Posted on by nikita

Unfiltered.

black and white protest in kano nigeria

What you will read today in this blog, readers, are my unfiltered thoughts—thoughts born out of disappointment, disgust, and distress. Excuse my grammatical errors and abrupt transitions. That’s how our mind works when it is disturbed, I suppose. Sometimes it fails to understand chronology. And so does my mind. And so does my blog.

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I’ve been following the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar for quite some time. For a broader perspective, I also did some background research on who’s who in this protest. Listening to so many people on TV debates and podcasts with polarised viewpoints, honestly, I feel quite confused. Whom to believe? Was this protest about students’ concerns and complaints, or had it been born out of political angst and agenda? 

Of course, our education system has flaws, because it is created by humans who also have flaws. And I am as disappointed with it as the students. I also understand that it must have been exhausting—mentally and physically—for the students who had to bear the consequences—with some ending their lives—of the corrupted people—the ones who supplied the NEET-UG exam paper and those who demanded it. 

There’s always a supply and demand angle to such leaks. So, is demanding the resignation of Mr Pradhan, the Education Minister, sufficient? Could it be the first step towards a better education system?

That’s a general opinion. A similar view was also shared by one of the NEET aspirants on a news channel. She believed that at least asking for a resignation would serve as a deterrent for the new minister who would fill his place. Okay. Makes sense. But then, what if the same thing happened under the leadership of the new minister? 

In this case also, Mr Pradhan didn’t leak the paper; people working under him, and those working under these people, and many down the ladder. In fact, the person who leaked the paper was the paper setter. 

What I am trying to say is that the problem isn’t just the minister; it’s the corrupted system. And how, where, and when does corruption begin? It begins with us—the people of the country.

How many of you have handed a 100-rupee note to the policeman when you are pulled aside for flouting some traffic rules? How many of you have gotten your driving license without appearing for the driving test? How many of you have bribed the pujari or pandit or maulvi or whoever for a VIP entry to the sanctum sanctorum at a religious place? How many of you got a fake sick leave certificate from your family doctor?

These are just a few day-to-day life instances. Corruption has seeped into us to such an extent that sometimes we don’t even notice it until such incidents occur. And then it becomes very easy to play the blame game. 

Okay. Blame the government’s policy. Blame the system. Start a protest. Demand a change. Question a policy. These are the democratic rights of every citizen of India. 

But with rights also come responsibilities. Were the protesters using language befitting a responsible citizen? How does one justify the vile and vulgar language used by many protesters at Jantar Mantar to voice their dissent? How can one agree with expletives used for the Prime Minister of the country?

Was it just for social media reels? Performative? For likes and followers? Where’s the accountability—something the protesters kept demanding from the government? 

Would such language have been tolerated during the time of the Emergency in India?

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Student: Uncle said that the school trip is always free for you.
Teacher: Not free of the responsibility for 100 students for an entire week. 

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I’d like for readers to share their thoughts on this issue/protest by replying to this blog. You can also DM if you have any opinions/observations. I can post your views, anonymously if you wish, as a reply to my viewpoints.

HAPPY GURU PURNIMA


Posted on by nikita

Protests, Poribortan, and Paltu Rams

As much as I would like to avoid processed food, I can’t be completely off it. Recently, when I went to buy a packet of puffed lemon rice from a nearby general store I frequently visit, the shopkeeper asked me whether I would be willing to change my preference to the new food time introduced by the famous company. He asked me to try a jhalmuri snack instead. 

‘Oh! Jhalmuri! The one Modiji tasted before paltifying the TMC rule in Bengal?’ I confirmed. But I wasn’t ready for a sudden change in my identity — from a Gujarati surti to a Bengali maanus. Poribortan takes time.  

Walking home, I tumbled into the metaphorical rabbit hole of fantastic thoughts. 

First, I came across a group of angry chameleons. They appeared really upset with humankind, especially the recent Paltu Rams in politics — the ones who defected from their political party for paisa, power and position. How willingly would they change their narrative to suit their political career! 

The reptiles were surprised at humankind’s ability to change colours just as naturally as they did, making it difficult for them to classify them as humans.

Unanimously, the chameleons decided to file a defamation case against the ministers, specifically those who defected from their party. They felt that in the name of freedom, these Paltu Rams are maligning their biological and evolutionary identity. So, the famous chameleon Trumpy, known for its agility to change colours, shouted, Are you with me or with me?, and the sound of cheerful ‘Yay’ reverberated in the hole. 

When I fell deeper into the hole, I saw a small group of cockroaches. They had also gathered for some sort of protest. Eavesdropping on some conversations made me realise that they were discussing India’s current education system. A genuine concern, though. A much-needed poriborton after the NEET paper leak and CBSE controversy.

Suddenly, there was a loud announcement by their leader, who stood on a mound and called himself Tipke. Oh! The same cockroach guy who claimed to have a million followers. But I was surprised to see that only a small percentage of them had turned up for the protest. 

Tipke began with his address to his fellow cockroaches gathered there. ‘Friends, Indians, Gen Z, we demand educational reforms and accountability from our government.’

Mm-hmm.

I could see many cockroaches swiftly running here and there as if they weren’t even aware of what was being said. They seemed unaware of the agenda. Not a fan or follower of cockroaches, I decided to interview a few of them.

One of the youth members told me he was there to demand the resignation of Amit Pradhan, the Minister of Education.

Huh! Amit Pradhan? 

The other cockroach, flaunting his black coat (he said he had come directly from the High Court), told me his bhai, standing next to him in a black coat, would answer the question since he wasn’t aware of the issue at hand. 

Woowww!!! 

Like an enthusiastic young Indian, I approached a group of Gen Z, probably discussing something important. On questioning, one of them belligerently complained about the hacking of EVM machines by the current government in particular states. And the best part was that he even prophesied about the hacking that would happen in Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the next election. 

Uhhm!! 

Finally, I went to a baby cockroach and inquired about the reason for her attending the meeting. Confused, with a fluttering voice, she said she was there to ask the government to stop the war between America and Israel. 

Whaaaattt?? 

Baffled by such responses and the engulfing darkness, I opened the door at the other side of the hole and entered my house. Finally, it was all light and radiant. 

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Friend: Be the change you wish to …
Me: Ahha!