The following appeal was submitted to Pressenza by a group of Humanists in India. After reviewing the text, we have chosen to publish it as a contribution to peaceful democratic dialogue and public reflection.
We write not in anger, but in love—love for India, for its young people, and for all those who have dedicated their lives to serving the nation.
As Humanists, we believe that every human being deserves equal dignity, without discrimination or violence. We affirm the simple ethical principle shared by the world’s great wisdom traditions: treat others as you would wish to be treated. It is in that spirit—humbly, sincerely, and from one human being to another—that we offer this appeal.
In recent weeks, India has witnessed something remarkable.
Hundreds of thousands of young people—students who have devoted years of their lives preparing for competitive examinations and dreaming of careers in medicine and public service—have taken to the streets following the controversy surrounding the NEET-UG examination and the reported paper leak. For many, the events deeply undermined confidence in the fairness of one of the country’s most important educational institutions. Reports of students driven to despair have further intensified public concern.
What has stood out, however, is the overwhelmingly peaceful nature of these demonstrations. Many students marched carrying India’s national flag and their books rather than symbols of confrontation. Despite difficult circumstances, they chose discipline over violence. In their actions, many observers recognized echoes of Mahatma Gandhi’s belief that moral courage can become a powerful force for social change.
We believe these young people represent something precious: a generation seeking an India that is more just, more compassionate, more transparent, and free from discrimination. They are not asking for revenge. They are asking for accountability, fairness, and the opportunity to build their future through merit and honest effort.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to office in 2014 with promises that inspired enormous hope among millions of Indians. Like every democratic leader, not every promise could be fulfilled. Yet many citizens continue to express disappointment over unmet expectations regarding employment, economic opportunity, and the fight against corruption. The weight of those expectations remains deeply felt by many families.
Education has long been presented as the foundation of India’s future. Yet concerns over school closures in several states, repeated examination irregularities, and declining public confidence in educational institutions have led many young people to question whether talent and hard work alone are enough to succeed. Restoring trust in these institutions is now one of India’s greatest challenges.
Many families also continue to struggle with the rising cost of living, while hoping for greater economic security and opportunity.
We do not raise these concerns to condemn anyone. Governing a nation as large and diverse as India is an immense responsibility, and history will ultimately judge every administration according to its achievements and shortcomings.
Our appeal is more modest.
We ask India’s leadership to listen carefully to what its young people are expressing through peaceful civic participation. Their message deserves not only acknowledgment but genuine dialogue.
They seek a leadership willing to engage directly with them, to strengthen democratic institutions, and to build an India founded on human dignity, equal opportunity, transparency, and respect for every citizen.
In that spirit, we respectfully suggest that every democracy benefits from renewal. When the time comes, creating space for a new generation of leaders can itself become an act of statesmanship and confidence in the nation’s future.
Such a decision, made freely and with grace, would not diminish a leader’s legacy. It could instead become part of that legacy—a demonstration of trust in the generations that will inherit India and continue building its future.
This appeal is offered not in hostility but in hope. We believe that India’s greatest strength has always been its capacity to renew itself while remaining faithful to its rich civilizational heritage.
Concerned Humanists in India
