. Students now bear direct links with the political parties and most ofthe major student organizations on the campuses are actually student wings ofthe national/regional parties This has generated some sort of politics offactionalism within the campus in which faction tries to outstrip the other inpower race in order to maximize its political gains. The on-going struggle fordomination and control of the nerve-centres of power among the rival studentgroups has transformed the campuses into miniature political centres to a pointwhere collective educational interests have succumbed to petty factionalpolitics based on extra educational premises.” Students, in general, andstudent political associations, in particular, have acted as powerful pressuregroups in almost all countries. They have been well entrenched in the politicalprocess and political behavior Student activism and student movements haveattracted immediate attention of educational and political authorities.Students’ support for political parties, student political associations andleaders in electoral contests has proved crucial in some countries. Studentparticipation in cultural movements has also been important. “Studentmovements and organizations, as carriers of modern, often radical politicalideologies have been important spreading ideological trends in variouscountries, particularly in the developing areas. In fact, student youth andstudent political associations have a magnificent share in the resurgence ofnationalism and patriotism and breaking the shackles of colonialism andimperialism in the continents of Asia, Africa and Latin America. They have dramatizedthe problems of society and the university and played their part as a dynamicforce in educational and political change. They have played a vanguard role inexposing the dysfunctions and deficiencies within the educational system andthe society at large. With limited literacy and political awareness among thegeneral population, students and student political associations constitute adisproportionately large section of bearers of public opinion in suchsocieties. Thus, as an important segment of pressure group, the nature andcharacter of the various student political associations have direct butsignificant consequences for the emerging political culture and politicalprocess of their countries. The character and process of decision makingvis-a-vis policy formulation, and policy implementation and the overall socialchange and social transformation of a country is considerably shaped by thenature and working of the students and student political associations. As such,the study of student political associations as an important component ofpressure group politics assumes capital significance. About the Book The Bookentitled “Pressure Group Politics and Student Political Associations”makes an in-depth study on various students Political Associations in Odishawith special reference to the district of Mayurbhanj, which is one of the mostbackward in the state with a predominant tribal population. The focus of thestudy is on the students political activists (Leaders) of the major studentsfronts of political parties and other cultural groups of the society. This bookprovides a broad conceptual framework on pressure group politics and studentsPolitical Associations. It also focused on the role of youth organization inthe politicization of students is of Paramount importance. It also makes anin-depth study on the process of political socialization as an importantbearing on the attitudes and orientations of student leaders to politics, ingeneral, and student pressure Politics in particular this book also focused onPolitical recruitment as an important aspect of politics in any context and theoverall perception and orientation of students leaders to social, economic,political and academic issues and problems as a important bearing of theirpolitical culture and political behaviour which reflects in the overallpolitical game played in pressure group politics. As a whole the book hasfocused attestation on the problems of under development in a backward regionof the country and the role of students leaders (as pressure group agent) inarticulating the aspirations of the people and in projecting the regional needsand demands for the overall modernization of a tribal district. It alsoanalyzed the nature of student pressure politics and leadership in tribalsetting would contribute to the understanding of some aspect of pressure grouppolitics in Orissa and India at large. It is sincerely hoped that the book canadd some knowledge to an important area of enquiry in the social science andthis will be immensely beneficial for the readers and the researchers of thecoming generation. About About the Author Dr. Rajendra Kumar Das graduated from M.P.C. College,Baripada in 1984 and completed his post graduation in Political Science fromUtkal University Vanivar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha in 1986. In the year 2016 he wasawarded his Ph.D. Degree in Political Science from North Orissa University(Presently renamed as Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanjdeo University), Baripada,Mayurbhanj, Odisha. He started his Teaching career in a Degree College underUtkal University in 1987 and continuing as a Senior Reader in Political Sciencetill date. He loves teaching Political Science and act as the advisor ofdifferent student associations and student bodies of Odisha. Throughout hiscareer he has been involved in developing, coaching and leading students andyouth organisations of the states to raise different issues in different fieldto bring a perfect solution. His observation and insights in the field ofstudent socialisation, student orientation and students participation inspiredhim to write the book. He is currently serving as reader in Political Scienceat B.B.College, Baiganbadia, Mayurbhanj, Odisha. His articles has beenpublished in various journals of state and national repute.
