Finding France at the Beinecke Library

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Nishanth Bhargava (‘27) researched the 1968 student movement in France at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University under the mentorship of Dr. Siarhei Biareishyk (Department of Russian and East European Studies). He conducted this research with support from the University Scholars program.

I’ve always been interested in politics, not because of the electoral statistics or legal procedures involved, but because politics has the potential to transform society. I became interested in past revolutionary movements as a model for the future after reading about the struggles of students and workers in the 60s and 70s. While every generation of youth seeks to leave its mark on the world, perhaps the most ambitious were the students of the 1960s, who aimed to create a world built on equality and freedom for all. As a result, I examined the political philosophy of the 1968 French student movement. Throughout my research, I found that student revolutionaries came from various ideological backgrounds and primarily focused on the immediate overturning of the French economic and social orders. French students in 1968 were far more interested in society's transformation than the individual's—a salient break from traditional left-wing forces within the country.

In the future, I plan to investigate similar student movements across post-colonial North Africa and the Middle East. Many of these students were in contact with French radicals but addressed national concerns under vastly different forms of government. I am interested in comparing the differing national climates of student movements and determining how these geographies impacted their views of what international liberation would look like and their tactics as they struggled against their governments.

More than anything, spending the summer conducting research largely independently allowed me to learn how to keep myself on track—to order my tasks, stick to my deadlines, and set a precise schedule. The first month or so of the summer was difficult and disorganized, particularly as I had to manage various sources and recall what made each document distinct. However, holding myself accountable ultimately helped me to become more responsible and self-directed.

These organizational skills have continued to pay off in my life in unanticipated ways. While these skills have helped me complete my regular schoolwork, they have also led me to keep better track of my laundry days, remember to contact friends I don’t see very often, and live a more organized and stress-free life across the board. I’m grateful to have had the privilege to spend the summer learning about French student life —and, in the process, discovering how to live better.

Above: Nishanth Bhargava at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

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