Assent, Dissent, Present: Questions beyond a Question Paper
For days, this piece remained unwritten. Not because there were no opinions, but because every passing day kept expanding my horizon of thoughts. What began as an examination controversy gradually unfolded into debates over government, institutions, Parliament, political platforms, media coverage and role of citizens of India. The emergence of new platforms such as CJP brought together diverse agendas, aspirations and political narratives. Every new development seemed to answer one question while raising several more. One question, however, stayed with me throughout. Why only NEET? India's examination system has been facing criticism for so long. Paper leaks, irregularities and allegations surrounding examination bodies are not new. Aspirants focusing on government employment have repeatedly experienced uncertainty. Then what transformed this particular issue into a nationwide political moment? Perhaps there is no single answer. But somewhere along the way, I realized that what beg...