The enlightened, intelligent and legitimate protest of the aggrieved Gen Z over their failed educational system culminating in the leakage of exam papers jeopardising the future of the Gen Z, found an amica-ble settlement when the leaders of the CJP and the Government representatives after application of their mind through the display of their maturity of their mind. It is to the credit of the CJP and Govern-ment leaderships that both of them displayed honest statesmanship which is the wise em-ployment of individual meanness for the public good. Even though the art of statesmanship is to foresee the inevitable challenges and take immediate remedial measures through dialogue to find so-lutions for an immediate amicable settlement, the Government should not have allowed time gap to make a mountain of a mole hill. The Government had an experience of such a nature not so long ago in the year 2021 when they brought out the three best central agriculture bills which were forced to be withdrawn on account of farmers’ agitation which was hijacked by anti-national and anti-social ele-ments and then by the local political disposition working against the ruling government. The Shaheen Bagh incidents cannot be erased easily.
The Government lacked foresight to judge the impact of the formation of alleged Satirical political outfit called Cockroach Janata Party became a rallying point for youth frustrated with unemployment and ex-am paper leaks after CJP started their Jantar Mantar agitation on June 6, this year after climate activist and engineer Sonam Wangchuk went on a hunger strike. It was Delhi Police’s attack on the protesters during their march to parliament on July 20, that triggered the situation going out of control and turbo-charged the youth agitation.
No body expected that a remark from Chief Justice of India about some students being idle cockroaches could turn into a mass student movement engulfing not only the capital of India but also spread like a wild fire in to other states also. The effective use of social media particularly the Instagram by the Gene Z gave them an unprecedented vast coverage that gave them an unbeatable formula for social dominance. What could have remained a limit protest, got a boost because of the lack of sensitivity of the govern-ment’s response to the students bruised feelings and sentiments. The massive exposure through videos showing unarmed students being chased by cops and struck with lathis and that too when they were protesting seeking justice and merit. All they wanted was for one of the most important exams of their lives to be conducted fairly. The anger of the Gen Z coming out of their belief that hard work would be rewarded equitably and impartially was belied. There was a huge extraordinary support from the public also.
The simmering discontent was brewing up already. It is very surprising that how did a party known for its political acumen did not take note of the build-up for an upheaval leading towards serious political ramification? Individual concerns can be allayed but large massive upsurge of discontent of the Gen Z, if not dealt with sensitively and deftly, the present government may be losing touch with a generation that will shape India’s future which may prove to be the beginning of the end of the political survival of the party in power.
However, understanding the need for assuaging the ill and hurt feelings of the Gen Z and to remove the misunderstandings regarding the intent of the government among the youth of India and to resurrect the ebullitions of any tainted imaginations among the public particularly the student community regard-ing the standing and status of the present government as an entity working for the progress, prosperity and wellness of the country and its people, the government and BJP have to under take a course correc-tion to come out of their vulnerability to restore the confidence of the people by bringing the essence of statesmanship noy by a rigid adherence to the past but through a prudent and probing concern for the future of the nation and particularly for the GEN Z.
In fairness, the government has taken the first step by acknowledging the concerns of the Gen Z by hav-ing a productive meeting with their leaders and also arriving at an understanding for amicable settlement of all contentious issues involved. As a first step the then minister of education Pradhan has resigned and his resignation has been accepted. The government has initiated a robust plan of action for the reor-ientation of the education system by setting up a high-powered committee headed by Nandan Nelekani, the Infosys Co-founder, to recommend technology driven and structural reforms for the examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Further Pralhad Joshi, a well experienced parliamentar-ian, took additional charge as Union Education Minister. The new committee consists of many well-known personalities of good standing. As per the understanding arrived at with the leaders of student group, government has agreed to withdraw all cases against the student protesters. When the serious-ness of the leaks of questions for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduates (Neet-UG) were unearthed, admirably swift investigation initiated by the government revealed a nexus be-tween sources in the National Testing Agency (NTA) and coaching -centre teachers, all of them have been arrested. Some of the top officials of CBSE were also removed. To speed up the investigation, “fast track courts” were established. Fresh examinations were also conducted and results were also an-nounced. All possible steps have been taken. The government and the leaders of the Gen Z have agreed for further meetings to arrive at the final solutions to put in place a robust education and examination system for the ultimate realisation of a defect free education policy and a scheme. The CJP has called off their agitation and peace has been restored.
One intriguing fact is that the CJP started its protest as satirical peaceful event only as a means to express the hurt feelings and offended sentiments of the Gen Z regarding the question paper leakage affecting their future. It was surprising that a peaceful event suddenly flared into violence leading to police inter-vention where in more than 100 police personnel also were injured. Who triggered the violence? An un-biased thorough investigation should be initiated and the actual perpetrators should be brought out and punished severely as per the law. It is very much essential to restore the confidence of the public in the police force as the guardians of law and order.
The pertinent question is whether the restored peace is going to be permanent or considering the bellig-erent mood of the opposition parties belonging to I.N.D.I.A group particularly Indian National Congress, will the parliament be allowed to function peacefully? The political leaders are responsible to negotiate the terms and conditions of peace but the fate of peace is up to each of them. “Peace is more than just an absence of war. True peace is justice, true peace is freedom, and true peace dictates the recognition of human rights.” And “Peace is not absence of conflict; it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.” It is not a one-way traffic. All the stake holders are responsible for keeping the peace perma-nently. When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.
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