Sachin breaks silence; backs students on NEET paper leak protests
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New Delhi: Cricket stars Sachin Tendulkar and Shubman Gill have spoken out amid nationwide student protests demanding education reforms and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak.
The protests intensified with the start of Parliament's monsoon session on July 20. Thousands gathered in central Delhi after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) called for a march to Parliament. Police barricaded several routes leading to the protest venue. Demonstrators alleged that many participants were prevented from reaching Jantar Mantar and accused police of using lathi charges and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The cricket fraternity had come under criticism for largely remaining silent on the issue. Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh was among the few prominent cricketers to publicly back the students before Tendulkar and Gill shared their views.
In a social media post, Tendulkar reflected on the values instilled in him by his late father, a professor, saying honesty, hard work and merit should always take precedence over shortcuts. He stressed that society has a collective responsibility to create an environment where genuine effort is rewarded fairly. Acknowledging the disappointment of students who believe their hard work has not received due recognition, he urged parents, teachers, schools, administrators and communities to work together to rebuild confidence, encourage young people and safeguard their aspirations.
"My father was a professor. He was a mentor and guide to many young students. One lesson that he instilled early on was, "Failure is okay, cheating is not. Never take shortcuts. As adults in society, we have the responsibility of shaping culture. A society which prioritises outcomes over effort will seek shortcuts over meritocracy," Tendulkar wrote Facebook.
"Today, when students feel disappointed that their hard work hasn’t been rewarded, it is understandable. Collectively, we should all work together towards ensuring they don’t feel this way again. Young India is full of dreams and energy. They are the fuel to our success. As a society, all of us, including parents, teachers, friends, relatives, schools, and administrators, have a massive responsibility and different roles to play in ensuring our youth remain encouraged and energised," he added.
"We must create a culture where hard work is rewarded, honesty is encouraged, and merit wins. I am certain we will all find solutions that strengthen our children's future and safeguard their aspirations. Jai Hind!" he concluded.
India's ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill also issued a statement expressing respect for young people who choose to voice their concerns peacefully. Describing education as the foundation of the country's future, he said the younger generation deserves every opportunity to learn, dream and contribute to nation-building. Gill expressed hope that the situation would be resolved through compassion, mutual respect and decisions that place students' interests at the centre.