Yes, I am a student—
An ordinary, obscure student
From the middle class,
Cherishing countless dreams in my eyes;
I am a student, and this
Is my identity—perhaps since
I learned to face the world,
Or perhaps since my loved ones
Asked me about my dreams.
It is so easy to say, isn’t it—
“Look, if you are a student,
just focus on your studies
and mind your own business;
you don’t need an education to ask questions
or raise objections.
You are just a student, after all—
take money from your parents,
get your books, think about your future,
and just get to work on building your career.”
It is truly so easy to say
that student life is a breeze—
no worrying about what to eat tomorrow,
no fretting over how to pay the fees;
one has to take money straight from parents,
study with single-minded focus,
and plan out one’s future life.
Since you’ve revealed this much,
you might as well tell me this too:
Can one clap with just a single hand?
No, no… I know that’s not possible.
So, when the question papers for almost all exams
become available in the market before the test itself,
then merit and talent lose all meaning, don’t they?
Now, you tell me:
When financial clout takes precedence
And talent loses its significance,
Then what kind of development
Are you seeking to build a foundation for in society?
It is unfair, isn’t it?
Now, listen to me for a moment,
After all, the subject is me, isn’t it?
So why are you the one telling my story?
I never chose you to step in
As my representative,
Nor did I ask you to share
My story with the world.
How, then, did you become my advocate
Without ever being invited?
It’s my story of struggles, and
I am entitled to tell the world myself.
I accept that you are my elder,
I acknowledge your experience, and
it is possible that you truly
have my best interests at heart.
Or perhaps, as an elected representative,
you have the right
to frame rules concerning my rights.
But what kind of right is this of yours—
When you snatch away what is
rightfully due to the deserving
And hand it all over to someone
devoid of talent, simply for money…
Can you look into the future and
say how much this will benefit
the country and society?
Do you think that
such rigging in examinations
should not matter to anyone?
Did you think that such illicit
conspiracies would remain
hidden behind the scenes forever,
and that no truly deserving candidate
would ever step forward?
Regrettably, our esteemed elders
installed you in power,
yet forgot that you and they
alike would grow old alongside us—
We have grown up,
and our time has come;
we are capable of steering the nation,
yet you seem blind to
your own advancing age—why is that?
We are asking for our legitimate rights.
The only difference will be that
we shall demand the same
kind of life for ourselves
that the then government
provided to you during your youth.
After all, what we are asking for is only fair, isn’t it?
A good education, a good upbringing,
A good atmosphere, an environment
Where we can live freely,
And shape our lives in tune with our talents;
A place where values are what matter—
Not a place where amenities are
bought at a price at the cost of natural talents.
Yes, we know our limits,
We know our duties and responsibilities;
But perhaps, having secured
the keys to power, you have forgotten
Your duties and obligations—and even those promises
You made to the public with such earnestness,
And by ‘public,’ I mean the voting populace.
Now tell me, why shouldn’t we
raise our voices for our legitimate rights?
Why shouldn’t we criticize your failure
to keep promises and raise public awareness?
After all, we too are an integral part of our democracy.
We pinned our hopes on you and are now making our plea;
we will only rest easy once we remind you that
a beautiful, developed nation is built
upon the bright and secure future of its youth.
Give students a fair chance today,
and tomorrow they can become
the people who build the nation.
Yes, I Am a Student
An ordinary student. Countless dreams. One voice asking to be heard.
Yes, I am a student—
An ordinary, obscure student
From the middle class,
Cherishing countless dreams in my eyes;
I am a student, and this
Is my identity—perhaps since
I learned to face the world,
Or perhaps since my loved ones
Asked me about my dreams.
It is so easy to say, isn’t it—
“Look, if you are a student,
just focus on your studies
and mind your own business;
you don’t need an education to ask questions
or raise objections.
You are just a student, after all—
take money from your parents,
get your books, think about your future,
and just get to work on building your career.”
It is truly so easy to say
that student life is a breeze—
no worrying about what to eat tomorrow,
no fretting over how to pay the fees;
one has to take money straight from parents,
study with single-minded focus,
and plan out one’s future life.
Since you’ve revealed this much,
you might as well tell me this too:
Can one clap with just a single hand?
No, no… I know that’s not possible.
So, when the question papers for almost all exams
become available in the market before the test itself,
then merit and talent lose all meaning, don’t they?
Now, you tell me:
When financial clout takes precedence
And talent loses its significance,
Then what kind of development
Are you seeking to build a foundation for in society?
It is unfair, isn’t it?
Now, listen to me for a moment,
After all, the subject is me, isn’t it?
So why are you the one telling my story?
I never chose you to step in
As my representative,
Nor did I ask you to share
My story with the world.
How, then, did you become my advocate
Without ever being invited?
It’s my story of struggles,
and I am entitled to tell the world myself.
I accept that you are my elder,
And I respect the years you’ve lived;
Perhaps you truly wished
To build a brighter future for us.
But tell me—
What kind of future are you building
When merit is sacrificed
At the altar of money?
Do you think that
such rigging in examinations
should not matter to anyone?
Did you think that such illicit
conspiracies would remain
hidden behind the scenes forever,
and that no truly deserving candidate
would ever step forward?
Regrettably, our esteemed elders
installed you in power,
yet forgot that you and they
alike would grow old alongside us—
We have grown up,
and our time has come;
we are capable of steering the nation,
yet you seem blind to
your own advancing age—why is that?
We are asking for our legitimate rights.
The only difference will be that
we shall demand the same
kind of life for ourselves
that the then government
provided to you during your youth.
After all, what we are asking for is only fair, isn’t it?
What We Ask For
- A good education
- A good upbringing
- A safe and encouraging environment
- The freedom to shape our lives according to our talents
- A society where values matter more than money
- A future where merit is never compromised
A place where values are what matter—
Not a place where amenities are
bought at a price at the cost of natural talents.
Yes, we know our limits,
We know our duties and responsibilities;
But perhaps, having secured
the keys to power, you have forgotten
Your duties and obligations—and even those promises
You made to the public with such earnestness,
And by ‘public,’ I mean the voting populace.
Now tell me, why shouldn’t we
raise our voices for our legitimate rights?
Why shouldn’t we criticize your failure
to keep promises and raise public awareness?
After all, we too are an integral part
of our democracy.
We pinned our hopes on you
and are now making our plea;
we will only rest easy once we remind you that
A beautiful, developed nation
is built upon the
bright and secure future of its youth.
To Every Student Who Believes in Their Dreams
This poem is not directed against any individual, institution, or ideology. It is an expression of the hopes, frustrations, and aspirations that many students silently carry within themselves.
Every generation dreams of leaving behind a better society than the one it inherited. That begins with an education system rooted in fairness, integrity, and equal opportunity.
If this poem resonates with you, I invite you to share your thoughts respectfully. Meaningful conversations are the first step toward meaningful change.
— Shalini Priyadarshiny
Lekh-Lekhni