We should have listened when one child cried: Kamal

Actor-politician Kamal Haasan shared a scathing note on the state of the country’s education system, saying a nation has failed when its children are met with “barricades and batons instead of answers.”

Kamal penned a strongly worded post on X, writing, “We should have listened when one child cried. Instead, we waited until far too many of our children died.”

“A system where coaching replaces learning, anxiety replaces curiosity, and criminality replaces merit is rotten. A nation has failed when its children are met with barricades and batons instead of answers.” Urging activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his fast, Kamal also stressed that the dreams of children should never be overshadowed by the system’s failures.

“@Wangchuk66, the nation will need your conscience for the journey ahead. Please end your fast. To the children of India: You are the best of us. You have done your duty. It is now time for the country to do its duty by you. May your dreams forever be bigger than our failures.”

Twinkle Khanna praises students’ courage 

“Proud to belong to a country where our young people still have the courage to dissent, to push back, to brave tear gas and batons. The sad part is that they have to.” 

27-year-old model who stood alone in front of a police van A 27-year-old model, Rhiya Ahir, has emerged as one of the most talked-about faces of the recent student protests in Mumbai after she stood in front of a police van carrying detained demonstrators, demanding their immediate release. Images and videos of Ahir blocking the police vehicle near Shivaji Park have gone viral on social media, drawing widespread attention to her act of protest.

The future is theirs: Alia

“The last few days have broken my heart and then mended it again and again with hope. Behind every student standing their ground is a dream, a family’s hope, and a journey of countless sacrifices. They represent not just themselves but everyone who has supported them, while creating a better path for those who will come after them. Their courage humbles me. Their resolve is a mirror held up to all of us, asking whether we are truly listening to the very people who will inherit and shape this country’s tomorrow. For the students. By the students. The future is theirs.”

‘Their voices deserve to be heard and protected’

“Students are the future of our country. When a student’s dream is crushed, it’s not just one dream that’s lost; it’s the dream of an entire family. They have every right to ask questions when they feel the system has failed them. Their voices deserve to be heard, protected, and addressed with sincerity. I appeal to the authorities to engage with these concerns and work towards a fair, transparent, and meaningful resolution that ensures accountability. I also sincerely hope this remains a students’ protest, the focus must remain on the issues affecting the students and the solutions they deserve. Peaceful protest is a democratic right, and every student should be allowed to exercise that right. Jai Hind.”

— Varun Dhawan

‘My heart goes out to those hurt’

Salman Khan backs protesting students, calls paper leaks a serious issue, urges stronger education reforms and warns against political interference

Calling the paper leak a serious issue, superstar Salman Khan has come out in support of the protesting students and said his heart goes out to those who were hurt while demonstrating peacefully.

The Bollywood actor appreciated the stand taken by the students, who, he said, have shown dedication, sincerity, and a strong commitment to studying hard for their own futures and for a more educated India.

“It was such a peaceful movement. I feel so sad that it had to take a violent turn. My heart goes out to the students and their families who were hurt. The paper leak is a very serious issue, and I am glad to know and see that the kids of our country have come together for a better educational system, and that their parents supported them,” the actor wrote in a carefully worded post on X on Wednesday.

He, however, said the protests should not be “hijacked politically”. “This andolan, this protest, is the right way to go about it, and the students have done this peacefully. They are so courageous and brave. Driven and motivated towards education, this generation will make India proud.

“This issue is between the students and the educational system. It should not be hijacked politically,” he wrote. 

On Thursday evening, the actor put out another post, in which he urged the protesting students to return home and appealed to activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike. Referring to PM Modi’s recent assurance that strict action would be taken against those responsible, Salman requested the students to trust the process and conclude their protest.