Political awareness a necessity for students: Kamal Haasan

Actor Kamal Haasan urges student community to be politically aware, stressing it's as important as education, career and personal progress. He cautions against apathy, urging first-time voters to be watchful of criminal antecedents and vote for those who will work for progress. He also calls for teachers to sensitise students to socio-political developments and guide them to take informed decisions. He presented awards to eminent personalities, alumni and teachers.

Political awareness is as much important as education, career, and personal progress for the student community, actor and president of Makkal Needhi Maiam Kamal Haasan said in Coimbatore on Friday.

Emergence of a generation (in recent decades) apathetic to political and social happenings around has caused deep concern, Mr. Haasan said, addressing the Golden Jubilee celebration of Park Group of Institutions.

Mr. Haasan was delivering his talk after presenting awards to eminent personalities, distinguished Park alumni and inspirational teachers in the presence of P.V. Ravi, founder and chairman, Park Group of Institutions; Anusha Ravi, chief executive officer; and T.R. Karthik, secretary

“It (political ignorance) is not good for the country,” he said, seeking to remind the student community that they were not conscious of their privileges in a democratic set-up that were elusive in numerous countries. The consequences will be bad if they choose to remain aloof, he cautioned.

Exercising franchise is a necessity, he told the student audience of first-time voters. The first-generation voters should be watchful of criminal antecedents and ought to vote only for those candidates who they truly believe will work for the progress of education, infrastructure and employment generation. A change will be a certainty if it happens, he said.

The 33% reservation for women that has now become a reality means precious little if the power continues to be exercised by male members in the family, he said.

Mr. Haasan appealed to the teachers to sensitise students to socio-political developments and orient them on democratic rights and responsibilities. In the digital era, it has become all the more important for teachers to guide students to avoid distractions focus attention on their future.