Raveena Tandon backs student protests but warns of hijackers

When the news of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation broke, a flurry of reactions ran across Instagram, Twitter and the comment sections of daily newspapers. Among the voices joining the chorus was veteran actress Raveena Tandon, who posted a long‑form note that was at once celebratory and cautionary.

"I am happy and proud that our youth have finally managed to be heard," she wrote, her words echoing the jubilation felt on university campuses from Rishikesh to Mizoram. Tandon praised the way the protests rekindled hope, reminding young people that they still hold the power to shape India’s future.

She even drew a line between these student rallies and older environmental or wildlife campaigns, pointing out that many such movements have fizzled out when public attention waned. "The growing awareness about our planet and our education system should remain a collective responsibility," she added.

But the actress was quick to note that the picture isn’t all rosy. While lauding the disciplined demonstrations in Mizoram and several other states, she warned that in a few places the movement had been hijacked.

"There are hooligans, political groups and people who have come just to make reels," Tandon said, calling out the noisy fringe that, in her view, turned peaceful protests into scenes of vandalism and property damage. She suggested that many of the violent incidents were the work of outsiders rather than genuine students, and that such elements risked derailing an otherwise legitimate demand for change.

Despite these misgivings, Tandon concluded on an optimistic note. She believes the protests have already achieved a crucial goal – putting pressure on the government to rethink education policies, curb corruption and make quality learning more accessible.

"Jab padhega India, Badhega India," she signed off, a hopeful mantra that resonates with anyone who has ever believed in the transformative power of education.

The post sparked a mixed reaction online. Within minutes, the actress disabled comments on her Instagram post, perhaps to avoid the inevitable flood of heated debates. She also reshared a report claiming that eleven people arrested after the Kolkata protest violence were allegedly not students, underscoring her point about the presence of “unruly elements.”

Earlier, when Pradhan’s resignation first made headlines, Tandon had simply captioned a photo with, "The power of youth and revolution." She now joins a growing list of Bollywood personalities – from Alia Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra to Varun Dhawan and Vicky Kaushal – who have publicly voiced support for the student cause, recalling their earlier stand during the NEET‑UG paper‑leak protests.

Whether her words will inspire a cleaner, more focused movement remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that when a celebrated figure like Raveena Tandon steps into the arena, the conversation about student activism, education reform and the role of social media gains an extra layer of urgency.