- 5 hours ago
A powerful image from Mumbai's Chembur has become the defining visual of the ongoing protests linked to the alleged NEET paper leak and the detention of activist Sonam Wangchuk.
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00:00Mumbai Police's van in front of a man with a hand in front of a video and a photograph of
00:09a viral video.
00:10Who is that? What is that? What is that? What is that? What is that? What is that?
00:17What is that? What is that? What is that?
00:23What is that? What is that? What is that?
00:32I'm sleeping at 5.30.
00:34Because I had a lot of time to process it.
00:38I didn't know what I had done.
00:41Because it's my habit.
00:43My voice is very blunt.
00:45It's because of the theatre.
00:46Wherever it is wrong, I'm going to take my blunt voice.
00:48I'm going to take my blunt voice.
00:50I didn't feel like I did something extraordinary.
00:53But when I got all messages at 10 or 9,
00:57I got a little hit.
00:59What?
01:01Okay.
01:02I did something.
01:04I was sleeping at 5.30.
01:06But after that, I was sleeping at 5.30.
01:08It's very overwhelming.
01:10I'm very humbled also at the same time.
01:14You've been holding on with me.
01:15It's your hand at 6.662.
01:18It's not a political party.
01:19It's not a citizens of India.
01:20It's my hand at 6.352.
01:27I know.
01:31So, that's my hand at 7.162.
01:33But when I got on that,
01:34I've been sleeping at 8.656.
01:37I was sleeping at 9.166.
01:37It's my hand at 7.657.
01:39I'm ill-many for the church.
01:42So, make sure to go on that.
01:43Unfortunately, I have not done this, but now I am going to leave it until I am going to do
01:48it.
01:49There is no independent protest, there is no political protest because there is no sound of our people.
01:54There is no leader, there is no leader, they are doing what they are doing, what they are doing, we
01:59don't know.
02:00So, one day before I had done it, actually in Shivaji Park, there were a lot of young children.
02:07You have reached the same age?
02:09Yes, absolutely.
02:10What is the judgment, why are you going to protest?
02:14The judgment is quite obvious that something is still happening, it is not that it is still happening...
02:20It is still happening, our mother and father would have told us to adjust, to shut up.
02:28It's still happening, but now the youth is not happening.
02:33This is not normal. Just because it is happening, this means that it is normal.
02:39normal is, it happens, it happens, but if it is normal, it is wrong. Don't do it normalize
02:45behavior. So, the youth, our Gen Z, the Z for Ziddi, who are now, that you are wrong,
02:53that we are all watching, the whole world is watching internationally. My dad has called
03:00me from international media, my parents, their friends, their children, there is a
03:05sound, which is a blunt sound. So, this is our own struggle.
03:12First, let's talk about what was happening. So, you have protested for the protest.
03:17You thought that it was a long day, protested?
03:19A long day?
03:21No, long day?
03:23We thought that it was a long day, because we protested, every day, everyone protested
03:33is a long day. But, yes, this protest is on a big scale, in the country. So, this is a
03:39thing that I would like to go. So, when you have protested, you have someone with
03:45someone there? Then, how do you reach the van?
03:48How did you reach the van?
03:50So, about 4.30-4.00? I was watching my friends, I was watching my friends.
03:55I was watching my friends. It's a very isolated experience. But, we know that the crowd is
04:02with us. But, as we saw in Delhi, we have been with children with children.
04:06With little children, with 12-year-old children, you can see what you can do.
04:14You can do it. You can tweet it.
04:15Dharmeshinda Pradhan Ji, when later, we tweeted it. Rahul Gandhi when they were
04:19there. So, they have the whole effort to reflect the whole thing.
04:22Politically, we all have to play all the things.
04:24Politics, until you start to play politics, you will not have to play politics.
04:30You have to do something. You have to do politics. You have to do politics.
04:33You have to do politics, not to do politics. So, I was waiting for 4 minutes,
04:38I was waiting for my friends.
04:39It took 20 minutes,
04:40in Bombay traffic,
04:42or in parking,
04:43then it took 20 minutes to waste,
04:46and I was listening to Nari Bazi,
04:49and I was waiting for you.
04:51I said, I'm going to go,
04:52and I'll follow the live location,
04:54and I'll come back.
04:56I didn't have to go too far,
04:58and you will go to Nari Bazi,
05:01so I was going to go,
05:03where the Nari Bazi was going,
05:04so the police car was in front of me,
05:07and from the back,
05:08there were children,
05:09and the children were laughing inside.
05:12Imagine,
05:14that the police van is inside,
05:16and the children were laughing inside.
05:18It was full of stuff.
05:20The police were standing on the stairs.
05:25Can you give me one minute?
05:26Have you tried to remove the children from there?
05:33First of all,
05:33I did my homework.
05:34I did my homework.
05:35I told everyone,
05:36whatever you are going,
05:38whatever you are going,
05:38whatever you are going,
05:38whatever you are going,
05:39you are going to go,
05:40first of all.
05:42This way,
05:42this way,
05:43you can be rightfully there,
05:46and you have a courage,
05:47and you have a courage,
05:48extra,
05:48a lot of leverage.
05:50So, I did my homework.
05:52I asked him,
05:53I asked him,
05:54I asked him,
05:55if you have a very good conversation,
05:57and I asked him,
06:07if you have a very good conversation,
06:10and I asked him,
06:15I asked him,
06:17if you have a memo,
06:21I asked him,
06:23I was going to reverse them.
06:24Because he is wrong.
06:25I was wrong.
06:27I knew,
06:27I was wrong.
06:28I was about to know,
06:28I did my job and so,
06:29I just had to take the hand,
06:31and I threw a child off.
06:33The police stopped me and said,
06:36and I had two of them, so I had no idea of coming.
06:40As the van was coming, I was afraid that they will fall in the middle.
06:47I should not do this.
06:48I will just go down to the bottom.
06:50So I was just going to the bus.
06:53And as we were going, I saw that they will go further.
06:59If it will happen, I will feel that I have failed as a citizen.
07:03If I was going to be a citizen, to be a citizen, to be a citizen,
07:09then my duty is here.
07:12So I told them, sir, I understand what you are doing.
07:15You are doing your duty, but you are not doing your responsibility.
07:19Then they said nothing, they were closed.
07:21I said, madam, do not, madam, do not.
07:23It wasn't that much, it wasn't that much.
07:26So that's why I was more confident.
07:28So I went ahead and I didn't think anything.
07:31I just thought I was just going to stop them.
07:33I will not go in front of me.
07:35I will not go in front of them.
07:37I will not die or die.
07:38So I am standing.
07:40If you use common sense, you have to use the road,
07:43and you have traffic on the back,
07:45so you have to manage all these traffic.
07:47You have to manage all these things.
07:49So you have to manage them.
07:50and you have to manage all these things,
07:51but you have to manage all these traffic.
07:52Now when you are standing there,
07:54do not manage the traffic?
07:57So I do not do that.
07:58We will just manage all these traffic.
08:00But with Bombay Toilers,
08:01we were able to keep talking about their eyes.
08:02And they never had anything threatening.
08:06So they did not have a good-tie.
08:07They were trying to accelerate the traffic.
08:09So they came out of danger.
08:10You see, it was a little bit like it.
08:16For one second, I was like, this car can go above me, but then I became a child, and now
08:27if I sit in my house, I will not do anything, then I will be helpless, asahai or a child,
08:34you should choose.
08:44As a woman, as a woman, if you don't have a child, you don't have a child.
08:50So, when all of this started,
09:03I started being a child, when the cause came back, I was like, what happened to me?
09:09What happened to me was like, I wasn't sure, I was a woman to take her out,
09:14so when I was a woman and I was like, when the sound came from my house,
09:16people were like, and when the side came to me, I realized that I was like,
09:20people are coming back.
09:22They started chanting after me,
09:24then I did something else.
09:25And then I also said,
09:26what can you say?
09:27What can you say?
09:30I will not forget,
09:33I will say,
09:37you have started your country
09:39and your children,
09:41you have failed.
09:43One or two,
09:44not many times.
09:45After the recent examinations,
09:47you have to say,
09:48your sheets are AI generated.
09:51How can you do that?
09:53One time fail,
09:54made so big,
09:55there is no purpose.
09:58We will give you a reason
10:01to give you a purpose.
10:02What is your fault?
10:05What is your fault?
10:05Is it a personal reason?
10:08Or what you have seen
10:09from Jantar Mantar,
10:10what you have seen
10:10from Jantar Mantar,
10:14after seeing it,
10:16you are more angry?
10:18This government is personal.
10:22We don't want to know
10:23that this is all.
10:24But we have failed
10:27in SAFI,
10:28or the system has failed.
10:30I have now,
10:31for my studies,
10:32for my psychology,
10:33before COVID.
10:34I have enrolled in Mumbai University
10:36for English Literature.
10:39I have called them
10:40for the last two weeks.
10:42There are 6 numbers online,
10:44so I have called them
10:45and I have also
10:46the screen recording
10:47yesterday,
10:47when I was doing it.
10:48I was worried.
10:50You know,
10:50when you have
10:52with your money.
10:53What do you have done
10:55to do next?
10:55What do you want to tell?
10:55Online?
10:56I have full,
10:57I have full,
10:58smart.
10:59Email would be
11:00that you have to pay
11:01so that you have to pay
11:03so that you have to pay
11:03so that you have to pay.
11:04So, online fees
11:04and online,
11:06admission is granted.
11:07But email,
11:08after that,
11:09we are not calling
11:10or in fact,
11:13I have all the proof.
11:15Documentation is very important
11:16in today's time.
11:17I have all the proof.
11:19I have all the proof.
11:19I am trying to call
11:19two weeks
11:20and he never called
11:21or answered.
11:22His call is unavailable,
11:24busy.
11:25Everything is happening,
11:26but whatever it is happening,
11:27it is not happening.
11:28So, I am nervous personally.
11:31And my brother is 9 years old.
11:34He has no interest.
11:35He has no interest.
11:36So, I can tell him
11:37that he is new to know
11:38why you are not going to
11:39I am going to say
11:40that this is your choice.
11:41That government
11:41will not decide to
11:42decide.
11:44This is our choice.
11:45They cannot force illiteracy upon us. We are a developing nation.
11:51We don't want to go back again.
12:15So thank you everyone for that.
12:18So we went on the other side to join.
12:20I made my father face time.
12:21I showed my father.
12:23When my father happened to me,
12:26I said that my father was cancelled.
12:28He was cancelled.
12:29He took permission again.
12:31He didn't have any words.
12:33He took permission again.
12:35He said that we will go back again.
12:36How did you protest?
12:39He took permission again.
12:41This is wrong.
12:41He took permission again.
12:43Then he took permission again.
12:44Then he took ban and prohibit.
12:46How did you go to Shivaji Park?
12:50Actually, the Azad Maidan is a designated protest ground.
12:54So the Azad Maidan is not a protest ground.
12:58How did you go there?
13:00In social media.
13:02In social media,
13:03we follow each other.
13:05Students have been constantly in touch with each other.
13:08We know that,
13:09I am sorry to say this.
13:11This is not personal to you.
13:12But our adults have failed us.
13:14So we have to stick together.
13:16So I took the story of Shivaji Park.
13:19We will meet everyone.
13:19And we know that,
13:21we were also meeting the 21st of Shivaji Park.
13:24So the 23rd of the ban was started.
13:27It was also there.
13:28And Mataji is also going to be a party for the time.
13:35But in the last few weeks,
13:35since we saw the government ran into it,
13:42so all of us were to do that.
13:44But the other two were told about it.
13:49So he was told about it.
13:51So we just showed up.
13:52but what was the reaction of the family to this video?
13:57We were doing lunch.
13:59Mom and Dad are very proud.
14:02Dad has especially said,
14:03Dad is also doing social services.
14:05When we were in Covid,
14:06we got vaccinated for people.
14:10So, this is probably the best of my mom.
14:14Every housewife.
14:16Every child who works at home,
14:18the parents and the children,
14:19the parents and the parents,
14:21the children,
14:21the parents and the children.
14:22the education,
14:23which was not seen by my mom.
14:25She has a support from dad.
14:30The courage is with me.
14:31and the planなら for the護士.
14:35Now, in the future, you have to say that you have to be able to graduate with your graduation.
14:40Will you protest with this kind of protest?
14:44If there will be, then of course. But I want to know one thing.
14:48We have to play it by the books.
14:50They can always be able to play it by the books.
14:52They are already doing it. They are planting things so that we can be faulty.
14:57But one important word for this protest is peaceful.
15:02We are all talking about peaceful protest.
15:06The government is not talking about peaceful protection.
15:09They are doing it wrong. They are also doing it.
15:11We are doing it right now.
15:12We are doing it right now.
15:13And the sound that we have done internationally has reached the whole world.
15:18It means that everyone is doing it.
15:20That what they are doing, children, is right.
15:22We will give one person a lot.
15:25I have to wear this color today.
15:28Yes, I am on the right side of the arts etc.
15:30Well, the reason you don't have to wear it.
15:34The issue of it is that a party has given the color anIV.
15:37I'm not asking you for the name of it.
15:39But we have to give two, three parties.
15:40The other one is not.
15:41So, they have to buy it in a new way.
15:43This is our color.
15:45The one of the first of the first colors is there.
15:47The way we say is courage.
15:48The one that is sacrifice to us.
15:56So if the system doesn't change, then the protest is going to be done.
16:00And now?
16:02Yes.
16:03And then the detainees will leave the detainees.
16:05Yes.
16:05Yes.
16:05Yes.
16:06Yes.
16:07Yes.
16:08Yes.
16:09Yes.
16:10Yes.
16:10Yes.
16:11Yes.
16:19Yes.
16:21Yes.
16:21Yes.
16:22Yes.
16:25Yes.
16:28Yes.
16:30Yes.
16:33Yes.
16:34the police officers stopped doing their work.
16:37The sections generally they do,
16:39they do not do that.
16:41They did not do that.
16:43They did not do that.
16:45They did not do that.
16:47I also said that I know that you are doing your duty,
16:50but you are not doing your duty responsibly.
16:53I am very confident that I have given the truth
16:56and I have legally done what I have done.
16:58It is wrong.
16:59Everyone knows what they are doing.
17:00I have no meaning to say this,
17:01but I don't accept it.
17:04But you did not act as in any moment.
17:06No, I do not do that.
17:08This was said,
17:10what happened to me,
17:11it has been done,
17:14which show demost conversation
17:16there has been a lot of courage
17:18during this life.
17:21But after that,
17:22people can get the van from the house,
17:24and they will not have detained.
17:26So these actions that were put up,
17:29it has been described as well.
17:53A photo or a video of a woman standing up to Mumbai police which had detained the protestors
18:00who are protesting against the need, paper leak and many other issues related to students
18:05has really gone viral and I am joined by that woman who had shown the courage of signing
18:12up for Mumbai police, against Mumbai police, right outside the van with her hands up.
18:17Did you ever imagine actually doing that?
18:20No, it wasn't rehearsed.
18:22So I was, I knew that if media people are there, I have things to say like how we all
18:26practice our award winning speeches, so a lot of things we have to say to the government,
18:31to the people who are, you know, doing us wrong, but this wasn't expected.
18:36This was not in the script.
18:37No.
18:37It was totally off script.
18:40So then, I wanted, let's begin from the fact that you reached there, like why did you even
18:45decide to go ahead and protest?
18:48Because I could, I reached there at 4.30 and I was waiting for my friends and as I was
18:53waiting
18:53for them, I could hear the sloganeers and I could hear the chanting and I was like, I'm
18:57wasting my, I've traveled all the way.
18:59First of all, in Bombay traffic, you travel from Mandiri East and you go to Shivaji Park,
19:04it's not easy.
19:05You have to have courage to just do that.
19:08And to be there, I could hear them chanting and it was raining, it was pouring yesterday
19:13also.
19:14So, I was waiting and I couldn't wait any longer.
19:17It was just like, I'm wasting my time here, you know.
19:19You're waiting for, how many of your friends went to join here?
19:21So, first of all, they were just people who had texted me on Instagram, that hey, I'm
19:26coming, hey, I'm coming.
19:27So, I was like, okay, come join me, come join me.
19:30So, they weren't actually friends, friends, but they were people who stand for the same
19:34cause.
19:34So, I was waiting for them.
19:36They didn't arrive on time.
19:37Some were lost in the parking.
19:39So, I was like, okay, let me just leave the vicinity, let me join them.
19:43I'll share my live location with them because it can be scary to go out alone.
19:48It can be, it's very threatening also to be in the situation where the people who are supposed
19:53to protect us are also against us, you know, taking in consideration all the lati charge
19:58and the detaining of people.
20:00So, it was scary, but it was more like, now I'm here.
20:04So, whatever comes, comes.
20:05So, I left the vicinity and I saw the van in front of me.
20:09It was right in front of me, it was calling my name.
20:12So, I was going to go to where I could hear the chanting from and then I realized that
20:17I can't ignore this.
20:18This is what I'm here for.
20:20So, if I ignore this, I'm going to fail myself as a citizen and I'm going to be there for
20:24the show, which everyone, we don't have to prove ourselves, which everyone has proved
20:30that we are not here for the show.
20:32We are here to actually make a difference.
20:34So, I was like, it starts right here.
20:36But what was it in the school, in the police van that really called you?
20:40I mean, why not go to the place where the protests are happening, but instead go to the place
20:44where, you know, detainees are being taken away.
20:47What was it that really pulled you to?
20:49I tell you, it's, if you can try to imagine this, you are leaving, this is a big luxury
20:55building and you step out on a Bombay road and you look at a police van.
20:59When you look at a police van, you think, okay, probably there are criminals inside of it.
21:02But these days, we all know who are inside of it.
21:05The citizens of India, the students of India, little boys, girls, minors even.
21:10So, we all knew what's happening and the kids were shouting actually what they are doing.
21:15So, they were trying to talk to them.
21:16They were shouting their lungs out and their hands, I could see their hands.
21:21And the van was stuffed with peace?
21:23Stuffed from the front to the back was entirely stuffed.
21:25There were two cops in the front.
21:27One was driving, one was right next to him.
21:29There on was the student line started all the way to the back.
21:31Some were seated and like most of them were seated and they were standing also.
21:36There was literally no space to even fit me.
21:38So, I was like, let me just go and talk to the cops.
21:40They were standing on the stairs.
21:42So, as I was there, I did my homework and I knew that there are a few things that there
21:48are protocols for them also to follow.
21:49As citizens, we have to follow our protocols as well.
21:53We have to not have, not create public nuisance.
21:56But what they are doing, they also have to have it in written.
22:00So, I asked them, do you have a memo?
22:03And he did not have an answer to it.
22:05So, I got my answer.
22:07And anything you want to start with, like if you are going for a cause or a story, you
22:12have to start with conversation.
22:13So, I was conversing with him very politely and respectfully and so was he.
22:17He did not have much to say.
22:19Obviously, we know why because they have no answers.
22:22And I realized he, this is illegal what is happening.
22:27So, I reached my hand out to one of the females who was inside the van.
22:31And I did not know any one of them.
22:34In the videos, the journalist who is covering this, probably he thought that they are my
22:42friends or people but they were not people I knew.
22:44Nobody around was known to me.
22:47So, I just reached my hand out to one of the girls and I tried to pull her out.
22:53And the bus started moving.
22:54So, I realized it's dangerous.
22:56The cops obstructed both of them.
22:57One was here, one was here.
22:58So, I obstructed the way.
22:59So, I couldn't pull her out.
23:00And I realized either she is going to fall off or I am going to come under the bus.
23:04So, I started walking besides the bus.
23:05As I was walking, I realized, okay, I can't keep up with the bus.
23:09It's a vehicle.
23:10So, it's going to move past me in no time.
23:13There was slow moving traffic but still they will move.
23:15I can't keep walking.
23:17And so, I decided to just jump in front of the van.
23:21I did not know what I was thinking.
23:22I just knew that I am not going to fail myself.
23:24I am not going to fail them.
23:25But you just wanted to do something.
23:27Absolutely.
23:28Don't we all feel that we have to do something?
23:30You are here because you want to do something.
23:32So, when you were standing there, were you all alone?
23:36Because we could, initially we did see that, you know, you are alone there.
23:40But later a crowd joins you.
23:42Was that something that gave you courage?
23:44Like, what gave me courage is knowing that I am right.
23:48What gave me courage is knowing that they are wrong.
23:53And, of course, when I heard the sloganeers from behind me, I did not know what was happening
23:58because I was looking at my cause which was in front of me.
24:01So, I saw camera people and, you know, people taking out their phones and taking videos and
24:05some were whistling and some were hooting.
24:07And I was like, okay, that all works, but come, like, what the hell?
24:11So, they were behind me and they shouted, like, a few chants.
24:16So, I knew that, okay, now if they run over one person, they have to run over 20 more behind
24:23me.
24:23So, probably that also gave me courage.
24:25But, you didn't feel threatened at any point?
24:28Didn't the Mumbai police try to accelerate the way?
24:31I did.
24:33Also, I did think that they are going to pull me inside, detain me as well.
24:37So, I was like, I am better off from here.
24:40So, I was a little scared that when he is trying to accelerate towards me, I was like, what if?
24:47What if?
24:48And then I was like, okay, I'd rather be a martyr than be a helpless citizen.
24:53That's a big sentence.
24:55So, how long did this really last?
24:58And, you know, you kept standing there no matter what.
25:01I did not even realize the time until I went through my camera roll.
25:05So, a lot of people were saying I was making reels while I was there,
25:08but I was just taking footage of everything that was happening.
25:12Documentation is very important.
25:13It is proof.
25:14So, I was taking a number plate, picture of the number plate.
25:17I was taking a picture of the driver, of everyone around me gathering proof.
25:20So, what was your question?
25:24So, the question was, how long were you there, you know, right outside, right in front of the van,
25:31the acceleration that you faced?
25:33About 40 minutes, if I'm not wrong.
25:3640 minutes, I was just standing and my knee is hurt actually.
25:40I also practice gymnastics.
25:42So, my knee was hurt.
25:44That's why everyone is like, crazy pose bro.
25:46I was like, my knee is hurt.
25:48That's why I was like, this.
25:49So, that was not some of that model pose.
25:51No, every girl stands like this.
25:53If you may know, we all stand like this.
25:55And also, my knee was hurt.
25:56So, I cannot put much force on it.
25:58So, I was like, man, move it.
26:01Peaches are traffic.
26:02So, you got to do something.
26:03You cannot obstruct, you know, the vehicle like this.
26:07You're in a public space, you know.
26:10There were vehicles moving from the side.
26:11But also, there's a BST bus behind.
26:14There's students here.
26:15So, either they have to run over me, which is going to be big.
26:18And then, they have to watch out for themselves now.
26:22Or they will have to retain our students.
26:26So, what really made them, you know, let the detainees go?
26:31Our voice.
26:32Our stand.
26:33Us standing on the ground.
26:35And 40 minutes of the standoff.
26:37Absolutely.
26:3840 minutes of the standoff.
26:39So, there I put the rules there.
26:42So, you know, after you came off, the detainees came out.
26:47What was the, you know, what did you, what was the first reaction when you saw those people
26:52coming out after all that effort of 40 minutes that you do?
26:55Honestly, for me, I did not feel like it was an effort.
26:58For me, it was effortless.
27:02I know that people want to see the vulnerability.
27:05People want to see the weakness and the scared me.
27:08But I'm not scared.
27:09My khandan is in the army.
27:11My dad was in the ITBP.
27:12So, courage is in my bloods.
27:14I'm a true patriot of the country.
27:16And yesterday what happened, after people told me, I realized like, man, I did something
27:24that probably I can talk to my kids about.
27:27I can tell them like, your mom stood her ground.
27:29You know, I can show them pictures.
27:30The proof.
27:32Well, you know, what was in fact, that's what I wanted to know was your reaction, the reaction
27:37of your family, your friends, when they saw this courage that you had, you know, outburst
27:42of it right there outside the, in front of the back.
27:46I instantly called my father, because I was there on the 21st as well.
27:50And apparently, we had permission for Shivaji Park, but it was cancelled.
27:54But a few students still showed up there.
27:57A few hundreds, if not more, or not even a few hundreds, less than a hundred.
28:02But they were doing the same thing, detaining the students and putting the female cops in
28:06the front and dispersing the male ones aside.
28:09So, even there, I saw people from afar and like taking videos.
28:13So, I told my dad, I think it's cancelled.
28:16My dad is like, cancelled ho, kya hua, log, bhir bhi jayenge, tu bhi jaha.
28:19So, I have full support from my parents, because they have also, you know, adhered to all
28:24the laws, but it's not doing any benefit to anyone, not the farmers, not the Dalits, not
28:29the Adivasis, not the environment, not the animals, not the women, like the list can go
28:33on.
28:34And this anger that you feel, you know, the reason why you went for the protest is also personal
28:40at any point, because, you know, you yourself are a student, you're doing your graduation
28:44right now.
28:45Did it become very personal at any point?
28:48It is personal.
28:49This is my country, so it is personal already.
28:52But also, on a more personal level, interpersonal level, that I have enrolled myself in Mumbai
28:57University to study.
29:01I did psychology before, and now with Mumbai University, distant education, I want to be
29:06a part of the English literature, and I will study all that.
29:09So, since the past two weeks, actually, I've been, I was at the university to talk to the
29:15people, because their calls are never reachable.
29:17If anyone who has been trying to get through the government, we all know how difficult it
29:24is.
29:24It's a system, it's a system which is there for us, but we have to beg, borrow steel to
29:29be heard, to, to do our, to get our work done.
29:32And the end number of rounds that you have done.
29:34Absolutely.
29:35And even if you make end number of nouns, you won't see the representatives there.
29:39That is what angers me.
29:41You are, you're sitting on your, you're not even on your seat, man.
29:44So, I was there with my little brother, so we were, I was like, chal, tujai collars
29:48tikhati ho, so I took him, I want him to be a part to see, so that he doesn't feel
29:53threatened
29:54when he grows up.
29:56So, it's a vast university, but it is so isolated that it's scary as a woman to be in the
30:02university.
30:02There are no carts to take you around.
30:05And I had to go from one tower to the other through, I don't know, some weird isolated
30:10lanes.
30:11I've been trying to call Mumbai University after my admission.
30:13I've paid the fees.
30:14They sent me an email very cleverly about the fees and the admissions.
30:18I paid it.
30:19And after that, since two weeks, I'm trying to get a hold of them.
30:23So, know what next?
30:24There is no confirmation of the admission through email yet.
30:28Online, it is there, but I need my student ID.
30:30I need my portal so that I can access my study material.
30:34The MIA can't get through the calls.
30:36The calls are busy.
30:37The calls are not available.
30:39Two weeks.
30:40And now the admissions are going to shut off.
30:42So, I don't know if my fees is going to go a waste or what's going to happen.
30:46So, in spite of the fact that, you know, you had gone for a protest, this entire thing
30:51is slightly hitting home as well with regards to the, you know, entrance that you have given,
30:58the graduation you have started, but it's really, you don't know where it's going.
31:02Do you intend to carry on with the protests if the system does not improve at any point?
31:08Absolutely.
31:08I have already sent out my emails to the High Court, to the Supreme Court, to the UN, every
31:13law body that I can think of.
31:15It's so shameful that the Chief Justice says he doesn't have time for these videos.
31:20He doesn't have, what does he have time for then?
31:23That's my question.
31:24That's it.
31:24I'll leave it there.
31:24What does he have time for?
31:27So, I am doing my bit.
31:28Everyone is doing their bit.
31:30If you are afraid to show up, it's totally understandable.
31:33And through this video, I did not expect to be the center of it.
31:36I did not expect it to, you know, go off like this, becoming like an Insta baddie or Patriot
31:42baddie or everything these people, they are comparing me with Rani Lakshmi, why?
31:48It's truly humbling and goose bumping to be honest.
31:54I'm nothing like her.
31:55I'm just a citizen of the nation who is trying to get her work done, man.
32:00And right now your demands are like with regards to NEAT paper leak itself or overall you want
32:08the system to be improved?
32:10What exactly is the demand?
32:11This is not just for the NEAT entrance examinations or the lives of the people lost till now, the
32:19students.
32:20This is about the farmers.
32:21This is about the women.
32:23This is about the Dalits, the Adivasis, the farmers.
32:25They are lying on their own chita.
32:28Can you imagine?
32:31If this doesn't boil your blood, then you are not an Indian.
32:36Bhagat Singh has said this.
32:37You must have seen Bhagat Singh Ji is like a picture poster for this entire thing because
32:44we all understand peaceful protest but we also know that awas important hai.
32:51Ham mohon vrat nahi rak sakte.
32:53Somebody had to go on a fast.
32:56Somebody also had to like indefinitely his fasting.
33:00Because you are not doing your job.
33:02At least, okay, you don't want to resign.
33:04Don't resign.
33:05Come and talk to the people.
33:07Come and talk.
33:08If we are wrong, what did our parents tell us if you are wrong.
33:11Tell us if you are wrong.
33:12It's okay.
33:13We won't do anything.
33:14It's okay.
33:14We won't do anything.
33:15Come tell us if you are wrong.
33:16You can tweet on Twitter but you can't come and talk to the students.
33:20You are free to move.
33:21The lack of conversation from the government is what really ignites this entire protest.
33:27Doesn't it?
33:28Doesn't it?
33:28To you, 12 years and more, the government, the ruling party hasn't spoken to the press yet.
33:34If you go to see abroad internationally, we keep comparing ourselves not because we are jealous
33:40but because we know what we lack and we want to change that.
33:4412 years is a long time to not have a free conversation with the press to the people.
33:56You want to meet him at some point.
34:01Absolutely.
34:02I want to meet him.
34:03What do you tell him?
34:04Sir.
34:04Please sir.
34:05Be a man.
34:08So that was Rhea who's of course become more famous already.
34:14She's been an actor, model, has been famous but then she's become more famous now after
34:20the entire viral videos of hers have gone from the protest site.
34:24With cameraman Kiran Sapkali in Mumbai, Vidya for India today.
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