Just ahead of DUSU elections, we attempt to find out why women’s colleges in Delhi University prefer college unions and enunciate their participation in politics. Are we still living in the stereotype where it’s just about lipstick and not reforms? Most women’s colleges in DU like Kamala Nehru, Gargi College, Jesus and Mary College, Daulat Ram College and many more are not part of DUSU. Colleges like Daulat Ram, Jesus and Mary and even Lady Shri Ram, which is an off-campus college, have their own college unions and are quite distinct from DUSU.

Maneka Yadav, a former student of Daulat Ram, said, “Our union was like any other college union, and when other colleges witnessed chaos, we had regular classes. But when it comes to DUSU, it’s maddening. There are political parties attached to it, manpower, more financial resources and ego clashes whereas in our college it was pretty smooth.” When asked how the college union was different from DUSU, she said, “You get to see people you choose daily, unlike in DUSU.”

Aishwarya Tisus, the president of the Jesus and Mary College union, said, “Whatever we get to hear from people or grasp from newspapers is never positive about DUSU elections.” On the usage of printing posters, she said, “Putting any sort of poster is prohibited in the campus. We also have parents and teachers association. And we make sure the candidates who didn’t win are part of the core team. United we stand, divided we fall. We are quite democratic.” This breaks the stereotype we have of women and their reluctance to participate in politics.

Lady Shri Ram College (LSR), which is an off-campus college, which is known for its high cut-offs, stern rules and regulations has its own college union, too. One of the students said, “We are quite apolitical, and since our college is not part of the campus we remain aloof from DUSU and due to stern rules students are not allowed to put posters of programmes even on notice board and canteen.”

On being asked how DUSU polls were different from college union elections, she said DU has a selective agenda unlike the college union polls. “Why didn’t students protest when Rohith Vemula committed suicide? Why were there no comments when Najeeb disappeared?” Another student said, “The current union is better than the former one, they are seeking inclusivity.”

Despite the college’s stern demeanour, students said, there are radical students in LSR, who conduct programmes at the campus back-gate on caste, triple talaq, Gorkhaland dispute and other sensitive issues. These students are against the administration in some ways. The atmosphere in these colleges is clearly different from the DUSU milieu, and student politics within women’s colleges is more to the point than in the University.