After the arrest of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar, the road leading to Brahmaputra hostel inside JNU campus wears a deserted look. An eerie silence has descended upon the lanes of this hostel which leads to Kumar’s locked room on the first
floor. A gold medalist, his professors say Kanhaiya is a “studious guy” who knew how to strike a balance between his research and politics.
“He was actively involved in politics but he managed time for studies and research. Kanhaiya was studious and managed good grades. Most of the times we used to find spending time in the library. Most of the times what we see is, that, the students who have an active political career get carried away and lose focus on their studies. But he has always been serious about his studies,” said a professor.
According to one of his friend, Kumar had a scientific and progressive thinking who wanted to see and make a change in society. “He always said there are certain things you can never learn from books. You have to observe and understand the society to understand certain things in life,” said Amrita, who is also a PhD student.
During his school days, Kumar was actively involved in several plays and activities organised by IPTA (Indian People’s Theatre Association), a left-leaning cultural group going back to the days of India’s freedom struggle. “He was an exceptional orator and used to look at things from a broader perspective. According to him, the word apolitical was wrong, as he thought nobody in this world could be apolitical. Everything and everyone is a product of politics,” she added.
Asked what will be the next step following Thursday’s protest by JNU students, one of his friends said, “Kumar is also a member of a party. There will be a party meeting following that we will decide what should be the next course
of action.”