Bengaluru: In a twist of history, the walls of Freedom Park — once Bengaluru’s Central Jail, where prisoners were confined behind bars — reverberated with cheers, slogans, and patriotic songs Saturday as hundreds of students and activists celebrated Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation after weeks of sustained protests.The celebrations began after Pradhan announced his resignation in a two-page letter posted on social media. What had started as another day of demonstrations quickly turned into a victory rally, with protesters hugging one another, dancing, singing, and distributing sweets, hailing the resignation as a triumph for the student movement.Ironically, many at the venue were initially unaware that their principal demand had been met because of poor mobile network connectivity around Freedom Park.
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Around 3pm, the news finally reached a makeshift stage near the parking area, where an organiser announced the development over a handheld microphone in Kannada.For a few moments, the crowd stood in stunned silence before erupting into applause. Students and activists broke into spontaneous celebrations, dancing, singing patriotic songs, and embracing one another. They later gathered to sing Jana Gana Mana and Vande Mataram. “We sang the national anthem and Vande Mataram repeatedly because it felt like a second freedom struggle. No Union minister has resigned under public pressure in recent years, but we achieved it,” said Tarini S, a student protester.The protest, which began around 10am, drew thousands to Freedom Park. While the alleged NEET paper leak was the immediate trigger, demonstrators also raised concerns over women’s safety, corruption, and govt accountability. Many demanded the resignation of Union home minister Amit Shah, sought justice for students allegedly injured during protests in Delhi, and called for a public apology from the Centre.The celebrations reflected Gen Z’s distinct style of protest. Memes, satirical performances, protest songs, caricatures, colourful flags, and mimicry of Prime Minister Narendra Modi dominated the gathering. Children, students, working professionals, and senior citizens joined in, turning the venue into a carnival-like display of dissent and solidarity.Among them was Pallavi, a Sadashivanagar resident and mother of a class 10 student, who distributed sweets to fellow protesters. “I have a daughter who dreams of becoming a doctor. I don’t want children like her to go through this,” she said, describing the minister’s resignation as a victory for students.Students said the outcome had strengthened their resolve to remain politically engaged. “Gen Z will not remain silent. We will continue demanding accountability,” said one protester.Organisers also distributed bananas and water bottles at the venue. The demonstration was supported by several student organisations, including All India Students’ Association (AISA), Students’ Federation of India (SFI), and National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), many of which said they had been part of the movement in Bengaluru since it began more than a month ago.After govt blocks video, comedian performs liveThe protest also drew several public figures. While actor Prakash Raj had earlier joined demonstrations organised by CJP, Saturday’s gathering featured actor Kishore Kumar and stand-up comedian Shyam Rangeela, whose mimicry of PM Modi drew loud applause and laughter.Nearly two years ago, the Rajasthan-based comedian had uploaded a video mimicking Modi’s voice and alleged that it was blocked by govt. On Saturday, he marked the protesters’ victory with a stand-up performance in front of the crowd.Voices from the groundShyam Rangeela | comedianI was someone who used to vote for this govt and was a huge supporter, but over time my criticism was dealt with very negatively by the regime. Now, I’m very happy that the student protests have been successful. I wanted to perform in Bengaluru because I feel this is the best audience and a safe environment for every criticismKhalif Belthangady | advocacy expertThis protest is not just about students; it’s about everyone. We’ve gained a lot from those who came before us, and now it’s our turn to give back. As Millennials, we often feel we haven’t done enough, but Gen Z has shown us how to stand up and make our voices heard instead of just expressing ourselves online. That’s why I’m here today. It’s time we let Gen Z take the lead — they’ve shown us how change can be achieved through collective actionAshwini TV | techieThere’s so much unrest in the country… I felt I should come here to extend my support to the students and the cause. I’m very happy with today’s development. The education system still has many flaws, but this is one step in the right directionPrachi Sharma | HSR Layout residentI’m a former NEET aspirant from Delhi, so I understand the hardships students go through while preparing for the exam. What has happened is completely unacceptable, and that’s why I came here for the second consecutive day to protest. I wanted to stand with students, raise my voice, and be part of changeSuman Rasheed | techieThe minister’s resignation is an important first step, but I believe this is just the beginning. The problem is much larger — it’s a systemic issue that requires sustained action. Although I come from a privileged background and haven’t faced these challenges personally, I’ve seen many students, including NEET aspirants I know, suffer because of flaws in the education system… We need to keep fighting until there is proper accountability from govt and meaningful systemic reformsM Razik | journalism studentI came here because my girlfriend was among the victims of NEET paper leak. I also wanted to be on the ground because the coverage in some sections of mainstream media was manipulated. As an aspiring journalist, I also wanted to experience the ground reality. This is one of the greatest moments of my life and I’m proud I was a part of this protest
