"To take part in demonstrations and hooliganism in the name of politics," said Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, speaking to a group of college students in the city of Patna in Bihar on August 30, 1955, "is, apart from the right or wrong of it, not proper for students of any country."¹ A minor conflict between the students of the B. N. College, Patna, and the State Transport employees had led to police firing on the students on August 12–13, 1955. Then the Independence Day celebrations on August 15 were marred by "desecration of the National Flag, students-police clashes and black flag demonstration in Chhapra, Biharsharif, Daltonganj, and Nawada."² Nehru had gone to Patna to assess the situation. In retrospect, it is possible to read Nehru's speech as addressing a question that would be important for postcolonial India: what kind of political behavior would be appropriate for the citizens of an independent nation? Nehru's expression "in the name of politics" suggests that he did not see demonstrations and hooliganism as politics appropriate for students.

Nehru deplored the police action: "It is obvious that any incident that warrants firing is bound to be deplorable." But he could not tolerate the violence and the trampling of the national flag. Violence in public life was something he saw as a sign of political immaturity: "I cannot tolerate this at all. Is India a nation of immature, childish people? ... We must behave like an adult, mature, independent nation." Students must have interrupted his talk at this point, for the speech reads, "Shouting and creating chaos will get you nowhere. I represent a mature nation. How can I have any respect for your intelligence … if the students in this town do not have the patience to listen to me?"³ In another speech made at a public meeting in Guwahati, Assam, a few days earlier, Nehru had already made this point:

No strong nation indulges in throwing stones and behaving like hooligans. Any fool can do that. … But why should an incident in Patna set off a conflagration all over Bihar, with trains being burnt and attacks on police and the railway officials and what not? The whole thing started with a small incident on a bus. Our students, particularly in Bihar, consider it beneath their dignity to buy tickets on buses or trains. What kind of a country are we building?⁴

Nehru was not against students taking an interest in political matters. Such interest was part of the process that would make them into citizens: "You have the right to belong to any political party that you choose. But one development which is wrong is the increasing interference of political parties in universities and colleges, generating great tension. … I do not say that you should not take part in politics. As citizens you must think about these things. But you must keep them out of universities and colleges." Violence could not be a part of democracy: "We have democracy in India. … We cannot get anywhere by beating up one another or breaking the laws." Politics in democracy must be based on discussions, debates, and discipline. Nehru continued: "The most crucial thing at this juncture is unity and discipline." He added: "The moment we allow ourselves to behave like hooligans, we will lose control over ourselves. … The reins [of public life] then pass into the hands of goondas, the lawless elements."⁵