What were the factors that drew tens of thousands of students to protests around the country this fortnight triggered by exam paper leaks and demands government accountability.?

In this episode of Yeh Daagh Daagh Ujaala, Danish Ali, N Sai Balaji and Mohammed Alfauz join writer and activist Harsh Mander to discuss the growing sense of betrayal among India’s students and how a new generation is reshaping protest through creativity, humour, music, memes, and social media.

All this was especially visible as demonstrators thronged Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to demand the resignation of Education Ministe Dharmendra Pradhan. He finally handed in his papers on Saturday.

PhD scholar Danish Ali is the joint secretary of the Jawaharlal Nehru Students’ Union. N Sai Balaji is a researcher and former president of the All India Students Association. Scholar Mohammed Alfauz is the national general secretary of the Fraternity Movement.

The panel also discusses questions of education policy, employment, democracy, and civic participation, reflecting on what these protests could mean for India's future and the evolving role of youth in public life.

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