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Correspondent

23 August 2024 at 9:59:04 pm

Hidden Questions

For six years, the Disha Salian case has remained trapped in a fog of unanswered questions, disputed narratives and institutional inaction. It appears that the fog is now finally beginning to lift. The CBI’s recent FIR has brought into the investigation a startling array of names including Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MLA Aaditya Thackeray, his father, Sena (UBT) chief and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Dino Morea, Sooraj Pancholi, Rhea Chakraborty, Sachin Vaze, Param Bir Singh, and...

Hidden Questions

For six years, the Disha Salian case has remained trapped in a fog of unanswered questions, disputed narratives and institutional inaction. It appears that the fog is now finally beginning to lift. The CBI’s recent FIR has brought into the investigation a startling array of names including Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MLA Aaditya Thackeray, his father, Sena (UBT) chief and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Dino Morea, Sooraj Pancholi, Rhea Chakraborty, Sachin Vaze, Param Bir Singh, and former home minister Anil Deshmukh. The allegations being investigated include conspiracy, destruction or suppression of evidence and an alleged attempt to establish a false narrative around Salian’s death. For Aaditya and the MVA, the instinctive political response will be to dub the CBI’s fresh probe as ‘vendetta’ and portray the investigation as an assault on the Thackeray family. But such a response would evade the much larger question of why this case was allowed to remain where it was for so long? At the very least, the filing of the FIR against the Thackerays’ and others lays bare the failure on part of the erstwhile MVA government headed by Uddhav Thackeray to properly investigate the case. This aspect cannot be wished away now by invoking political persecution as the Bombay High Court’s intervention has itself exposed the extraordinary manner in which the matter was handled. For years, Salian’s death remained an accidental-death case rather than being subjected to the kind of criminal investigation demanded by the allegations surrounding it. Her family has repeatedly sought a CBI probe only to be rebuffed by the previous Maharashtra government headed by Uddhav Thackeray. If the Thackeray-led MVA government had nothing to fear, why was a transparent investigation not pursued with greater urgency? If there was no attempt to protect anyone, why were questions about the circumstances of Salian’s death allowed to accumulate rather than being conclusively answered? And if there was no political sensitivity involved, why did the machinery of government appear so reluctant to let an independent agency examine the matter? The more aggressively the Opposition cries “vendetta,” the more obvious another question becomes: what exactly is it afraid the investigation might uncover? Aaditya Thackeray’s political inheritance cannot become an institutional exemption. Being Balasaheb Thackeray’s grandson may provide a formidable political surname; it cannot provide immunity from scrutiny. The CBI must be allowed to pursue every lead, examine every witness, reconstruct every missing link and establish the truth as to what happened to Disha Salian. If the allegations against anyone are false, the investigation should establish that too. But if wrongdoing has occurred, then those responsible must face the consequences. After six years, neither political power nor a famous surname can be allowed to stand between the investigation and the truth.

Navigating the NEET Turmoil

Writer: Bhaskar Nath Biswal
Bhaskar Nath Biswal
May 16
3 min read

The future of Indian medicine depends not just on the integrity of the NEET but on the survival and well-being of aspirants.

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is the ultimate gateway to the dreams of millions of young Indians who aspire to wear the white coat. For many, it represents the culmination of years of relentless toil, sacrificed childhoods, and the immense financial hopes of families across the socio-economic spectrum. In the Indian middle-class consciousness, NEET is the singular bridge between a modest life and a prestigious career in medicine. However, the recurring shadows of paper leaks and logistical failures have transformed this bridge into a precarious tightrope. The sheer magnitude of the examination is evident in the burgeoning numbers: from approximately 15.19 lakh candidates in 2020, the count surged to Approximately 22.05 lakh (2,205,035) candidates appeared on May 3, 2026. Over 22.79 lakh candidates had initially registered for the exam, which was held across 551 cities in India and 14 international cities. This consistent upward trajectory underscores the immense pressure on the National Testing Agency (NTA) to maintain the sanctity of an exercise that involves nearly two percent of the nation's entire population in a single day.


Fractured Spirits

While the fury directed at the NTA is understandable and indeed necessary for institutional accountability, we must acknowledge that bureaucratic indignation alone cannot mend the fractured spirits of our students. The history of paper leaks in the last five years has been a recurring nightmare for the academic community. From reports of localized cheating rings in 2021 to the recent massive controversy leading to the cancellation of the May 2026 attempt, the integrity of the process has been repeatedly called into question.


These incidents are not just administrative lapses; they are moral transgressions against the principle of meritocracy. However, as the nation debates the role of the NTA and the necessity of structural reforms, a more silent and dangerous crisis is unfolding in the study rooms and coaching centers of India. The present mental status of medical aspirants is one of profound disillusionment and acute anxiety. When the promise of a fair trial is broken, the psychological impact on an eighteen-year-old can be catastrophic. The feeling of being cheated by the system often leads to a sense of nihilism, where the student begins to believe that hard work is no longer a currency for success.


Mental Health

In this crucial hour, we are standing at a precipice where the mental health of our youth is as much at risk as their careers. With the NTA having already officially announced the re-examination date for June 21, 2026, the task of convincing students to return to their books is monumental. It is natural for an aspirant to feel exhausted and resentful of the additional burden but we must help them understand that a re-test is not a punishment; it is a vital, albeit painful, second chance at justice. To lose one’s mental balance is a tragedy that no examination result can justify. This is a testing time not just for the students but for the moral fabric of our society. Parents and teachers must now step into the roles of emotional anchors rather than mere academic supervisors. The home should become a sanctuary where the student is valued for their personhood, not their potential rank. Teachers must pivot from completing syllabi to providing psychological first aid, emphasizing that while the system may be flawed, the student’s worth is absolute.


Every parent must look their child in the eye and reassure them that their life is infinitely more precious than any OMR sheet. The collective fury of the public should be channelled into demanding a foolproof, digital-first and transparent testing mechanism for the future but our immediate priority must be the preservation of life. We cannot allow the shortcomings of an agency to become a death sentence for our brightest minds. By fostering an environment of empathy and patience, we can help our students navigate this turmoil.


This is a moment for resilience, for the hand-holding of the vulnerable and for a national commitment to protect the dreams of those who wish to heal others. Let us save our students from the darkness of despair and ensure that their journey toward becoming healers does not start with a broken spirit.


(The writer is a former college Principal and Founder of Supporting Shoulders, an Odisha-based non-profit Trust. Views personal.)

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