Socialists protest at Jantar Mantar, call for nationwide stir against privatisation of education

By A Representative 

Members of the Youth Socialist Initiative (YSI), along with socialist activists, trade union leaders, teachers, students, journalists and youth from different parts of the country, held a protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday on the occasion of Quit India Movement Day, demanding an end to the privatisation, commercialisation and communalisation of education.

The demonstration was held under the slogan “Merchants of Education, Quit Power”. The organisers called for a nationwide movement to defend the constitutional right to education and strengthen the public education system.

The programme began at Rajghat, where members of the YSI and the Bharatiya Socialist Manch paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and took a pledge to work towards ensuring equal, quality and free education for students across the country. The participants later proceeded to Acharya Narendra Deva Vatika, where they paid floral tributes to socialist leader Acharya Narendra Deva amid slogans including “Long Live Acharya Narendra Deva” and “Merchants of Education, Quit Power.”

At Jantar Mantar, the YSI released a list identifying what it described as the “merchants of education”. The organisation criticised successive governments and political formations for policies that, in its view, have promoted the privatisation and commercialisation of education. It particularly criticised the economic reforms initiated in 1991 under the Congress-led government and accused the BJP-led government of accelerating the process, including through the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The YSI also criticised political parties across the NDA and UPA formations, private education businesses, institutions operating under the banner of philanthropy, individuals holding constitutional offices who participate in private university events, and sections of academics, educationists, intellectuals and NGOs whom it alleged have supported market-oriented educational reforms.

Presenting its education charter before what it described as the country’s Jan Panchayats, the YSI argued that the constitutional vision of universal education has remained unfulfilled. It said the Constitution had envisaged achieving the goal of education within a specified period after Independence, but successive governments failed to fulfil that commitment and instead allowed market forces to gain greater influence over education.

The organisation called for the repeal of laws enacted during the neoliberal period that it considers inconsistent with constitutional principles. It demanded that the State assume responsibility for providing equal and high-quality education from primary school through postgraduate studies and ensure that students have access to their preferred subjects and courses.

The YSI further demanded that educational institutions established with government assistance, including subsidised land and loans, be brought under the public sector. It called for fundamental changes in the content and language of education, arguing that education should promote scientific temper, rationality, democracy and independent thinking rather than merely produce skilled labour for the existing market economy.

The organisation also called for special sessions of Parliament and state legislatures to undertake a comprehensive discussion on the state of education in the country.

According to the YSI, a government that promotes corporate interests and communalism is unlikely to accept its demands, making public mobilisation essential. Citing Professor Anil Sadgopal, the organisation said the struggle for the right to education should be linked with wider movements concerning water, forests, land and livelihoods.

The initiative appealed to progressive organisations, groups and individuals working for constitutional rights to join a broader campaign against the privatisation, commercialisation and globalisation of education.

Senior Gujarat trade union leader Jayanti Bhai Panchal was the chief guest at the programme, while Advocate Aditya Kumar, president of the Bharatiya Samajwadi Manch, presided over the proceedings. Advocate Bijendra Yadav, convener of Bharat Samvad Abhiyan; Shahid Salim of the United Peace Initiative, Jammu and Kashmir; and senior socialists Devendra Singh Awana, Devendra Gurjar and Charansingh Rajput were among those present.

Speakers at the gathering included Comrade Narendra, Dr Shashishekhar Singh, Dr Bhagwan Singh, Amar Singh Amar, Dr Prem Singh, Suresh Gavai and Bandan Pandey. Students and faculty members from the University of Delhi and Jamia Millia Islamia also participated in the demonstration.

The proceedings were moderated by Dr Hiranya Himkar of the Youth Socialist Initiative.

The YSI said the Jantar Mantar protest was part of a series of programmes planned over the coming decade to mark 90 years of the Indian socialist movement, while drawing a connection between the socialist role in the 1942 Quit India Movement and its present campaign for education as a constitutional and public responsibility.