The Revolt that India's education system invited

National Education Day in India, observed every November 11 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad the nation's first Minister of Education remains largely understated compared to other national milestones. Since its declaration by the UPA government led by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2008, the day has gradually transitioned into a routine social media acknowledgment rather than a catalyst for public engagement. Educational institutions and students rarely organise high-impact commemorative events such as walkathons, marathons or public marches, leaving the day largely ceremonial.

However, that leaves me wondering: Will this year mark a significant shift? Will National Education Day be celebrated on a grand scale with more active participation from students? The present generation of students, driven by a politically conscious Generation Z, actively demands an affordable, equitable and transparent education system. As India continues to grapple with the stark disparity between government schooling and hyper-commercialised private education, the system remains vulnerable to deep-seated structural inequalities. This growing student frustration over unequal access and systemic unfairness has resulted in anger and may finally transform National Education Day from a passive, plain-vanilla observance into a meaningful platform for nationwide reform and student activism.

It should not surprise us if the same Gen Z is willing to take on lathis at Jantar Mantar. Some were even seen on television challenging the lathi-wielding forces to beat them to death so that they could become martyrs for the cause of education. The bleeding faces of students, young girls shaken, choking back tears while trying to explain to the media how they were cornered and beaten, and many asking, "Why me?" Unfortunately, they seem to be beating their heads against a wall. Much of the media has chosen to side with the government's view that students cannot take the law into their own hands. Of course, that is true. Students are supposed to be in classrooms studying hard for their examinations—or perhaps watching Exam Pe Charcha on television. They have no business being at Jantar Mantar shouting slogans against the Union Education Minister. But then, who is responsible for this agitation?

Try telling this to a Gen Z student protesting at Jantar Mantar, and the reply would be devastating for the government. This generation clearly understands the mess the government has handed over to them in the name of education.

Frustration, anger, disappointment and disillusionment are visible on their faces as they stare at an uncertain future where merit is undermined. They work hard, attend extra tuition classes, stay awake burning the midnight oil and revise repeatedly until the day of the examination. They return home saying, "Mom, I wrote my paper very well. I'm expecting 90 per cent. I answered almost every question except one or two. I'm glad I prepared well." The mother, who stayed awake with the child through the night, encouraging and motivating them while serving cups of tea or energy drinks, smiles with pride, believing that her efforts have also paid off.

But what happens the next day? The media flashes the news: "Paper leaked, re-exam soon!"

All hell breaks loose. The same confident student is shattered, breaks down in tears, yet somehow gathers the courage to begin studying all over again, restarting the cycle of revision.

This scenario has repeated itself time and again in our country. Yet nobody questioned the system or the authorities. Nobody demanded the resignation of the Education Minister. It became almost as routine as railway accidents—people die, bodies are counted, compensation is announced, and the train of governance continues on its track. There was a time when such incidents invited accountability. Then Railway Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri resigned, taking moral responsibility.

That was the era of moral responsibility—one that has rarely been repeated in our country's history. Forget Dharmendra Pradhan; it is alleged that he is not alone and has the backing of the Prime Minister.

Why then did the agitation at Jantar Mantar become so significant despite its aggressive nature? It is not the "cockroach party" driving the agitation but the cause itself. It is the emotion of students spilling onto the streets, as one senior journalist remarked. "Are we reaching a point of revolution?" asked another.

Historically, education reporting was a clearly defined beat assigned to recognised domain experts. Today, that specialised expertise has largely disappeared, as many fresh journalism graduates prefer sensational political assignments. They would rather wait outside a politician's residence, reporting who entering and leaving after a dinner is meeting. Much of the media now prioritises political spectacle over investigating systemic failures. Deep-rooted institutional problems are routinely ignored, buried beneath studio lights and speculative political debates.

As a young Education correspondent 28 years ago, I recall that the Education beat was sacrosanct to us. We were encouraged to investigate lapses in the education system, whether it was illegal donations collected by schools or irregularities in university syndicates. We never witnessed student protests on this scale, nor did we see such widespread anger. If a paper was leaked, it became a crime story, and those responsible were soon booked. It was similar to a railway accident. A train derailment occurs, people die, we report the deaths, compensation is announced for the next of kin, and life resumes on the same derailed track at the same speed. At such moments, the story of Lal Bahadur Shastri resigning on moral grounds would immediately come to mind. That was history, and it was regarded as the golden standard of ethics in politics.

Such ethical standards have rarely been repeated. Certainly not in the present situation, where Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is facing the heat. Tell this story of Lal Bahadur Shastri to him, and his millions of followers may brand you "anti-national".

But what prevents the media from asking the tough questions to the Minister and the system? Why is it that the sanitised, scripted exclusive interviews given by the Minister to select media houses never answer the questions students are asking? What happened to the ever-vigilant and intelligent Education beat in our media houses?

When we began our careers as young Education correspondents nearly three decades ago, our job was to uncover investigative stories exposing shortcomings in the education system. Reporting on illegal donation fees collected by schools, covering university syndicate meetings, exposing the education mafia and similar stories earned us our bylines and a sense of professional pride.

Gradually, the Education beat gave way to television reporting dominated by 20-second sound bites. Later came celebrity anchors twisting facts into shrill prime-time debates. The Education beat was overtaken by the Political beat. Until then, beats were clearly defined, and Education correspondents were respected as experts in their domain. Today, except for a few, even fresh journalists aspire to jump straight into political field reporting, waiting outside politicians' residences and speculating about who is going in and coming out. That is where the decline began. The rot within the education system was steadily pushed under the carpet, hidden beneath studio lights.

A strong Education beat should be the backbone of every media house because the media shapes the national narrative on how the education system—and ultimately the future of our country is being built.

In the case of Jantar Mantar, if Education beat reporters had been given a free hand and allowed to report the truth, students would perhaps not have been forced onto the streets. It is we, as the media, who failed in our responsibility. There is little point now in reporting the protest on Page One. Investigative reporting into the examination paper leak should have happened long before even the "cockroaches" were born.

Some of the so-called elite journalists, who proudly flaunt their access to the Prime Minister's Office, dismissed the paper leak issue as nothing more than an opposition-sponsored political narrative. But years ago, we were trained to pick up clues even from opposition speeches, investigate them independently, and build stories after taking the government's version into account as well. That basic journalistic practice has changed over the past decade. Today, sections of the media rush first to blame the Opposition instead of questioning the government, even when it is in the dock. In doing so, they shield the entire system.

Thirty years ago, India’s education system operated on a foundation of implicit trust and lower systemic pressure. In the mid-1990s, the academic landscape was highly decentralized. Universities and state boards conducted their own entrance examinations. While corruption and localized malpractices existed, a single paper leak rarely disrupted the lives of millions simultaneously. Space in higher education was competitive, but the sheer volume of aspirants had not yet reached today's critical mass. Security protocols relied on iron lock and key mechanisms, and societal expectations. The Trust factor and self-esteem of Educationists was at its highest level any failure was a personal shame.

No matter what, the Media cannot afford to lose its track on issues like Education. The Gen z may engage in creativity with some kiddish reels, but the issue they are highlighting is real. It is time for introspection. Most students at the protest site may even not know the full name of India's first education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, but they surely understand his vision that he laid out for them decades ago, And when they begin to understand the purpose of Education as quoted by him " Education imparted by heart can bring revolution in the society. " the Gen z will put their heart and soul in the celebration of National Education Day with perhaps a Musical concert to celebrate the Birthday of this great leader with pomp and pride they celebrate their every success. Well the Media gallery will give the space to this!

Ayesha Khanum is the chairperson, Karnataka Media Academy.