CM Seat Becho Yojna: Jharkhand students use satire to show discontent at protest
Protesting students in Jharkhand are using satire, posters, poetry and mock displays rather than abuse or violence to express anger over alleged irregularities in recruitment
Protesting students in Jharkhand are using satire, posters, poetry and mock displays rather than abuse or violence to express anger over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. Their agitation, led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, is centred on exam reforms and the cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination, along with an independent probe into the alleged irregularities. At the protest site, students have sought to keep the movement focused and non-abusive, while using sharp visuals and slogans to make their point. The demonstration entered its 16th day on Sunday. Read Full Story At Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, a weighing scale stacked with bundles resembling Rs 500 notes has been placed beside a mock "rate card" for government jobs. Some students have put up a mock "Naukri Bikri Kendra (Centre for Sale of Jobs)", listing an assistant teacher post at Rs 15 lakh, deputy superintendent of police at Rs 1.2 crore, block development officer at Rs 90 lakh and circle officer at Rs 1 crore, among others. Posters at the site carry photographs of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and depict a fictitious scheme titled "Mukhyamantri Seat Becho Yojna (CM Seat Sale Scheme)", with the line: "Payment karo aaram se, naukri pao samman se (Make payment at your leisure, do job with respect)." Student protester Vivek has written on a white T-shirt: "The system has failed us." Elsewhere, students are reciting verses from Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar's' poem 'Rashmirathi'.
Their favourite section is "Krishna Ki Chetavani". "Varsho tak van mein ghoom-ghoom, baadha-vighno ko choom-choom, sah dhoop-gham, paani, patthar, Pandav aaye kuchh aur nikhar," the students recite, drawing a parallel between the Pandavas' years of hardship and their own preparation for competitive examinations amid uncertainty over recruitment and appointments. In another image from the protest, a girl bows before a large cutout of late JMM founder Shibu Soren, appealing to his son and Chief Minister Hemant Soren to take "action against those doing injustice" to students. Another protester held up a poster showing an apparent judge examining a paper through a microscope, alongside the message: "Microscope itna powerful nikla ki saboot dekhe nahi, gayab kar diye gaye (The microscope was so powerful that the evidence could not be seen and had disappeared)." Some posters prominently featured JMM central spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharyya and his wife, who was appointed as a JPSC member, standing with the chief minister. One of them read: "How can one expect fair JPSC exams when a friend and party leader's wife was made JPSC member?" The protesters' demands have also been spelt out directly on placards.
The BriefWire