Siddharth Bhatia

Jantar Mantar protests did a world of good to India and Indians. It empowered students across states. It focussed on education as a need, a demand and a right that should be fought for. Indian students are done waiting. A wave of protests have hit UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, MP, Maharashtra & Jharkhand etc. In Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, about 1,500 students, Classes 6-12, staged a 6-hour sit-in at Sarvodaya Inter College. No fans, no library, no computer lab, unsafe drinking water, broken desks. Officials came calling within a day. In Gays, Bihar, A government school with a broken hand pump, dead fans, shattered benches. Students protested and refused to speak to a junior official. They demanded the District Magistrate himself show up. He did. In Jalore, Rajasthan, students locked the gates themselves, demanding teachers for grades 1-3 that simply weren’t there. In Barmer’s Ramsar school, same story. Kids literally not being taught subjects due to staff shortages. Across MP, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Similar walkouts reported. Same core demands echoing across states: functional fans, clean water, hygienic toilets, teachers actually in the classroom. What Jantar Mantar protests achieved is exceptional. India is discussing education, faculty shortages, unfairness, paper leaks, lack of school infrastructure. None of these demands are unreasonable and the minimum a public school owes a child. The fact it took a viral sit in to get it fixed is the real story. I only wish this continues. We should continue to bring student issues to the forefront. Empower them with coverage, conversations. This can’t be allowed to fade as a one week news cycle. Keep asking. Keep covering. About vacant teacher posts in your district? What happened to the school infrastructure budget? Tag your local officials. Don’t let this fade. Please don’t let it fade.