The recent student protest at Jantar Mantar offered an opportunity to closely observe the anger, frustration and deep anxiety among students about their future. The alleged irregularities surrounding the NEET examination have shaken the hopes of thousands of talented and hardworking students. Behind every student preparing for a competitive examination lies the sacrifice, expectations and dreams of an entire family.
Students took to the streets, demanding accountability from the system and seeking the resignation of the Education Minister. The intensity of the protest eventually compelled the government to respond, and the Education Minister resigned.
The impact of the agitation soon reached Jharkhand. At Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, young people from the state raised their voices against alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC examinations. The examinations were eventually cancelled. The episode demonstrated the strength of organised youth movements and their ability to compel governments to reconsider their decisions.
But this brings us to a larger question—what is our real destination?
Is the resignation of a minister enough? Is the cancellation of an examination the ultimate achievement of a movement? Or should our real objective be to bring about lasting reforms in a system that repeatedly puts the future of young people at risk?
India has witnessed several major movements in the past. The historic movement led by Anna Hazare is still remembered by many. At that time, there was widespread hope that the system would undergo substantial change and corruption would be decisively addressed. Yet, years later, young people are still forced to gather at Jantar Mantar to raise their voices for their rights.
This raises an important question: why do our struggles often remain limited to changing individuals instead of transforming the system?
One minister leaves and another takes charge. Governments change and political faces change, but the fundamental problems within the system often remain unchanged.
Jharkhand provides another example. After the government decided to cancel the examinations amid protests, some candidates approached the court, and the decision was stayed by a judicial order. Their concern cannot simply be dismissed either. Candidates who worked honestly day and night should not have to bear the consequences of alleged irregularities committed by others. What happens to their years of hard work and their dreams?
This is precisely where the debate must move beyond protest and focus on finding a permanent solution.
Even today, many remote parts of India lack quality education and basic facilities. Poor parents make enormous sacrifices to educate their children, hoping that education will provide them with a better future. When a child from a disadvantaged family prepares for a competitive examination, it is not merely an individual effort; it represents years of sacrifice and struggle by the entire family.
For many girls, the journey is even more difficult. They often face social pressure and taunts such as, “She is a girl, why educate her so much?” or “She is reaching marriageable age.” Despite these obstacles, when a young woman prepares herself for a competitive examination, another challenge may await her—the vacancy itself may not be announced.
When vacancies are finally announced, the examination may face allegations of paper leaks or irregularities. Even when the examination process is completed, questions about transparency and influence can sometimes emerge.
This naturally leads to a serious question: Who is responsible for this situation—the system, the government or society itself?
There is no easy answer. Governments must be held accountable. Administrative mechanisms need to be transparent and answerable. Examination systems must be strengthened to prevent paper leaks, malpractice and manipulation. At the same time, society must also engage in serious self-reflection.
We often become angry after an incident, take to the streets, demand the resignation of an official or minister and then move on after some time. But if we genuinely want change, our struggle cannot be limited to changing political faces. We must work towards strengthening and transforming the system itself.
Our destination should not be limited to the resignation of one minister, the cancellation of one examination or the change of one government. Our real destination should be the creation of a system where the hard work of a poor student is never destroyed by a paper leak, where a girl does not have to fight social prejudice to pursue her dreams, and where candidates are not made victims of systemic failures after years of preparation.
Movements are necessary because they awaken the system. But the true success of a movement lies in converting its demands into lasting reforms.
Otherwise, every few years, there will be new faces at Jantar Mantar, new slogans and new issues—but the question will remain the same:
What is our real destination?
And, more importantly, do we merely want to change governments, or do we genuinely want to change the system?
(Writer Chand Rashmi Pingua
Former Medical Board Member and State General Secretary, Jharkhand Congress Seva Dal)
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