August 11, 2024 — Recent protests in Bangladesh against a controversial quota system for government jobs have evolved into a significant uprising, resulting in the resignation and flight of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Initially sparked by student dissatisfaction with the perceived favoritism towards ruling party affiliates, the protests grew violent on July 15, leading to clashes with security forces and pro-government activists. Nearly 300 lives were lost during the unrest, which ultimately forced the prime minister to flee the country.
Student-led movements have historically played crucial roles in driving radical change across the globe. Here are some notable examples:
Sri Lanka’s Gota Go Gama Protests
In 2022, Sri Lankan students were instrumental in protests that led to the downfall of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The demonstrations, ignited by a severe economic crisis, began in March and escalated into a months-long occupation of the esplanade next to Rajapaksa’s office. The protests, known as “Gota Go Gama” or “Gota Go Village,” drew significant public support and endured despite government-imposed curfews and state of emergency measures. The unrest eventually led to Rajapaksa fleeing the country and his resignation in July, followed by a crackdown on the protest camp by his successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe. While Wickremesinghe addressed some of the immediate shortages, complaints about rising taxes and utility costs persist.
Athens Polytechnic Uprising in Greece
In November 1973, students at Athens Polytechnic staged a significant uprising against Greece’s military junta, which had ruled with severe repression since a 1967 coup. The student-led protest, which began as a strike and occupation of the university, grew into a broader movement demanding the end of the dictatorship. The regime’s brutal crackdown on November 17, involving a tank assault on the university, resulted in several student deaths and injuries. Although the junta initially intensified its repression, the revolt contributed to Greece’s return to democracy in 1974. Annual commemorations of the uprising continue to attract thousands.
Kent State Demonstrations in the United States
On May 4, 1970, a protest at Ohio’s Kent State University against U.S. involvement in Cambodia turned tragic when Ohio National Guard troops opened fire on demonstrators, killing four students and wounding nine others. Known as the Kent State Massacre, the event intensified national opposition to the Vietnam War and led to a widespread student strike across the U.S., temporarily closing numerous colleges and universities. This tragedy played a significant role in shifting public opinion against the war.
Soweto Uprising in South Africa
The Soweto Uprising began on June 16, 1976, when Black students in Johannesburg protested against the forced use of Afrikaans in schools, a language associated with apartheid oppression. The protests quickly spread, highlighting broader grievances against the apartheid regime. The violent government crackdown resulted in hundreds of deaths, symbolized by the iconic image of Hector Pieterson, a young student killed during the protests. This uprising galvanized international condemnation of apartheid, which persisted for nearly two more decades before South Africa achieved democracy in 1994. June 16 is now a national holiday in South Africa.
Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia
In late 1989, Czechoslovakia saw the Velvet Revolution, a peaceful student-led movement against the Communist regime. Sparked by the suppression of a student protest on November 17, the demonstrations quickly grew, with up to 500,000 people participating in Prague. The non-violent protests led to the resignation of Communist Party leaders by November 28, and on December 29, dissident playwright Vaclav Havel was elected president. The revolution marked the end of Communist rule and paved the way for the peaceful split of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1992.
These examples illustrate how student and youth-led movements have historically been catalysts for significant political and social change, challenging established systems and reshaping nations.
Source :- AP
