A Bygone Glory?
Circa 70s to early 90s hailed a period of vibrant student activism on campuses and within societies of universities and polytechnics. Many former student leaders and activists from that period are currently community leaders or holding offices in organisations and institutions.
Muslim societies on university campuses and polytechnics served as laboratories with thoughts and ideologies as chemicals and compounds to inflame idealism and the sense of purpose for the future.
However the situation on campuses and polytechnics today is bleak, at best. There is a dearth of ideas and the level of activism as well as sense of purpose both of individual students and of the student societies are much to be desired.
For the sentimental souls (now in their late 40s and early 50s) who benefited from the training programmes and activities on campuses, and enriched by these invaluable life experiences, the question utmost in their minds is whether that is now a bygone glory.
Ideological Lifeline
Student activism, the emphasis on cadre training and development and international affiliation as characteristics of societies then, were inspired by post-colonial Islamic revivalism and movements. There was neither fear nor stigma for student societies to ideologise overtly through circles, camps, talks and study visits. WAMY, IIFSO and regional student organizations provided the ideological lifeline to student societies.
Several local organisations and individuals later renewed that lifeline by way of providing training curriculum and materials. Former student leaders who were active in these organisations supported the office bearers and their student societies on campuses and polytechnics by leading study circles and conducting training camps.
When former leaders acting as mentors to student societies actively recruit and influence students for their organisations so as to ensure continued contribution, engagement and ideological dominance, the atmosphere degenerated into one of competition, suspicion, distrust and fear. The natural response of student leaders and societies to these negative atmospherics is to stay unaligned, independent, closed and self-creating.
The effect of this response has now created yet another negative atmosphere and a climate of malaise, indifference and stagnation on campuses and in student body politic.
Student Societies on Campuses and Polytechnics: A Requiem?
Student societies are finding it difficult to attract membership and activism among the students. This may be attributed to the prevailing indifference, lack of idealism and stagnation of student societies as well as the demands of shorter semesters, informal employment to pay for expenses and the pressures to succeed in exams, on the students.
Therefore it is inferred that students who are potential leaders and high achievers may not necessarily be members or affiliated to student societies. These individual students will need to be identified, befriended and supported to clarify purpose, sharpen skills and inject idealism for a lifelong contribution to the community and nation.
The assertion that intervention through support and assistance to student societies on campuses yields maximum return for da’wah may no longer be defensible. It is noted however that all efforts to strengthen and rejuvenate student societies must be supported to prevent its death.
Idealism and Value-Based Da’wah
This present reality of value propositions and pragmatic choices makes it an imperative for da’wah to extend beyond spiritual and intellectual development, although what is spiritual and intellectual differ among the philosophers and sociologists.
Students and societies will weigh their choices based on what they perceive to be of value for the present and their future. The content and curriculum to develop students must be comprehensive to include soft and emotional skills and competencies, including high-end innovation and futuristic plotting. The days of relying solely on books by Fathi Yakan, Maududi and Sayyid Qutb are over.
So what is the endgame?
There isn’t one. But if the question is about idealism and what is urgent and important for the Muslims and the Muslim world to do today, it must be none other than to restore and uphold the dignity and honour of Islam.
Students and student societies of various universities and polytechnics will need a great amount of convincing on the why, what and how to revive da’wah on campus, quite apart from the numerous excuses they can lay their hands on, to reject any move that is perceived to compromise their independence or add to their current social-educational predicament.
Da’wah on campus demands serious, concerted and consistent effort of many willing and capable contributors. It requires trust, confidence and integrity to revive it.
Are we up to it?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
There has been a definite shift in the wind in activism in our campuses. In my view, in our time, in the post colonial era of nationalism and post-nationalism, religion had an overwhelming political overtone to it, hence the cause was Islamic state, Islamic economics, Islamisation, etc. etc. However, we now have youth who were born into this world long after the embers of nationalism have perished, and it is impossible to obtain sufficient buy-in from them on the need of Islam as an instrument of social/sociological change anymore. From my own impression of the students who attended my classes at SMU, the new holy grail is the role of religion as a force of personal/spiritual change. The old Islamist model must be recognised for what is has become now; an anachronism in the 21st century. A new handle has to be found.
Post a Comment