Sonam Wangchuk has become a household name in the country. Those who did not know this award-winning environment activist from Ladakh and were not familiar with his works now know everything about his resilience, and all thanks to the Narendra Modi government. It is because of this government’s silence that people, who were otherwise oblivious to the problems in the Education sector as well as other sectors in the country, have been vocal and demanding an answer from the government.
For those who are still unaware of the situation, here’s a recapitulation. Wangchuk joined the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest at Jantar Mantar demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation about a month ago. The demand follows the exam paper leak for NEET, one of the most competitive national examinations for those aspiring to become doctors. The examination was cancelled, and it affected lakhs of students across the country, making their future uncertain. Some of these young talents could not bear the stress and anxiety and chose to take the drastic step of suicide. Yes, so far, 20 students in different states have died by suicide.
This year’s paper leak was the second in three years after the 2024 fiasco. After the NEET exam paper leak this year, as series of other misconducts were reported in states like Maharashtra and Rajasthan. So, in this scenario, isn’t the demand for the resignation of the Union minister justified?
Wangchuk started his hunger strike three weeks back. He is accompanied by a group of young activists. Now, the question is, how has this affected the central government and those in power? The answer is in monosyllable, nothing.
Not a word has come from any government dispensation. Not a statement from the prime Minister’s Office and definitely not from the minister whose resignation is being demanded.
Now, let us see what our honourable Prime Minister was doing during all this time when Wangchuk was on hunger strike and demanding not only the resignation of Pradhan but also cleaning up the education system in the country. The hunger strike started on June 28, when Narendra Modi was visiting Seychelles as part of his diplomatic tour. He was receiving the highest state honour from the government of Seychelles when his countrymen were fighting for their basic right — the right to education.
The Prime Minister visited four nations in the past three weeks, sealing deals on defence and trade. This was when his country’s education system, which is one of the most important sectors in any country, was witnessing a deep crisis. Not only that, the prime Minister was generous enough to meet the non-residential Indians in those countries, including Australia. In fact, those Indians living on foreign land did not care to ask their honourable prime minister why the condition of the education system of their motherland has spiralled down. Or, even if they had, the Indian media was kind enough not to show the ignominy that Modi must have suffered.
But the point is when the prime Minister of the country was expected to address his countrymen on this land who are suffering and demanding and urging for answers, he was busy addressing people in foreign countries. Why? Does he not care about the future of the youths in the country? Or, does he consider education as a secondary subject as compared to defence and trade? Or, is it that he is too embarrassed to address the citizens and the media?
Wangchuk’s health is deteriorating and people from all quarters are requesting him to end the hunger strike. One of the social media content makers appealed to him and other young activists to end their fast saying the government is heartless and it does not matter if the activists end their lives.
For a change, it was heartening to see that a handful of Bollywood actors, like Sonakshi Sinha and Atul Kulkarni, have come out in support of Wangchuk and the cause he is fighting for. At the same time, it is annoying to see Aamir Khan scurrying to defend his film 3 Idiots , saying it was not inspired by Wangchuk, and then casually extending his pinkie support to the entire issue. Just to inform the great actor, Wangchuk and the young activists of the country can do without your support, Mr Khan.
But for those who are genuinely concerned about the whole situation, here’s what is so worrying about the current situation. A government without accountability and compassion is dangerous and a threat to its own citizens. A government that maintains silence when the youth of the country is seeking questions, a government that ignores the pleas of citizens of a conflict-torn state, a government that overlooks the demands of the poor citizens protesting against a devastating project in Madhya Pradesh cannot be a government of the people, by the people and for the people. The silence is not only deafening but also an attack on the constitutional rights of the Indian citizens.
And with all this, the Opposition in the country is divided and bickering over every other topic. They just don’t seem to agree on anything, not even on the biggest crisis facing the country. With such a weak opposition and so much egoistic government, it is only the citizens’ concerted decisions that can shape the future of the country.
(Video presentation by Niharika Choudhury)
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