While we were in Kerala, protests erupted in Delhi. We were warned by the State Department to steer clear, but as we drove from the airport, there was no avoiding it. As it turns out, the only legal protest location in Delhi is at Jantar Mantar, an observatory with narrow entry and exit points in relatively close proximity to government sites. 

Where does Jantar Mantar sit? Around the corner from our hotel.

When we returned to Delhi, I knew little about the protests beyond the fact that we were requested to stay away. With nothing on the agenda, and with leaving the hotel nearly impossible, I decided to spend the afternoon at the pool.

In the shadow of a colonial building, at a hotel literally called The Imperial, with Indian workers hurrying to secure my towels and umbrella, I listened to the shouts hidden behind the hedges. My skin began to crawl. Outside, thousands and thousands of people were fighting for their futures while I reaped the benefits of my privilege: my skin color, my economic status, my American life and education. I felt like the Capitol citizens from The Hunger Games, grotesque individuals who laughed as those outside their walls literally fought to the death. What right did I have to sit there while students fought for their future?

Many of us struggled over our last few days, wanting to support the students but aware that the protests could turn violent at any moment. It was especially jarring to visit the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on the same day and to hear what felt like propaganda. Yes, there are a number of things to admire about Indian education; yes, their new innovations in technology, AI, and VR learning are amazing and fun to play with. But at the end of the day, what good are these technologies if most students don’t have access to them?

You can read more about the story behind the protests below, but I wanted to recognize that the students and youth protesting were successful: they got the government to meet their demands. In a time where things often feel hopeless, it was heartening (and motivating and astounding) to see protest lead to results.

As I return to the US, I’m going to think about how I can get more involved in making positive change in my local, national, and global community. If I’m going to be a global educator, I need to practice what I preach!

Background:

The Delhi protests in June and July were led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-based political movement that began as a satirical response to remarks made by Surya Kant, the Chief Justice of India. Kant compared the unemployed youth to “cockroaches” or “parasites,” leading to the party’s founding by Abhijeet Dipke in May 2026. The party gained traction on social media.

On May 3, 2.27 million students took NEET, the national entrance exam for medical and dental schools. It’s the biggest exam in India, with millions of students taking it for a limited number of spots. On May 12, scores were cancelled after suspected answer leaks. The exam was rescheduled, but at least 12 students died by suicide when they learned that they would need to retake the exam. Though this may seem extreme, it’s important to remember that this exam requires years of preparation and great expense. Though students were offered a retake at no cost, many lost faith in the system. This scandal was seen as emblematic of India’s education system, which many see as broken and unfair.

Protesters had a series of demands related to education reform, including the resignation of the country’s education minister. The protests were driven by India’s youth, who face an uphill battle in receiving a good education and finding well-paying jobs. Around 40% of university graduates under 25 are unemployed. When they do find jobs, entry-level salaries are lower than they were a decade ago when adjusting for inflation. Though the protests were sparked by the NEET scandal, frustrated youth saw this as their moment to push for reform. 

Protests began in early June but took off in late June when prominent environmentalist and engineer Sonam Wanghcuk began a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, the one legal protest location in Delhi. When Wangchuk was forcibly removed on July 18, the protests gained momentum. Over the next week, tens of thousands of protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar and attempted to march towards parliament. Violence erupted between protesters and police, gaining international attention.

On July 25, the movement’s demands were met: the education minister resigned and the government agreed to provide compensation to families of the students who died by suicide. The government also promised not to seek legal action against protesters and agreed to discuss examination reforms. 

What does this mean for the future of India’s education? We’ll see! The CJP is not stopping the push for reform, and I look forward to seeing what they do next.