Veteran actor Amol Palekar has joined a long list of film personalities who back the students protesting against alleged irregularities in competitive exams. On Friday, he wrote an open letter to the protesters, published in Mid-Day, and offered them legal, medical and financial help.
What Palekar Said
Palekar called the students "the first green shoots" of change in the country. He praised them for taking forward what he called "the unfinished work of democracy." In his letter, he wrote that the police crackdown on protesters filled him with "anguish and anger."
He made a simple but sharp point: questioning those in power is not a favour students ask for. It is their duty as citizens in a democracy. "When questions are answered with batons instead of reason, it is not the students who stand diminished. It is the State," he wrote.
That line alone sums up the mood of the letter. Palekar did not hold back, and he did not soften his words either.
Why the Protests Started
The protests began last month, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), after the NEET paper leak issue came to light. What started as a small movement has now spread across several cities in India.
Students are asking for a few clear things:
- Resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
- Accountability for exam irregularities
- Reforms in how competitive exams are conducted
- Rs 1 crore compensation for families of students who died by suicide after the alleged paper leak
- Withdrawal of FIRs against peaceful protesters
The situation grew worse earlier this week when police used batons, tear gas and water cannons on students marching towards Parliament in New Delhi. Many students got hurt, and several were detained. This sparked anger from opposition leaders, activists and people from the film industry, including Palekar.
A Lesson From History
Palekar drew comparisons to Albert Camus' play "Caligula" to warn against power without checks. He also listed several movements from history where young people stood up against authority: the student revolt in Paris in 1968, the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, Tiananmen Square, and closer home, the Navnirman Andolan of 1974 in Gujarat.
His point was simple. Governments can silence people for a while, but they cannot silence an idea forever. "Authority may command obedience for a while; it cannot indefinitely command the conscience of a generation," he wrote.
Why He Stayed Away From the Protests
At 81, Palekar chose not to join the protests physically. He explained that he did not want the focus to shift from students to himself. "This is your movement, your voice, your moment of moral courage. You do not need celebrity validation," he wrote.
That is a fair point, and one worth remembering. Movements gain strength from the people living through the problem, not from famous faces standing next to them.
His wife, Sandhya Gokhale, also signed the letter along with him. Together, they offered support to students who might need legal aid, medical care or financial help during the protests.
The Bigger Picture
This is not the first time film personalities have spoken up for the CJP protest. Several actors and directors have voiced support since the crackdown began. Palekar's letter adds weight to a growing conversation about student rights, police action and the state of competitive exams in India.
For students preparing for NEET or other competitive exams, this movement is a reminder that exam reforms and transparency matter, not just for this batch of aspirants, but for the ones who come after them too.
