My dear Professor @Arnup, I think that we need students of all the directions you mentioned because this is the students' choice and future and should arrange it to serve his future.

My dear Professor @Arnup, I think that we need students of all the directions you mentioned because this is the students' choice and future and should arrange it to serve his future.

Ever since the decline of Congress became apparent, two features of Indian politics have attracted the attention of students of Indian political process. One is the  coalition-based structure of party politics and the other is the rise of many smaller and regional parties to prominence in national level politics. Even a casual observer will not miss these features, which emerged in the nineties. What is remarkable about these features is that Congress was not / is not being replaced by any single party.

SUHAS PALSHIKAR,  Regional Parties and Democracy, Romantic Rendezvous Or Localized Legitimation?

http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=43&ved=0CCgQFjACOCg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdemocracy-asia.org%2FSuhas_Palshikar_democracy_regional_parties.pdf&ei=QE5kVLD2KKqV7AbarIC4Ag&usg=AFQjCNFueLkfCYbvzjGw0PwhVBgTuymIjQ&cad=rja

I think a student should study well and do not break the law. To be or not to be in the mainstream of politics is a private matter.

Participation depends upon personal interest, its also a sought of career option fora student.

In my opinion, association of university students with the politics is a double-edged sword. If the students did not come into contact with politics and equally with all other sciences, arts and cultures that is not related to their main study field, they will feel isolated and encounter difficulties to adapt to the external environment in their future life. On the other hand, deep association with politics may have negative consequences not only to the concerned students, but to the institutions as a whole. Many negative phenomena may pop up. More worse situations arise when the political activities are held at the institutions.

A student should study the interesting field. Politics, mainstream or not should not be the dominant influence for the academic qualification.  If a student wants to be associated, it´s not the problem of his education, it´s private interest.

Interesting answers.  I would like to chime in.  One thing that has not been mentioned is that citizen participation, including students, involves the act of some political involvement.   But I think that it can be done tactfully within the confines of the educational parameters set forth by the institution.  For example, when I was in the Public Affairs (Policy Analysis and Health Informatics study cognate) for my doctoral education,  my duties included working with various community, multi-level government, and non-profit projects.  My interest in them also brought forth policy analysis and recommendations that were given to legislators as potential options to address the needs of vulnerable populations and/or in the interest of public health. At the University of Central Florida where I received my PhD, we have administrators whose purpose is to work with  politicians, regardless of political affiliation, to bring forth informative research that represents a novel approach to systemic problems such as the transformation of government to governance, policy that supports the advancement of the institution, and other citizen concerns.  I had the opportunity to work with bipartisan legislative representatives though my personal politics favor a specific party. For me, the key was collaboration.  Let's face it, a good idea cannot become a reality unless you have support by decision-makers.  In many cases, the decision-makers represent specific parties.  Therefore, learning a tactful approach to representative government requires that you are versed in multiple platforms and connected to the system through reason, respect, and research.  This approach will be a positive, non-partisan reflection of a responsible problem-solver with excellent communication skills.  Isn't that what we want to output as educators?   

Students come to the university to receive knowledge only, any other interest should be out of the campus

Students in university/college should primarily focus on their studies as at this stage they are in process of building their career, character and consciousness about the outside world. After completing studies and acquiring mental adulthood, they would be mature enough to decide right or wrong about their future aspirations. The formative period of student’s life should be utilized for an all round balanced development of his/her personality; only then they could become a cultured leader and morally sound politician who can change the grimy image of present political scenario.

My perspective is a bit different from what others have expressed, no doubt because of my experiences in the US.  My generation was deeply involved in politics on and off campus.  We saw ourselves as agents of change who were trying to end the war in Vietnam and to create a more equitable society, especially for women and persons of color.

College and university students in the States today appear to have little interest in politics.  When they experience abuses on and off campuses, they tend to shrug their collective shoulders in a sign that there is nothing to be done.  That's life.

As problematic as this attitude may be, more troubling from my perspective are the efforts of faculty to politicize and radicalize students.  When I was an administrator some years ago, I had a student come to me with a paper that her professor had failed owing to the student's use of the generic masculine pronoun.  "I will not tolerate sexist language," the professor wrote.  

I am of the opinion that one should concentrate on studies during studenthood and afterwards can follow one's  personal convictions, whatever it  is.  It may be politics or others.

A student may try to use political ideology of his/her choice in the functioning of the student union.

Students may involve in politics just for the cause of general students, but should not carry any political ideology and must not misuse the students strength for his/her cause. It seems, many times, they play dirty politics to make presence of some specific political party, by misusing innocent students.