If one looks into the political history of many developing countries, one may find a trajectory that has been an identical hallmark in the political journeys of these nations. Their pages of history are filled with memorable struggles where the students’ community is found playing the role of vanguard in changing political destinies.

These student communities worked tirelessly to improve socio-economic conditions for the people and to establish a just democratic order that could fulfil the aspirations of the dispossessed masses. Taking into account the contribution which student communities made by participating in these movements, it is a historical fact that students have long served as a catalyst for many political changes and helped in paving the ground for mainstream politicians to carry out their reform agenda and carve out roadmaps.

These student movements were usually loaded with socialistic ideologies and laid the foundations of similar progressive student movements in many countries. Support also came from their comrades who represented trade union leaders, human rights activists and other members of the working classes. They campaigned vigorously to achieve their goals and earned success in dismantling despotic regimes, uprooting exploitative policies and promising a better tomorrow for the masses. Of course, many betrayals, disappointments and roadblocks were also experienced in the journey, but their struggles continued despite all odds.

The history of student politics in Pakistan has not been very different from that of other developing countries. The first case to surface was the student uprising in former East Pakistan, in favour of the Bengali language. This issue of language marked the beginnings of a full-fledged political unrest that finally culminated in the birth of a new country and the appearance of Bangladesh on the world map.

The situation in West Pakistan was similar. Student bodies carrying progressive banners under the guidance of the Democratic Students Federation (DSF), followed by the National Students Federation (NSF) in later years, had a great impact on the political journey of a newly born country.

Three volumes by two former activists offer the first comprehensive and authentic look at student activism that shaped Pakistani politics and society through the ages

In Pakistan, a comprehensive document that could give glimpses of the weals and woes of the struggle was the need of the hour but, unfortunately, no serious effort was made from any quarter to highlight this phase of our national history.

Some pieces of writing did appear sporadically in political magazines, along with some autobiographical accounts and news items but, again, these writings and sources of information did not give a true glimpse of the entire history of the students’ role in the country’s political development. The pivotal role played by both the DSF and NSF against dictatorships, military rule and neo-imperialism also remained undocumented.

In 2012, two former activist students — who are currently settled in the United Kingdom — conceived the idea of producing a book that would cover the entire history of student politics in Pakistan. The result of their efforts is titled Suraj Pe Kamand: National Students Federation Ki Kahani — Karkunon Aur Waaqiaat Ki Zabaani [Lassoing the Sun: The Story of the National Students Federation — As Told by Workers and Events].

Comprising three volumes, this authentic coverage of the trials and tribulations faced by Pakistan’s student community took several years to complete. The first book came out in 2018, and the overwhelmingly positive and encouraging response it garnered encouraged the authors to write two more. The second and third volumes came out this year, and the authors believe there is plenty of scope to bring out further volumes.

The authors are medical practitioner Dr Hasan Jawed and retired educationist Mohsin Zulfiqar. Both hail from Karachi and took an active part in student politics from different factions of the NSF. The authors have put together interviews of past activists, retrieved newspaper clippings and collected other published source materials.

According to the authors, writing the book proved to be a Herculean task, as they lacked the experience of research methodology with an anthropological perspective, which forced them to plunge into numerous books and articles from yesteryears. Their other regret was that many of the stalwarts who took part in the student movements in Pakistan are no longer in this world. At the same time, they acknowledged the enthusiastic response they received from other activists.

The nearly 2,200 pages split across the three volumes consist of 112 chapters that record and preserve the history of the country’s student movements. They include 54 biographical sketches — of Dr Mohammad Sarwar, Dr Mir Rehman Ali Hashmi, Fatehyab Ali Khan and Dr Adibul Hasan Rizvi among others — and 56 interviews of notable participants, which include Dr Syed Haroon Ahmed, Hussain Naqi and Dr Rasheed Hasan Khan.

The first book of the series covers the beginnings of the student movements in the Subcontinent, followed by a discussion of the problems and issues faced by the student communities after the creation of Pakistan. The second is a chronological coverage of the period from 1947 to 1968, and contains further history, background and details of student organisations in the Subcontinent, including the DSF and the NSF. The third book looks at the period from 1969 to 1995.

One must give credit to the authors for their professional handling of all stages of student politics and the selection of personalities who were interviewed. Commenting on the book, senior journalist Hussain Naqi — who is also a founding member of the NSF — described it as providing valuable insight about progressive forces at all levels of Pakistan’s social and political history.

Leading psychiatrist Dr Syed Haroon Ahmed, who was a founding member of the DSF, has said that “the book is a comprehensive history of not only the student movements, but also covers the political climate of the country in those days.”

Similar comments were received from other luminaries, but it was also pointed out that the personalities chosen for sharing their thoughts were confined mostly to the major cities; the authors should have enlarged their contact list as many of the soldiers who struggled for progressive ideologies are now leading lives unknown and unsung.

In their concluding comments, the authors say that they have no idea as to what extent justice has been done, but hope that the best judges would be the readers.

The reviewer is a television and print journalist. He tweets @JeffBill

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, February 20th, 2022