Ever since university campuses have fallen silent and lifeless, the country’s politics has faced a drought of new youth leadership. Student union elections have either been banned or reduced to mere formalities. The echo of debates no longer resonates in universities like Lucknow, Varanasi, Allahabad, Patna, and Gorakhpur, once traditional hubs of ideas.

Delhi University’s fervour has cooled, and JNU has lost its ideological battles. Leftism, ageing, is now confined to history books, while Lohiaites have become followers of fake socialists. The heroes of the Total Revolution are now wandering in corridors of greed and illusion. Today’s youth are racing to become doctors, engineers, or IAS officers.

Read in Hindi: सिर्फ विज्ञान व वाणिज्य से नहीं बल्कि कला व साहित्य से बचेगी लोकशाही

A large section of girls, too, is now chasing the civil services. Subjects like art, literature, philosophy, political science, and sociology are now considered the domain of ‘failed students’. As a result, over 60 per cent of secondary schools and colleges in the country have shut down their arts faculties. The Prime Minister’s emphasis on skill development is tilting the balance of education. Over the past three decades, the Indian education system has prioritised STEM, i.e. Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and commerce.

According to UGC data, between 1990 and 2025, the number of students enrolling in arts and social sciences dropped from 40 per cent to just 18 per cent. Of the top 50 colleges in the country, 35 have discontinued subjects like philosophy, history, and political science. The decline of humanities education is stunting the development of enlightened citizens, critical thinkers, and creative visionaries—qualities that were once the aim of higher education and are essential for a humane, just, and ethical society.

Sociopolitical commentator Prof Paras Nath Chaudhary says, “Until the 1970s, the goal of education was not just to secure jobs but to build well-rounded individuals. Universities aimed to produce good human beings—thoughtful, ethical, and socially active citizens who contributed to social progress. Literature, philosophy, history, and fine arts were at the core of this mission. These subjects inspired students to question, reflect, and imagine, fostering a sense of purpose beyond personal gain. They promoted empathy, cultural awareness, and ethical reasoning, preparing graduates to tackle complex human challenges.”

Activist Narendra Singh, who was active in the 1960s-70s, recalls, “Universities back then were hubs of idealism. The JP Movement, the Naxalbari uprising, hippie culture, and anti-war movements drew inspiration from these campuses. Today? Even at institutions like JNU and DU, student politics has shrunk to careerist factionalism.”

A report indicates that over the past 10 years, student participation in union elections has dropped by 70 per cent. According to Karnataka-based musician Manju Kumar, subjects like literature, music, and theatre are now deemed ‘non-essential’. Admissions to institutions like NSD and FTII have fallen by 50 per cent. Depth is disappearing from films, poetry, and novels, as creativity is now considered a ‘time-pass’.

Earlier, students of history, political science, and economics entered public life. Today, IITians and medical students are becoming IAS officers, despite their technical expertise having little relevance in administration.

A 2024 report states that over 75 per cent of UPSC top-100 candidates come from science backgrounds, while only five per cent studied political science or sociology, says social activist Mukta Gupta. Technical education may drive economic progress, but without the humanities, democracy will not survive. A society where literature, philosophy, and art die out becomes fertile ground for dictatorship.

Today’s education system is turning students into cogs in an economic machine, focusing heavily on technical skills. This has weakened arts faculties and reduced campus activism. Universities were once centres of idealism, where students raised their voices against injustice. The hippie movement and the civil rights movement are examples of this.

Now, STEM and commerce students, burdened by coursework, remain detached from social issues. The neglect of arts and literature has diminished idealism, with students aspiring only for high-paying jobs. Creative subjects have also suffered, leading to a shortage of original thinkers and artists.