Protest at Jantar Mantar Ends After Education Minister Resigns

Jantar Mantar Falls Silent After Protest Victory

As midnight approached on Saturday, the makeshift iron stage at Jantar Mantar was dismantled, marking the end of a 36-day protest that culminated in Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. The protest, spearheaded by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party, drew hundreds of young supporters and became a symbol of collective action against the alleged NEET paper leak. By the time the crowd thinned, only a few lingered, reflecting on their shared journey.

A Movement That United Strangers

The protest site, which had transformed into a hub of fiery speeches, songs, and camaraderie, left an indelible mark on its participants. Among them was Vivek Kumar, a 20-year-old from Hajipur, Bihar, who spent over a month volunteering at the site. “I feel like crying. I’d started to feel a real connection here,” he said, describing the bonds he formed with fellow protesters as stronger than those with his own family.

For Vivek, the protest was deeply personal. It coincided with his birthday, and he took pride in the fact that his efforts contributed to the minister’s resignation. “In 10-15 years, I’ll tell my children their father helped bring about the education minister’s resignation on his birthday,” he said with a laugh.

A Bittersweet Farewell

As garbage trucks rolled in to clear the site, many supporters remained reluctant to leave. Some shared food, others took photos by candlelit memorials for students who died by suicide, and a few sat quietly, reflecting on the movement’s impact. Vivek, who dreams of starting his own political party, vowed to continue his activism, planning to join campaigns in Bihar and Manipur in the coming weeks. “This sweet is needed as a lot of bitterness has ended,” he said, distributing laddoos to those around him.

Imtiaz Ali, a 21-year-old from Murshidabad, West Bengal, was among those who stayed overnight. After traveling 24 hours to join the protest, he and his friends spent the evening debating Instagram reels and celebrating their role in what they saw as a historic moment. “All my friends are jealous that we were here when Pradhan resigned,” he said, smiling.

A Missed Moment for Some

Not everyone made it in time. Santosh Nirala, a mason from Chhattisgarh, learned of the resignation while en route to Delhi. “A passenger sitting opposite me told me the minister had resigned. I couldn’t believe it,” he said, adding that his daughter had taken the NEET exam this year. Though disappointed to have missed the celebrations, he expressed hope for broader reforms in education.

A Legacy of Gen Z Activism

By 1 am, the protest site was nearly empty, its vibrant energy replaced by silence. The movement, led largely by Gen Z activists, had grown from a satirical online platform into a powerful force for change. As Vivek stood gazing at the now-empty space where the stage once stood, he promised, “I’ll come back to meet my fellow cockroaches.”

Source: Indian Express