1. MY LECTURE ON “POLITICS IS MY GIRL FRIEND?” 2010
NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY, ORISSA
B.A. LL.B SEMESTER-I (2010): “SCIENCE OF POLITICS”
MY LECTURE ON “POLITICS IS MY GIRL FRIEND?”
By
DR. AFROZ ALAM
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF POLITICS
NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY, ORISSA
MOBILE: +919438303041
E-MAIL: afrozalam2@gmail.com
afroz@nluo.ac.in
POLITICS IS MY GIRL FRIEND: HOW SHE PROPOSED ME?
My Dear Students,
Lets begin with how I got introduced with Politics, my Girl Friend. It was the year 1996
when I completed my 10+2 from UP Board. It was a crucial juncture when I had to decide
my educational pursuit as “what next?” Since I was a Science student with Mathematics, my
parents, friends and relatives were hell bent upon convincing me to go for Engineering. It is
to be noted that B.Tech. and MBBS were the most valued stream during that time, and still
being treated, at my native place, Rasra (Ballia). Students who were opting for B.Sc and B.
Com were looked upon with little respect. And those who decided for B.A were treated with
NO RESPECT at all. They were the USELESS FELLOWS….POOR LOT…..
I asked my parents that “I will not do either Engineering or B.Sc. I am bored with Science
and the language of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.” Imagine the shock my parents
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2. MY LECTURE ON “POLITICS IS MY GIRL FRIEND?” 2010
experienced during that moment of time. “What….!!!!!!”, my father asked me in a state of
surprise, “you are a good student and you scored a very good marks, why do you want to
pursue a nonsense course? Are you going to put my image at stake? I will not let you do BA.”
I argued, “I am not opting BA because I am not good at science. I want to pursue Arts
because I am fed up with science. I will be happy if you allow me to exercise my CHOICE.”
Lots of argument and counter arguments took place between my father and me. I finally
decided to do BA without being able to convince him. He was not happy with me at all, nor
my friends and relatives. All ended with frustration and sarcastically joined the chorus, “if
you choose to be a part of degraded and unemployable mass, what we can do. A time will
come when you will regret your decision, don’t blame us then.” While being mild and soft
but with confidence, I said, “I trust you and I know you always think good of me. But don’t
worry, I will neither regret nor blame anybody. I will be happy at least because you allowed
me to prevail my choice over your dream. I will be happy to know that “I am what I choose
to be”.
After getting settled with the idea of pursuing BA, I caught into different issues: Where to
study? Which subject to study? A senior of mine talked high about Aligarh Muslim
University (AMU) and tried to persuade me to take admission there. It was he who filled up
the form in different honours subject without letting me know.
I was enjoying my summer holidays in Delhi, at my maternal uncle’s place. One day, I
received the call from that senior friend. He told me that “your name has appeared in the first
list of BA Honours (Political Science). You should pack your baggage and documents with
Rs.3000 in your pocket.” I was happy and surprised both at the same time. Reasons were
quite obvious.
Let me tell you frankly that I never thought of studying Political Science in my life. I was
only able to decide in favour BA but not sure of “which subject”. I used to hate politics,
politicians and political activity. But what can I do? Nothing! Absolutely nothing after going
against the logic of my parents! As destiny would have it, my name appeared only in the
selected list of students for Political Science (Hons.). It was just like meeting a strange girl
and being PROPOSED by her at first sight. I was agitated. I was left with no Choice. I
accepted her proposal ambivalently.
I reached to Aligarh timely and took admission in AMU with Politics as Honours paper. I
thought, I will quit Politics if it is not able to IMPRESS me. It was just like the habit of
contemporary generation: Ditching one and Picking another one. No commitment, No
regret. Or you can say, I was thinking of divorce before marriage. You hardly value a
person who is after you. I was proving this notion right. But how
long………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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