Students of Jharkhand, protesting against alleged irregularities in state level recruitment exams have swapped controversial slogans for poetry, satire and striking visual messages, turning their agitation into a creative display of dissent and anger. 

At Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in state capital Ranchi, protestors have put up everything on display; from a mock government ‘job rate card’ and a weighing scale laden with bundles resembling currency notes to verses from the Mahabharata, using symbolism and humour to underscore what they allege are serious flaws in competitive exams, a report by news agency PTI claimed. 

‘Jobs for sale’ rate card becomes focal point 

One of the most eye-catching displays at the protest is a fictional ‘Naukri Bikri Kendra,’ or ‘Centre for Sale of Jobs.’ Its tongue-in-cheek rate car lists 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.

Another poster features the Chief Minister (CM) of the state, Hemant Soren, alongside a fictional ‘Mukhyamantri Seat Bachao Yojana,’ accompanied by the sarcastic line: “Payment Karo Aaram Se, Naukri Pao Samman Se.”

Some protestors, meanwhile, have also used dark humour to drive home their message. One placard depicts an apparent judge examining a document through a microscope, with a sarcastic caption suggesting that the microscope was so powerful that the evidence itself disappeared. 

Mahabharata verses reflect students’ struggle

Poetry has added to the creativity of the demonstrators, who have pulled out all the stops to express their dissent. Students have been reciting lines from Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s celebrated work ‘Rashmirathi,’ particularly the section, ‘Krishna Ki Chetavani.’

They drew parallels between the Pandavas’ prolonged hardship and their own struggles as they prepared for competitive examinations amid uncertainty over recruitment and appointments. 

Among the verses being recited are:

“Varsho tak van mein ghoom-ghoom, baadha-vighno ko choom-choom, sah dhoop-gham, paani, patthar, Pandav aaye kuchh aur nikhar.” One of the protestors, named Vivek, has chosen a more direct form of expression, wearing a white T-shirt emblazoned with the words, “The system has failed us.” Another display shows a girl bowing before a large cut-out of late JMM founder Shibu Soren, appealing to his son and current CM of the state, Hemant Soren to take action against the ones subjecting the students to injustice. 

Protestors demand probe into recruitment exams

The protestors did not even spare JMM Central spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya and his wife, who had been appointed as a JPSC member. One questions how candidates can expect a fair examination process at JPSC when the wife of a friend and party leader has been appointed to the commission.

Another placard sums up the protestors’ demand bluntly: “We neither demand coal mines, nor the post of an MLA; we want cancellation of JSSC/JPSC paper.”

Political messaging also surfaced at the protests, with a poster created by the BJP and apparently taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi read, ““Kab aaoge mere Rahul, tumhe Jharkhand bulata hai?”

Notably, the protesters are demanding cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination and an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. They have sought a probe either by the CBI or by a panel of retired high court judges from outside Jharkhand.

Led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, the agitation entered its 16th day on Sunday.