Bengaluru: More than a month after sustained demonstrations began, thousands of students, young professionals, and activists gathered at Freedom Park Sunday, not only to celebrate what they called a major victory but also to declare that their campaign for educational reforms was entering a new phase.A day after Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and assurances from the Centre, organisers formally concluded the protest but said the movement would continue as a broader campaign for accountability and reforms in the education sector. Participants stressed that their demands would now extend to govts at every level.Unlike Saturday’s emotionally charged gathering, Sunday’s event had a festive atmosphere.
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Hip-hop artists, beatboxers, guitarists, and classical singers performed, while participants also sang ‘Maitreem Bhajata’, the Sanskrit composition famously rendered by MS Subbulakshmi at the United Nations in 1966, as a message of peace.“I came specifically for the hip-hop performance today. Yesterday Pradhan resigned. Today is a moment to celebrate and think about what’s next. Many people had planned to come Sunday and felt they had missed being part of this movement. I’m glad the gathering continued,” said participant Rashid Hussain.Organised by All India Students’ Association (AISA), Sunday’s programme had been scheduled well in advance after obtaining police permission. Protesters said holding the event despite Saturday’s developments allowed those who had supported the month-long agitation to take part in its conclusion.Even as they described Pradhan’s resignation as a significant development, student leaders said it addressed only one of several demands. They maintained that reforms in entrance examinations, university governance, and student representation remained unresolved. “We will demand accountability from every govt,” said student activist Sachin, arguing that Karnataka must address long-pending issues, including the absence of student union elections in state universities.“For nearly three decades, student union elections have not been held in Karnataka. Those who speak about democracy must also practise it within educational institutions,” he said.Students also reiterated their demand for structural reforms at the national level. Aditi S, who had participated throughout the protests, said the minister’s resignation was never the movement’s sole objective. “It’s only the first step. We want the Centre to scrap the National Testing Agency because we believe it is responsible for the exam failures that triggered these protests. At the same time, we are concerned about increasing privatisation of education in Karnataka. That trend also needs to be addressed,” she said.The gathering ended on an unusual note, with organisers inviting police personnel deployed throughout the month to the stage and thanking them for facilitating the demonstrations. Protesters raised slogans of “Bengaluru police zindabad,” posed for photographs with officers, and offered them refreshments before dispersing.Though the demonstrations at Freedom Park have ended, participants said Sunday marked not the conclusion of the movement but the beginning of a sustained campaign to seek accountability and reforms in education.