“WHERE the mind is without fear and the head is held high…” Rabindranath Tagore's vision of free knowledge is contradicted by the current education system, which under capitalist rule, controls knowledge to benefit the ruling class. The National Education Policy (NEP), the RSS model, excludes the poor and indoctrinates others to serve corporates and Hindutva ideological interests.

The state of education in Bengal paints a grim picture. The closure of schools is rampant, and the student-teacher ratios are incredibly poor. Basic infrastructure is absent in many schools, with some operating with a single teacher responsible for multiple subjects. This mirrors the overall neglect of public education, leading to the rise of private institutions, often with ideological agendas.

The dropout rate is also a serious concern, resulting in a large pool of unskilled labor that is easily exploited. The government appears to have no plan to address this issue, which suggests a deliberate intent to maintain a supply of cheap labour. Students are forced to migrate out of the state to find work, often in precarious conditions. This reflects the wider economic disparity and the lack of opportunities for young people in West Bengal.

Higher education fares no better. New institutions are not being established, and existing ones are deteriorating. Traditional departments are closing due to a lack of students and resources. The suppression of student union elections further creates an environment that stifles dissent and critical thinking. Students are denied a voice in their institutions' governance, which weakens the democratic fabric of the education system and allows for unchecked political influence on campuses.

Research opportunities are also getting limited, forcing researchers to seek funding and recognition abroad, resulting in brain drain. The government's focus on funding research that aligns with its ideological agenda neglects critical research in social sciences and other fields that could challenge the current state of affairs.

The current situation requires action to reclaim the right to education. Specifically, the students are demanding: protection of the right to education for all; revitalisation of public school infrastructure and resources; improved student-teacher ratios to ensure quality education; reinstatement of democratic student union elections; increased government funding for research in all disciplines; concrete plans to address the alarming dropout rates; creation of job opportunities within the state to prevent migration; curbing corruption in the education system; ending the privatisation of educationl; an alternative education policy that prioritises access, equity, and critical thinking.

The Bikash Bhavan march, called by the Students' Federation of India (SFI) on January 27, was a manifestation of this struggle. This march was a crucial step in challenging the current trajectory of education in West Bengal and demanding a system that truly serves the interests of the students and the broader community.

STUDENTS' RESOLVE UNBROKEN

The planned march by the Students' Federation of India (SFI) to Bikash Bhavan, the state education ministry headquarters, turned into a battleground as police unleashed a brutal crackdown on students protesting the deteriorating state of West Bengal's education system. The demonstration, intended to highlight critical issues and demand reforms, was met with disproportionate force, resulting in injuries and detentions, but ultimately failing to quell the students' unwavering determination.

Students, carrying symbolic "zero mark sheets" to represent the perceived failures of the education ministry, began their SFI march from Karunamoyee. The march proceeded to Bikash Bhavan, where they were met by a police barricade and heavy police presence. A violent confrontation ensued as police resorted to lathi charges, indiscriminately attacking students, including female protestors. Eyewitnesses and video footage show officers using batons and excessive force to disperse the crowd. Pranay Karji, SFI West Bengal state president described the chaotic scene, stating, "The police came down on us with batons like they were trying to kill us." Eighty students, including sixteen female activists, were forcibly taken into custody and transported to different police stations in Bidhannagar in three prison vans.

A group of SFI leaders, including general secretary Mayukh Biswas, state secretary Debanjan Dey, and president Pranay Karji, along with other comrades, entered Bikash Bhavan through an alternative route while police were busy handling the demonstration outside. Their goal was to reach Education Minister Bratya Basu's office and present symbolic "zero mark sheets" and a memorandum outlining their demands for educational reform.

Security personnel prevented them from accessing the minister's office. The student leaders then pasted posters on the walls of Bikash Bhavan and chanted slogans like "Reclaim Education," transforming the building's interior into a protest site. "We will not be silenced," declared Mayukh Biswas. Subsequently, they were also detained and forcibly removed by the police.

The student's spirit remained unbroken despite the arrests. A sit-in protest was staged at Karunamoyee by previously detained students and their supporters to demand the release of their fellow activists. The police responded with force once again, using batons to disperse the blockade. SFI Kolkata district president Barnana Mukherjee, speaking from a prison van, condemned the police action, highlighting the irony of officers attacking a peaceful student protest while "thieves and criminals" remain free. She and other female students also accused male police officers of assault and harassment during the crackdown.

The students' resilience and the widespread condemnation of the police brutality forced the authorities to reconsider. As evening approached, pressure mounted on the police to release the detained students. DYFI and the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) issued statements of solidarity with the protesting students, threatening a larger movement if the detainees were not released immediately. Facing growing pressure, the police finally relented, releasing all the detained students late at night.

Following their release, Debanjan Dey lashed out at the education minister, accusing him of orchestrating the police action. He reiterated that the students had only wanted to meet with the minister and voice their concerns about the failing education system. "But instead," he said, "we were met with police brutality." Dey also criticised the Trinamool Congress for allowing "goons" to run amok on campuses while silencing peaceful protests. He issued a warning: "Bikash Bhavan is not a TMC office; it is the state education department headquarters.  They seem to have forgotten this. The students will make them realise this in the future."

This protest has only served to strengthen the students' resolve. Despite the police crackdown and the detentions, the SFI and other student organisations have vowed to continue their struggle for a better education system. The incident has highlighted the students' determination to hold the government accountable and their unwavering commitment to their demands for reform. The images of students, particularly young women, standing up to police brutality have become a powerful symbol of the movement's resilience and have galvanised support for their cause.