Agitation Vs Discipline.

The agitation led by the so-called "Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)" has finally ended with the resignation of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan as the Union Education Minister.

This piece is written neither to defend the agitators nor to hold them solely responsible for the unfortunate events. Rather, it is an attempt to understand what these incidents reveal about a section of the present generation.

While much of the media has praised the objective of the agitation but some did also the ways, means and methods of it revealing the mindset of a section of youths doing this way. 

A closer analysis suggests that many young people today value constitutional rights only so long as those rights appear to serve their immediate interests. Had this not been the case, some of them would not have resorted to acts such as stone-pelting at the police, the use of violence, or the shouting of abusive slogans against the Prime Minister.

These incidents also compel us to reflect on the role of parenting. It appears that, in many cases, children have not been adequately taught the importance of respecting elders, observing discipline, and abiding by rules. Laws and regulations are not the creations of a single individual; they are the outcome of collective deliberation and democratic consensus.

A time may come when the State begins to view sections of the youth not as its greatest asset but as a potential source of disorder if they remain detached from values such as respect, self-restraint, and discipline.

For some, education seems to have become less a means of cultivating character and more a platform for expressing anger and impatience whenever demands are not met. Such behaviour undermines the very purpose of education.

Social media has also played a significant role. Many young people today appear to be influenced more by online interactions than by meaningful engagement with their families, teachers, and the communities in which they live.

No education system, however accommodating it may be, can succeed if students abandon the path of discipline and constructive dialogue.

These developments should serve as a warning both for the youth and for the State. A healthy democracy depends not only on the protection of rights but also on the responsible discharge of duties.

— R.R.P.