History's first student movement
The first student protest in recorded history took place in China more than 2000 years ago in 160 BC. According to ancient Chinese texts, the students of Imperial University were quite famous for their political activism and raising their voice against sluggish Chinese bureaucracy. Amidst tensions between the students and the bureaucracy, the emperor, under the influence of bureaucrats, passed a decree stating that the students of Imperial University would not be able to apply for civil service until their curricula was revised and updated. Government jobs were secured only for the family members of the bureaucrats. This decision infuriated the university students. Under the leadership of several student leaders such as Guo Tai, Zhan Jian and Xi Fu, around 30,000 students of Imperial University organised intense demonstrations. Their demands were revision of their extremely outdated curriculum, curbing the power of the eunuchs and bureaucrats, and allowing university students to apply for the civil service.
Ancient Chinese authors mentioned Guo Tai's name with great respect and stated that he was a man of extraordinary intellect. Although he came from a very poor family, Guo managed to get admitted to the most elite educational institution of ancient China. According to Han texts, the student demonstrations were quite similar to the protests we see in Bangladesh today. They prepared banners and festoons, and painted entire university walls with slogans such as 'Fearless against powerful enemies' and 'A model for the empire'.
However, their demonstration did not succeed. The emperor deployed combat troops to thwart the students. Many of the protesting students were imprisoned, others exiled or even executed. As per ancient Chinese author Sima Guang, Guo Tai was exiled, Xi Fu hid in the mountains and took a laborious job in an iron mine, while his friend Zhan Jian was arrested. Later, Zhan Jian was released and he got a job in the army and was promoted to Captain of the Guards.
Jian's old comrade Xi Fu criticised Jian for this surrender and commented, “One man might escape death but 10,000 households suffered misfortune. How could one live with that?” Although the first student movement in recorded history failed and died out, the ancient Chinese historians remembered it with great respect. They were surprised to see the courage of the students who dared to stand against the decision of the mighty emperor of China.
Source: Political Protest in Imperial China by Alan Baumler page 167-184, second edition, 2007.
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