Bridge the divide : Wangchuk’s protest deserves empathy
The Tribune Editorial : He is not protesting for personal gain; his health cannot become the price of administrative inaction
INDIA’s democracy has long drawn strength from its ability to accommodate dissent. It is this spirit that is being tested as educator and innovator Sonam Wangchuk’s indefinite hunger strike over alleged irregularities in the examination system enters a critical stage. Reports of his deteriorating health — significant weight loss, falling blood sugar and increasing weakness — should prompt immediate concern, irrespective of one’s political views or opinion on his demands. Wangchuk is not protesting for personal gain. The campaign by the Cockroach Janta Party, that he has endorsed, reflects the anxieties of lakhs of students and parents whose faith in competitive examinations has been shaken by repeated allegations of paper leaks and compromised processes. Whether every allegation withstands scrutiny is a separate matter. What cannot be disputed is that public confidence in high-stakes examinations has suffered and deserves urgent restoration through transparent reforms and greater accountability.
