## The Unwritten Pain of a Gen Z Student
**Student:** *A learner engaged in acquiring knowledge or skills.*
That is the simple definition of a student.
But perhaps we have forgotten that behind every student is a human being—a young person with dreams, fears, expectations, and a future that depends, at least in part, on the fairness of the system they are asked to trust.
For the past few days, I have found myself unable to concentrate on writing my articles. My mind keeps returning to the controversy surrounding NEET and the anxiety of thousands of young students who are desperately hoping for a fair outcome, even when it seems that nothing is going right for them.
I am just an ordinary woman.
I am not an educationist, a politician, or an activist.
But I believe that every child—regardless of who their parents are, how wealthy their family is, or where they come from—has the right to education, a good upbringing, and the opportunity to earn a livelihood with dignity.
I do not think children ask for too much.
They ask for a fair chance.
And surely, they should not be given anything less.
—
## What’s in the Paper, Dear?
Many people sitting comfortably at home may still be wondering about the anger, chaos, protests, and unrest surrounding examination controversies.
Some may ask:
- Why are these students protesting so loudly?
- Why is this such a big issue?
- Why can’t they simply appear for another examination?**
But perhaps the real question is:
- What happens to the student who has already spent years preparing?
- What happens to the student who has studied day and night?
- What happens to the student whose parents have invested their life’s savings in coaching?
- What happens to the student who cannot afford another year?
- What happens to the student who has no influential family, no financial safety net, and no alternative career waiting for them?
And what happens to the student who has done everything right—yet still finds themselves questioning whether the system they trusted has treated them fairly?
These are not insignificant questions.
They are questions about the lives and futures of young people.
I recently came across an interview with a topper in which he reportedly expressed the view that, since students could retake the examination, there was perhaps no need for such widespread concern.
I genuinely appreciate his confidence in his own abilities. It is admirable when a young person remains focused on their goal and believes that they can overcome setbacks.
But every student does not stand on the same ground.
Some have excellent facilities.
Some have access to the best coaching.
Some have educated parents who can guide them.
Some can afford to take another year.
Some have the luxury of making mistakes.
And then there are those who rely almost entirely on their own hard work.
There are students who come from modest families.
Students who lack proper infrastructure.
Students who cannot afford expensive coaching.
Students whose parents have no connections.
Students who have no backup plan.
For such students, an examination is not merely an examination.
It is a doorway.
And when the fairness of that doorway is questioned, their anxiety is entirely understandable.
—
## When Hard Work Is Not Enough
We often tell our children:
**Work hard.**
**Study sincerely.**
**Believe in yourself.**
**Your hard work will eventually pay off.**
But what happens when hard work is no longer enough?
What happens when a student does everything expected of them, yet finds themselves caught in a system where examination irregularities, paper leaks, cancellations, delays, and uncertainty repeatedly become part of the story?
A student prepares for years.
The examination comes.
Then controversy follows.
Then investigations.
Then uncertainty.
Then perhaps another examination.
And somewhere in this endless cycle, we forget the human being at the centre of it all.
A young person.
A student.
Someone who has already sacrificed years of their life.
We cannot expect young people to remain silent forever when their future is repeatedly placed in uncertainty.
—
## The Patience of Students Has Finally Run Out
The anger we are witnessing did not emerge overnight.
It is the result of accumulated frustration.
Over the years, examination controversies have repeatedly raised questions about the reliability and integrity of competitive examinations in India. Whenever allegations of paper leaks, irregularities, or malpractice emerge, the consequences are enormous—not only for the students directly affected but for the credibility of the entire examination system.
Students begin to wonder:
**Can I trust the examination?**
**Can I trust the result?**
**Will my hard work actually matter?**
That is a frightening place for any young person to be.
Students are often told to respect authority.
They are told to follow rules.
They are told to be patient.
They are told to work hard.
But authority, too, must earn respect.
Institutions must earn trust.
And governments must remain accountable.
—
## Politicians and the Problem of Power
There is an old problem in politics that seems to exist across countries and generations.
When people come to power, they sometimes forget why they were given that power in the first place.
Power is not a personal possession.
It is a responsibility.
A government is not elected to rule over people as though citizens are subjects. It is elected to serve them.
Yet, too often, governments—regardless of political ideology—become more concerned with protecting their image than addressing the concerns of the people.
When that happens, the common citizen suffers.
The young suffer.
The poor suffer.
And students suffer.
The real test of a government is not how loudly it celebrates its achievements.
The real test is how it responds when ordinary citizens ask difficult questions.
Does it listen?
Does it investigate?
Does it accept responsibility?
Does it correct its mistakes?
Or does it simply try to silence the criticism?
These questions matter.
Because democracy is not merely about winning elections.
Democracy is about accountability after the election.
—
## Courage: You Know This Word, Don’t You?
The young people protesting today are displaying tremendous courage.
Perhaps their courage comes from years of frustration.
Perhaps it comes from the pressure they face from the system.
Perhaps it comes from the expectations of their own families.
Many students are under enormous pressure even before they enter an examination hall.
They are expected to succeed.
They are expected to make their parents proud.
They are expected to secure a respectable career.
They are expected to justify years of sacrifice.
And when the system itself becomes uncertain, the pressure becomes unbearable.
Yet these young people have found their voices.
They have questioned authority.
They have demanded answers.
They have refused to remain silent.
And perhaps that is what democracy is supposed to look like.
A citizen should have the courage to question the government.
A student should have the courage to demand fairness.
And a government should have the courage to listen.
—
## Why Such Harsh Criticism?
During the recent student protests, we witnessed intense criticism of the government.
Social media was flooded with memes and satire.
Young people used sharp language.
Posters displayed extraordinary creativity.
The government faced criticism from all directions.
Some people were uncomfortable with the language used by the protesters.
I understand that.
There is a difference between criticism and abuse.
But perhaps we should also ask ourselves:
**Why are young people so angry?**
Anger does not appear in a vacuum.
It often grows from helplessness.
From repeated disappointment.
From feeling unheard.
From believing that those in power are not listening.
When a young person spends years preparing for an examination and then feels that the system has failed them, their anger cannot simply be dismissed as youthful immaturity.
We should listen to what lies beneath that anger.
Because sometimes anger is simply pain that has finally found a voice.
—
## What Is Accountability?
Accountability is not complicated.
If a government makes a promise, citizens have the right to ask whether it has been fulfilled.
If an examination system fails, citizens have the right to demand answers.
If irregularities are reported, citizens have the right to expect an impartial investigation.
If wrongdoing is established, those responsible must face consequences.
That is accountability.
A government does not become accountable only when it agrees with its citizens.
It becomes accountable when it listens even when the citizens disagree.
A people’s government must not only listen to applause.
It must also listen to criticism.
It must not fear questions.
It must answer them.
The mandate given by citizens is not a permanent certificate of approval. Elections come and go. Governments change. Political parties rise and fall.
But the responsibility to serve the people remains.
—
## Witch-Hunting and the Fear of Retaliation
Another concern that has emerged during periods of intense student protest is the fear of retaliation.
Some intellectuals and observers have expressed apprehension that students who participate in protests or openly criticise those in power could face consequences in the future.
Whether such fears are justified in every individual case is something that must be examined carefully and objectively.
But the fear itself deserves attention.
In a healthy democracy, a student should not be afraid that expressing an opinion will destroy their future.
A young person should be able to criticise the government without being labelled anti-national.
A citizen should be able to question authority without fearing punishment.
Disagreement is not treason.
Criticism is not hatred of the country.
And protesting against a government is not the same as protesting against the nation.
In fact, sometimes the people who question their government are the ones who care deeply about their country.
They question because they want things to improve.
They protest because they want to be heard.
They demand accountability because they believe the country deserves better.
—
## Do We Really Want Silent Students?
Think about it.
We tell our children to speak up when they see injustice.
We teach them to ask questions.
We encourage them to think independently.
We want them to become responsible citizens.
But when they actually question those in power, why do we suddenly become uncomfortable?
Why do we expect them to remain silent?
A student is not a machine designed to memorise books, write examinations, and obey instructions.
A student is a citizen in the making.
And today’s student is tomorrow’s doctor, engineer, teacher, scientist, entrepreneur, civil servant, artist, journalist, and politician.
If we teach young people that their voices do not matter, what kind of democracy are we building for tomorrow?
—
## Yes, I’m a Student
Perhaps this is what the young people are trying to tell us.
**Yes, I’m a student.**
I have studied.
I have worked hard.
I have sacrificed.
I have a dream.
I have trusted the system.
I believed that if I worked hard enough, I would get a fair chance.
I believed that my examination would be conducted honestly.
I believed that my future would be decided by my preparation—not by someone else’s wrongdoing.
I believed that the people responsible for running the system would protect my interests.
So, when that trust is shaken, I have the right to ask questions.
I have the right to demand answers.
I have the right to be angry.
I have the right to protest peacefully.
And I have the right to expect accountability.
—
## Dear Students, Don’t Lose Hope
To all the young students who are currently living through uncertainty, I want to say one thing:
**Please don’t lose hope.**
I know that is easier said than done.
I know that a few words cannot erase your anxiety.
I know that your dreams are not abstract ideas. They are connected to years of hard work, your parents’ sacrifices, your own sleepless nights, and the future you have imagined for yourself.
But please remember this:
Your worth is greater than one examination.
Your intelligence is greater than one score.
Your potential is greater than one result.
And your future is bigger than any system that may fail you.
You deserve a fair examination.
You deserve a transparent system.
You deserve an education.
You deserve an opportunity to earn your livelihood with dignity.
And above all, you deserve to live in a country where your hard work is respected.
—
A better society always advocates for a better education system.
## A Country Must Protect Its Students
I am just an ordinary woman.
I do not have all the answers.
I do not belong to any political party.
I do not claim that one government is perfect and another is entirely corrupt.
Governments come and go.
Political parties change.
But students remain.
Their dreams remain.
Their struggles remain.
And their future belongs to all of us.
So, whether the government is led by one party or another, the questions remain the same:
**Are we protecting our students?**
**Are we giving them a fair chance?**
**Are we creating a system where merit and hard work truly matter?**
**Are we listening when they speak?**
These are not political questions.
These are human questions.
Because behind every examination number is a young person.
Behind every rank is a dream.
Behind every student protest is a story.
And behind every angry voice is often an unwritten pain that nobody bothered to hear.
So, yes.
**I’m a student.**
And if I were one today, I would want only one thing from my country:
**Give me a fair chance.**
I am not asking for a favour.
I am asking for justice.
I am asking for accountability.
I am asking for a system that allows me to believe that my hard work will not be wasted.
And perhaps that is not too much to ask.
After all, a country that cannot protect the dreams of its young people cannot truly claim to be building a better future.
**Let our students study in peace.**
**Let them dream without fear.**
**Let them question without intimidation.**
**And above all, let them believe that in this country, honesty and hard work still matter.**
Conclusion
In today’s world, when we need an Education Minister who understands the importance of education and has the vision, knowledge, and commitment to improve the education system for millions of students, how can we settle for anything less?
The person entrusted with such a prestigious responsibility must understand that education is not merely about examinations, degrees, or statistics. It is about shaping the future of an entire generation.
Yes, in a democratic nation, anyone who fulfils the constitutional requirements may be entrusted with such a responsibility. But does the conscience of those who hold such a prestigious office allow them to compromise, even in the slightest, with the dignity and responsibility that come with it?
Our students deserve better.
They deserve an education system that is transparent, accountable, and worthy of their trust.
They deserve leaders who understand that every examination is connected to a dream, every result to a family’s hope, and every student to the future of this country.
If we cannot protect the dreams of our students, then what kind of future are we building?
Yes, I’m a Student: The Unwritten Pain of India’s Gen Z
A reflection on student anxiety, examination controversies, accountability, and the right of every young person to receive a fair chance.
Student: A learner engaged in acquiring knowledge or skills.
That is the simple definition of a student.
But perhaps we have forgotten that behind every student is a human being—a young person with dreams, fears, expectations, and a future that depends, at least in part, on the fairness of the system they are asked to trust.
For the past few days, I have found myself unable to concentrate on writing my articles. My mind keeps returning to the controversy surrounding NEET and the anxiety of thousands of young students who are desperately hoping for a fair outcome, even when it seems that nothing is going right for them.
I am just an ordinary woman.
I am not an educationist, a politician, or an activist.
But I believe that every child—regardless of who their parents are, how wealthy their family is, or where they come from—has the right to education, a good upbringing, and the opportunity to earn a livelihood with dignity.
I do not think children ask for too much.
They ask for a fair chance.
And surely, they should not be given anything less.
What’s in the Paper, Dear?
Many people sitting comfortably at home may still be wondering about the anger, chaos, protests, and unrest surrounding examination controversies.
Some may ask:
Why are these students protesting so loudly?
Why is this such a big issue?
Why can’t they simply appear for another examination?
But perhaps the real question is:
What happens to the student who has already spent years preparing?
What happens to the student who has studied day and night?
What happens to the student whose parents have invested their life’s savings in coaching?
What happens to the student who cannot afford another year?
What happens to the student who has no influential family, no financial safety net, and no alternative career waiting for them?
And what happens to the student who has done everything right—yet still finds themselves questioning whether the system they trusted has treated them fairly?
They are questions about the lives and futures of young people.
I recently came across an interview with a topper in which he reportedly expressed the view that, since students could retake the examination, there was perhaps no need for such widespread concern.
I genuinely appreciate his confidence in his own abilities. It is admirable when a young person remains focused on their goal and believes that they can overcome setbacks.
But every student does not stand on the same ground.
Some have excellent facilities.
Some have access to the best coaching.
Some have educated parents who can guide them.
Some can afford to take another year.
Some have the luxury of making mistakes.
And then there are those who rely almost entirely on their own hard work.
There are students who come from modest families.
Students who lack proper infrastructure.
Students who cannot afford expensive coaching.
Students whose parents have no connections.
Students who have no backup plan.
For such students, an examination is not merely an examination.
It is a doorway.
And when the fairness of that doorway is questioned, their anxiety is entirely understandable.
When Hard Work Is Not Enough
We often tell our children:
Work hard.
Study sincerely.
Believe in yourself.
Your hard work will eventually pay off.
But what happens when hard work is no longer enough?
What happens when a student does everything expected of them, yet finds themselves caught in a system where examination irregularities, paper leaks, cancellations, delays, and uncertainty repeatedly become part of the story?
A student prepares for years.
The examination comes.
Then controversy follows.
Then investigations.
Then uncertainty.
Then perhaps another examination.
And somewhere in this endless cycle, we forget the human being at the centre of it all.
A young person.
A student.
Someone who has already sacrificed years of their life.
We cannot expect young people to remain silent forever when their future is repeatedly placed in uncertainty.
The Patience of Students Has Finally Run Out
The anger we are witnessing did not emerge overnight.
It is the result of accumulated frustration.
Over the years, examination controversies have repeatedly raised questions about the reliability and integrity of competitive examinations in India. Whenever allegations of paper leaks, irregularities, or malpractice emerge, the consequences are enormous— not only for the students directly affected but for the credibility of the entire examination system.
Students begin to wonder:
Can I trust the examination?
Can I trust the result?
Will my hard work actually matter?
That is a frightening place for any young person to be.
Students are often told to respect authority.
They are told to follow rules.
They are told to be patient.
They are told to work hard.
But authority, too, must earn respect.
Institutions must earn trust.
And governments must remain accountable.
Politicians and the Problem of Power
There is an old problem in politics that seems to exist across countries and generations.
When people come to power, they sometimes forget why they were given that power in the first place.
Power is not a personal possession.
It is a responsibility.
A government is not elected to rule over people as though citizens are subjects. It is elected to serve them.
Yet, too often, governments—regardless of political ideology—become more concerned with protecting their image than addressing the concerns of the people.
When that happens, the common citizen suffers.
The young suffer.
The poor suffer.
And students suffer.
The real test of a government is not how loudly it celebrates its achievements.
The real test is how it responds when ordinary citizens ask difficult questions.
Does it listen?
Does it investigate?
Does it accept responsibility?
Does it correct its mistakes?
Or does it simply try to silence the criticism?
These questions matter.
Democracy is not merely about winning elections.
Democracy is about accountability after the election.
You may also like: [Insert your article about democracy, politics, or accountability]
Courage: You Know This Word, Don’t You?
The young people protesting today are displaying tremendous courage.
Perhaps their courage comes from years of frustration.
Perhaps it comes from the pressure they face from the system.
Perhaps it comes from the expectations of their own families.
Many students are under enormous pressure even before they enter an examination hall.
They are expected to succeed.
They are expected to make their parents proud.
They are expected to secure a respectable career.
They are expected to justify years of sacrifice.
And when the system itself becomes uncertain, the pressure becomes unbearable.
Yet these young people have found their voices.
They have questioned authority.
They have demanded answers.
They have refused to remain silent.
A citizen should have the courage to question the government.
A student should have the courage to demand fairness.
And a government should have the courage to listen.
Why Such Harsh Criticism?
During the recent student protests, we witnessed intense criticism of the government.
Social media was flooded with memes and satire.
Young people used sharp language.
Posters displayed extraordinary creativity.
The government faced criticism from all directions.
Some people were uncomfortable with the language used by the protesters.
I understand that.
There is a difference between criticism and abuse.
But perhaps we should also ask ourselves:
Why are young people so angry?
Anger does not appear in a vacuum.
It often grows from helplessness.
From repeated disappointment.
From feeling unheard.
From believing that those in power are not listening.
When a young person spends years preparing for an examination and then feels that the system has failed them, their anger cannot simply be dismissed as youthful immaturity.
Sometimes anger is simply pain that has finally found a voice.
What Is Accountability?
Accountability is not complicated.
If a government makes a promise, citizens have the right to ask whether it has been fulfilled.
If an examination system fails, citizens have the right to demand answers.
If irregularities are reported, citizens have the right to expect an impartial investigation.
If wrongdoing is established, those responsible must face consequences.
A government does not become accountable only when it agrees with its citizens. It becomes accountable when it listens even when the citizens disagree.
A people’s government must not only listen to applause.
It must also listen to criticism.
It must not fear questions.
It must answer them.
The mandate given by citizens is not a permanent certificate of approval. Elections come and go. Governments change. Political parties rise and fall.
But the responsibility to serve the people remains.
Witch-Hunting and the Fear of Retaliation
Another concern that has emerged during periods of intense student protest is the fear of retaliation.
Some intellectuals and observers have expressed apprehension that students who participate in protests or openly criticise those in power could face consequences in the future.
Whether such fears are justified in every individual case is something that must be examined carefully and objectively.
But the fear itself deserves attention.
In a healthy democracy, a student should not be afraid that expressing an opinion will destroy their future.
A young person should be able to criticise the government without being labelled anti-national.
A citizen should be able to question authority without fearing punishment.
Disagreement is not treason.
Criticism is not hatred of the country.
And protesting against a government is not the same as protesting against the nation.
In fact, sometimes the people who question their government are the ones who care deeply about their country.
They question because they want things to improve.
They protest because they want to be heard.
They demand accountability because they believe the country deserves better.
Do We Really Want Silent Students?
Think about it.
We tell our children to speak up when they see injustice.
We teach them to ask questions.
We encourage them to think independently.
We want them to become responsible citizens.
But when they actually question those in power, why do we suddenly become uncomfortable?
Why do we expect them to remain silent?
A student is not a machine designed to memorise books, write examinations, and obey instructions.
A student is a citizen in the making.
And today’s student is tomorrow’s doctor, engineer, teacher, scientist, entrepreneur, civil servant, artist, journalist, and politician.
If we teach young people that their voices do not matter, what kind of democracy are we building for tomorrow?
Yes, I’m a Student
Perhaps this is what the young people are trying to tell us.
Yes, I’m a student.
I have studied.
I have worked hard.
I have sacrificed.
I have a dream.
I have trusted the system.
I believed that if I worked hard enough, I would get a fair chance.
I believed that my examination would be conducted honestly.
I believed that my future would be decided by my preparation—not by someone else’s wrongdoing.
I believed that the people responsible for running the system would protect my interests.
So, when that trust is shaken, I have the right to ask questions.
I have the right to demand answers.
I have the right to be angry.
I have the right to protest peacefully.
And I have the right to expect accountability.
Dear Students, Don’t Lose Hope
To all the young students who are currently living through uncertainty, I want to say one thing:
Please don’t lose hope.
I know that is easier said than done.
I know that a few words cannot erase your anxiety.
I know that your dreams are not abstract ideas. They are connected to years of hard work, your parents’ sacrifices, your own sleepless nights, and the future you have imagined for yourself.
But please remember this:
Your worth is greater than one examination.
Your intelligence is greater than one score.
Your potential is greater than one result.
And your future is bigger than any system that may fail you.
You deserve a fair examination.
You deserve a transparent system.
You deserve an education.
You deserve an opportunity to earn your livelihood with dignity.
And above all, you deserve to live in a country where your hard work is respected.
A Country Must Protect Its Students
I am just an ordinary woman.
I do not have all the answers.
I do not belong to any political party.
I do not claim that one government is perfect and another is entirely corrupt.
Governments come and go.
Political parties change.
But students remain.
Their dreams remain.
Their struggles remain.
And their future belongs to all of us.
So, whether the government is led by one party or another, the questions remain the same:
Are we protecting our students?
Are we giving them a fair chance?
Are we creating a system where merit and hard work truly matter?
Are we listening when they speak?
These are not political questions.
These are human questions.
Because behind every examination number is a young person.
Behind every rank is a dream.
Behind every student protest is a story.
And behind every angry voice is often an unwritten pain that nobody bothered to hear.
Yes, I’m a Student
So, yes.
I’m a student.
And if I were one today, I would want only one thing from my country:
Give me a fair chance.
I am not asking for a favour.
I am asking for justice.
I am asking for accountability.
I am asking for a system that allows me to believe that my hard work will not be wasted.
And perhaps that is not too much to ask.
After all, a country that cannot protect the dreams of its young people cannot truly claim to be building a better future.
Let our students study in peace.
Let them dream without fear.
Let them question without intimidation.
And above all, let them believe that in this country, honesty and hard work still matter.
What Do Our Students Deserve From Those in Power?
In today’s world, when we need an Education Minister who understands the importance of education and has the vision, knowledge, and commitment to improve the education system for millions of students, how can we settle for anything less?
The person entrusted with such a prestigious responsibility must understand that education is not merely about examinations, degrees, or statistics. It is about shaping the future of an entire generation.
Yes, in a democratic nation, anyone who fulfils the constitutional requirements may be entrusted with such a responsibility. But does the conscience of those who hold such a prestigious office allow them to compromise, even in the slightest, with the dignity and responsibility that come with it?
Our students deserve better.
They deserve an education system that is transparent, accountable, and worthy of their trust.
They deserve leaders who understand that every examination is connected to a dream, every result to a family’s hope, and every student to the future of this country.
If we cannot protect the dreams of our students, then what kind of future are we building?
Read Next
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are students protesting against examination irregularities?
Students protest when they believe that examination irregularities, alleged paper leaks, delays, or other problems may compromise the fairness of the examination process. For many students, competitive examinations represent years of preparation and sacrifice.
Why is examination integrity important?
Examination integrity is important because students depend on a fair and transparent process to determine their academic and professional opportunities. Any serious irregularity can undermine trust in the entire examination system.
What does accountability mean in a democracy?
Accountability means that governments and public institutions remain answerable to citizens for their decisions and actions. It includes transparency, investigation of reported irregularities, and appropriate action when wrongdoing is established.
Should students be allowed to criticise the government?
In a democratic society, citizens—including students—should be able to express criticism and raise concerns peacefully. Constructive criticism and respectful disagreement are important parts of public discourse and democratic participation.
What message does this article have for students?
The message is simple: do not lose hope. Your worth is greater than one examination, one score, or one result. Students deserve a fair chance, a transparent system, and an education that helps them build a dignified future.
A Message to My Readers
This article is not about supporting or opposing any particular political party. It is about something much more fundamental—the future of our children.
When I see young students preparing for competitive examinations under immense pressure, I cannot help but wonder what we are asking of them. We tell them to work hard, remain patient, trust the system, and believe in their dreams. But can we expect them to continue believing when their trust is repeatedly shaken?
I wrote this article as an ordinary citizen and as someone who believes that every young person deserves a fair chance.
Our students are not merely examination numbers or ranks on a result sheet. They are our future doctors, teachers, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, artists, and leaders. Their dreams matter. Their anxiety matters. Their voices matter.
I may not have all the answers, but I believe we must at least have the courage to ask the right questions.
Are we listening to our students?
Are we giving them a fair chance?
And are we building a system worthy of the trust they place in it?
I invite you to read this article with an open mind and share your thoughts respectfully.
Because sometimes, behind an angry voice, there is simply an unwritten pain waiting to be heard.
Let our students study in peace. Let them dream without fear. And let them believe that honesty and hard work still matter.