Kerala Students Union
Encyclopedia
Kerala Students Union is the Kerala
branch of the National Students Union of India, the student wing of the Indian National Congress
. KSU was founded on May 30, 1957 in Alappuzha
.
Unification of fees in government and private schools and colleges, constitution of college unions and university unions through regular elections, university arts festivals, representation for students in the senate, syndicate and academic councils of universities, eradication of detention system, free education up to the plus two level etc. are only a few examples among the vast variety of achievements to its credit. Thousands of students had to shed their sweat and blood on the streets to achieve these, and the greatest of them had to lay their lives itself, like Sudhakar Akkithai, Santharam Shenoy, Thevara Murali, Francis Karippayi and K.P. Sajithlal.
Though KSU regularly intervened effectively in the academic field, its effect was not restricted to that alone. It is perhaps the first student movement in India, which could even overthrow a government. The communist oppressive regime of EMS, which had proved to be a threat to constitutional democracy itself, was thrown out of office through the agitations and relentless efforts of KSU in 1960. In the 1970s, KSU played its decisive role in retaining the faith of student community in the constitutional machinery and non-violent means of social change, in the days when naxalism and armed adventures spread as a wave in college campuses.
The organization became a watchdog of idealism in politics and it could bring an end to the 'aayaram gayaram' syndrome (frequent defections of politicians from one party to another) of Kerala politics of the 1950s. Many of its founder leaders like A.K. Antony, Vayalar Ravi, Oommen Chandy, A.C.Jose and V.M.Sudheeran are still the darlings of millions of people. It injected fresh blood into the Congress party and a whole generation of new leaders entered into the political arena, a lot of them M.P.s, M.L.A.s and even two Chief Ministers.
KSU was always a role model for other democratic student organizations of the country. Even the NSUI was formed at the national level taking inspiration from KSU in Kerala and the 'Chhatra parishad' in West Bengal. But KSU suffered some setbacks after the emergency period (1975–77) and consequent split in the Congress party. By then, factionalism in the Congress peeped into this organization also, which made it somewhat weak. This was exploited by SFI, ABVP and other communal organizations to a considerable extent. They tried to criminalize campus politics and derogated it of its charm and values. KSU workers are widely attacked in the campuses by SFI goondas and they are not given the freedom to work and campaign. But KSU still retains its position as the biggest democratic student organization attracting support of a substantial section of the student community.
KSU always stood for the legitimate rights of the student community irrespective of who rules, and it continues this legacy even today. It put up a series of agitations against the corruption in plus two schools allotment policy of the previous LDF government and is now going ahead with agitations against the irregularities in the self-financing institutions policy of the present government. A brave war front is also put up against the attempt to "Marxistise" school textbooks
Kerala Students Union (KSU) has recently launched its official website that provides more details about the union.
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
branch of the National Students Union of India, the student wing of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. KSU was founded on May 30, 1957 in Alappuzha
Alappuzha
Alappuzha , also known as Alleppey, is a town in Alappuzha District of Kerala state of southern India. As per 2001 census Alleppey is the sixth largest city in Kerala with an urban population of 177,029. Alleppey is situated to the south of Kochi and north of Trivandrum...
.
About KSU
KSU entered the center stage of student politics in Kerala with the famous "Orana Samaram", a strike for travel concessions for students in buses and boats of the state. The ruling Communist government of the state led by EMS Namboodiripad dealt with the agitation with an iron fist including widespread police attacks on students, lathicharges and arrests. But the agitation was a huge success, and the government had to relent to the demands of students. From then onwards, the growth of KSU was tremendous. KSU became a "fashion" among the student community and with incessant struggles, the organization could achieve many a milestones of achievements.Unification of fees in government and private schools and colleges, constitution of college unions and university unions through regular elections, university arts festivals, representation for students in the senate, syndicate and academic councils of universities, eradication of detention system, free education up to the plus two level etc. are only a few examples among the vast variety of achievements to its credit. Thousands of students had to shed their sweat and blood on the streets to achieve these, and the greatest of them had to lay their lives itself, like Sudhakar Akkithai, Santharam Shenoy, Thevara Murali, Francis Karippayi and K.P. Sajithlal.
Though KSU regularly intervened effectively in the academic field, its effect was not restricted to that alone. It is perhaps the first student movement in India, which could even overthrow a government. The communist oppressive regime of EMS, which had proved to be a threat to constitutional democracy itself, was thrown out of office through the agitations and relentless efforts of KSU in 1960. In the 1970s, KSU played its decisive role in retaining the faith of student community in the constitutional machinery and non-violent means of social change, in the days when naxalism and armed adventures spread as a wave in college campuses.
The organization became a watchdog of idealism in politics and it could bring an end to the 'aayaram gayaram' syndrome (frequent defections of politicians from one party to another) of Kerala politics of the 1950s. Many of its founder leaders like A.K. Antony, Vayalar Ravi, Oommen Chandy, A.C.Jose and V.M.Sudheeran are still the darlings of millions of people. It injected fresh blood into the Congress party and a whole generation of new leaders entered into the political arena, a lot of them M.P.s, M.L.A.s and even two Chief Ministers.
KSU was always a role model for other democratic student organizations of the country. Even the NSUI was formed at the national level taking inspiration from KSU in Kerala and the 'Chhatra parishad' in West Bengal. But KSU suffered some setbacks after the emergency period (1975–77) and consequent split in the Congress party. By then, factionalism in the Congress peeped into this organization also, which made it somewhat weak. This was exploited by SFI, ABVP and other communal organizations to a considerable extent. They tried to criminalize campus politics and derogated it of its charm and values. KSU workers are widely attacked in the campuses by SFI goondas and they are not given the freedom to work and campaign. But KSU still retains its position as the biggest democratic student organization attracting support of a substantial section of the student community.
KSU always stood for the legitimate rights of the student community irrespective of who rules, and it continues this legacy even today. It put up a series of agitations against the corruption in plus two schools allotment policy of the previous LDF government and is now going ahead with agitations against the irregularities in the self-financing institutions policy of the present government. A brave war front is also put up against the attempt to "Marxistise" school textbooks
Kerala Students Union (KSU) has recently launched its official website that provides more details about the union.
Presidents of KSU
- George Tharakan
- A.C. JoseA.C. JoseA. C. Jose is an Indian politician. He was Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly and a Member of Parliament from Thrissur in Kerala. - Biography :...
- Vayalar RaviVayalar RaviVayalar Ravi is a prominent Indian politician, currently the Union Cabinet Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs and Minister of Civil Aviation. He is a member of the Rajya Sabha.-Political Life:...
- A. K. AntonyA. K. AntonyArackaparambil Kurien Antony is an Indian National Congress politician, a former Chief Minister of Kerala, and the current Defence Minister of India....
- Oommen ChandyOommen ChandyOommen Chandy is an Indian politician and the current Chief Minister of Kerala. He has held the Chief Minister of Kerala position earlier from 2004 to 2006, and was the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly from 2006 to 2011.-Early life:Oommen Chandy or 'Kunjoonju' was born...
- Kadannappally Ramachandran
- V. M. SudheeranV. M. SudheeranV. M. Sudheeran , The former Speaker of Kerala Legislative Assembly and Health Minister, is an active social and political leader in Kerala and an active member of the Indian National Congress. He was born to V. S. Mama and Girija at a small village named Padiyam in Anthicad Panchayat of Thrissur...
- M. M. HassanM. M. HassanM. M. Hassan is a leader of Indian National Congress and a former Minister in the Government of Kerala.- Biography :He was born on 14 May 1947 in Thiruvananthapuram. He came to active politics through Kerala Students Union and became the State president of KSU. He was the elected as the Senate...
- Thiruvanchoor RadhakrishnanThiruvanchoor RadhakrishnanThiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan is an Indian politician.Now he is the Revenue Minister in Kerala Assembly. He will be holding the Vigilance Portfolio, handed over from the current Chief Minister Oommen Chandy....
- P. M. Suresh Babu
- G. KarthikeyanG. KarthikeyanG Karthikeyan is an Indian politician and the speaker of kerala legislative assembly. He is currently the Member of the kerala Legislative Assembly MLA from Aruvikkara. He is the son of N. P. Gopala Pillai and Vanajakshy Amma. He was born at Varkala on 20 January 1949. He entered politics through...
- Benny BehananBenny BehananBenny Behanan is a Kerala politician of the Indian National Congress party. He has been holding the post of General Secretary of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee for the last 17 years. He is the present UDF candidate for the 2011 Kerala State Assembly elections from Thrikkakara...
- Cherian PhilipCherian PhilipCherian Philip is a leading politician of Kerala, India and is currently Chairman of Kerala Tourism Development Corporation . He was the President of Deshiyavedi Organisation. He was the Secretary of KPCC while A. K...
- M. Murali
- Ramesh ChennithalaRamesh ChennithalaRamesh Chennithala is an Indian politician. He is the son of late Ramakrishnan Nair. He was elected a Member of Parliament thrice and was also a Kerala State Cabinet Minister at the age of 27 under mentor ship of late K. Karunakaran...
- Joy ThomasJoy ThomasJoy Thomas is an Indian politician and presently the Idukki District UDF Chairman of Indian National Congress.-Early life:Joy Thomas was born in Idukki, Idukki district of Kerala in a Syrian Catholic Christian family. His nickname is Joy. In his entire political career, he has never been alleged...
(Acting) - P. T. Thomas
- Joseph VazhackanJoseph VazhackanJoseph Vazhackan is an Indian politician. He is currently serving as Muvattupuzha MLA, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary and All India Congress Committee Member.-Early life:...
- T. Saratchandra Prasad
- Punalur Madhu
- K.C. VenugopalK.C. VenugopalK.C. Venugopal is an Indian politician and Union Minister of State for Power in Indian Government. He is the Member of Parliament of Alappuzha Lok Sabha Constituency.- Personal life :...
- J. Joseph
- Jaison Joseph
- Satheeshan Pacheni
- P. C. VishnunathP. C. VishnunathP. C. Vishnunath is an Indian politician of the Indian National Congress, and represents Chengannur constituency in the Kerala state legislative assembly....
- Hibi EdenHibi EdenHibi Eden is an Indian politician and the present president of NSUI, the students wing of the congress party.-Early life:Hibi Eden was born in Ernakulam, Kerala to the former Ernakulam MP late George Eden on 19 April 1983.-Career:...
- Shafi Parampil