Pune: On a humid Thursday afternoon in Pune, under the heavy presence of over 600 policemen and several surveillance and other vehicles, 87-year-old Meenakshi Pawar stood alongside teenagers not yet of voting age.A teacher with over three decades of experience, she sought the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, along with them. “There was faith in examinations being a level playing field for all. But when even that is compromised, what do you trust?” she said.For many, Cockroach Janta Party’s protest at Savitribai Phule Pune University organised by founder Abhijeet Dipke was their first brush with activism. Social activist Sonam Wangchuk was also present. The participants were angry about the NEET paper-leak scandal. All the different voices had the same underlying despair of a generation losing hope in the public examination system.First-time protester, Atharva, an IIT Gandhinagar student on vacation did not inform his parents before joining the agitation. “It is not only about Pradhan’s resignation but also to send a message that irresponsible behaviour will not be tolerated. Everybody feels for this cause because exams are sacrosanct. Messing it up is not done,” he said.Students who had appeared for NEET spoke about the mental stress they now face because of the paper leak and the need to fix responsibility instead of making scapegoats out of junior officers.“I took a gap year, so for two years, my family, relatives and friends have been asking about NEET. When the exams were done, I was happy that I was out of this loop. But just the thought that I have to study again because of others’ mistakes makes me angry,” a protester from Nashik, who had come with her cousins, said.The over 3,000-strong crowd had started filling up the clearance in front of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar statue at SPPU from 3pm, but Dipke arrived with Wangchuk after 5.30pm.In his five-point education manifesto, Dipke demanded Rs 10,000 compensation for paper leaks, exam cancellations or postponements, and for every month of result delays beyond one month.“Re-examinations must be conducted within 72 hours of any exam irregularity, answer sheets should be rechecked manually, students should not lose attempts or become ineligible due to age limits because of delays caused by authorities, and finally technical audits of online examination systems should be completed at least a week before exams,” Dipke said, listing out the other points from his manifesto.He told those present to not indulge in debates along community lines. “We are being manipulated. We have stopped thinking as citizens and started thinking only as Hindus or Muslims, and hence, not reflected on education, jobs and development. The world is moving towards artificial intelligence, clean energy and semiconductors, while we are stuck in such debates,” he added.Some students were accompanied by their parents or older relatives to the protest. A CBSE Std XII student Siddhant Mohod, who recently applied for re-evaluation, spoke about the nightmare he endured to apply and about accountability. “Sadly, students died because of the exam mess but the minister feels nothing. We know it is not directly his fault. But from Lal Bahadur Shastri to Shivraj Patil, ministers have resigned taking moral responsibility because lives were lost. Where is his moral or ethical responsibility?” Mohod said.Dipke told parents at the protest, “My mother told me not to come back from the US fearing my arrest. Parents are afraid for their children who speak up, but I urge you not to silence them. Govts take people for granted when they stay silent.”Many were angry with ministers for calling the CJP and protest participants ‘Pakistani’. Shirish Bapat, 72, who participated in an agitation against the govt during Emergency said he quit politics after 1990 but joined this protest because he felt the anger, hopelessness and disappointment in the new generation.Wangchuk said if education has reduced to examinations and they have scams, where are students supposed to go? “Young people are waking up and demanding answers. The strength of a democracy lies in seeking answers. If India wants to become a Vishwaguru, it must begin with media freedom. Until the media speaks the truth, people will not get the truth.”Bharat Khadse, who appeared for NEET this year, talked about his shock at knowing about the paper leak. “So many years of hard work went down the drain. How can the exam paper attempted by lakhs leak. What did the govt do? Can only the rich become doctors?” he said.Anjali Paranjpe (74) and Neelam Patole (56), both retired teachers, said they were so upset about the cockroach remark that they joined CJP. “If youngsters are unemployed, that is our fault. We are unable to provide them good education and job opportunities. We stand with the students,” Paranjpe said.
