August 9, 2026

Hemant Soren assures students on ‘transperancy and justice’ over alleged exam leaks NEW DELHI: Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Sunday urged youths protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment exams not to seek political patronage or allow their agitation to be politicised, saying dialogue, rather than batons, was the way to resolve issues.”Samvad and not ‘lathi-danda-bandook’ (dialogue, not batons), can solve all problems,” Soren said while addressing the Jharkhand Adivasi Mahotsav in Ranchi.”Weapons are meant for enemies at the border. I promise the exam protesters that justice will be delivered with full transparency,” the chief minister added.Soren further warned political parties and those with “political ambitions” against misleading the protesting youths through lies and misinformation.”The stir should not be politicised; I warn those harbouring political ambitions against misguiding youths,” he said.”I urge youths not to seek political patronage (for their stir); justice is your right,” Soren added.The chief minister said the concerns of the protesting students were also his own and assured them that those found guilty of irregularities would face strict action. “Those guilty of irregularities will face strict action. We caught theft, will deliver justice,” he said.Soren also alleged that vested interests were attempting to disrupt democracy in Jharkhand and accused rival political parties, apparently referring to the BJP, of trying to mislead the state’s youth.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe protests over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams entered their 16th day on Sunday, with six demonstrators on an indefinite hunger strike.A sixth round of talks between the state government and the agitators was held at the state guest house in Ranchi.The protesters are seeking reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), along with an independent probe into the alleged irregularities. They have demanded either a CBI investigation or an inquiry by a panel of retired high court judges from outside the state.Soren also referred to the protests over the NEET exam paper leak at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, saying, “All saw how youths were tortured, had to face pellet guns, baton charges, and were declared traitors.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBaramati Airfield Runway Excursion: Training Aircraft Veers Off Runway, No Injuries ReportedIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP Protests123PhotostoriesInside Kiku Sharda’s luxurious Mumbai home: Spacious balcony, elegant living room, and moreForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? Try these 5 simple parenting shiftsVitamin C from food vs supplements: Which gives you more and when taking extra may not help10 Indian states ranked highest for civic sense and responsible public behaviour; check if your state made it to the listHiccups that keep coming back? Doctor explains when they could signal a neurological problem5 foods packed with magnesium that can help support muscles, nerves and heart healthWhy you should add salt, not oil to pasta water: 6 common mistakes to avoid with pastaTaking vitamin D every day but still running low? Doctors explain what may be stopping your levels from rising12 traditional North Indian breakfast dishes that are a must-try123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingNashik EarthquakeUddhav ThackerayRaja RaghuvanshiBJP MLA Fake MarriagesDevendra FadnavisSiddhivinayak Temple donation theftDelhi Wife MurderAbhijeet DipkeTarun TejpalPraveen Nettaru Murder Case

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Hemant Soren assures students on ‘transperancy and justice’ over alleged exam leaks NEW DELHI: Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Sunday urged youths protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment exams not to seek political patronage or allow their agitation to be politicised, saying dialogue, rather than batons, was the way to resolve issues.”Samvad and not ‘lathi-danda-bandook’ (dialogue, not batons), can solve all problems,” Soren said while addressing the Jharkhand Adivasi Mahotsav in Ranchi.”Weapons are meant for enemies at the border. I promise the exam protesters that justice will be delivered with full transparency,” the chief minister added.Soren further warned political parties and those with “political ambitions” against misleading the protesting youths through lies and misinformation.”The stir should not be politicised; I warn those harbouring political ambitions against misguiding youths,” he said.”I urge youths not to seek political patronage (for their stir); justice is your right,” Soren added.The chief minister said the concerns of the protesting students were also his own and assured them that those found guilty of irregularities would face strict action. “Those guilty of irregularities will face strict action. We caught theft, will deliver justice,” he said.Soren also alleged that vested interests were attempting to disrupt democracy in Jharkhand and accused rival political parties, apparently referring to the BJP, of trying to mislead the state’s youth.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe protests over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams entered their 16th day on Sunday, with six demonstrators on an indefinite hunger strike.A sixth round of talks between the state government and the agitators was held at the state guest house in Ranchi.The protesters are seeking reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), along with an independent probe into the alleged irregularities. They have demanded either a CBI investigation or an inquiry by a panel of retired high court judges from outside the state.Soren also referred to the protests over the NEET exam paper leak at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, saying, “All saw how youths were tortured, had to face pellet guns, baton charges, and were declared traitors.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBaramati Airfield Runway Excursion: Training Aircraft Veers Off Runway, No Injuries ReportedIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP Protests123PhotostoriesInside Kiku Sharda’s luxurious Mumbai home: Spacious balcony, elegant living room, and moreForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? Try these 5 simple parenting shiftsVitamin C from food vs supplements: Which gives you more and when taking extra may not help10 Indian states ranked highest for civic sense and responsible public behaviour; check if your state made it to the listHiccups that keep coming back? Doctor explains when they could signal a neurological problem5 foods packed with magnesium that can help support muscles, nerves and heart healthWhy you should add salt, not oil to pasta water: 6 common mistakes to avoid with pastaTaking vitamin D every day but still running low? Doctors explain what may be stopping your levels from rising12 traditional North Indian breakfast dishes that are a must-try123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingNashik EarthquakeUddhav ThackerayRaja RaghuvanshiBJP MLA Fake MarriagesDevendra FadnavisSiddhivinayak Temple donation theftDelhi Wife MurderAbhijeet DipkeTarun TejpalPraveen Nettaru Murder Case


‘Dialogue, not batons’: Jharkhand CM Soren's message to youth protesting for 'justice' over exam leaks
Hemant Soren assures students on ‘transperancy and justice’ over alleged exam leaks

NEW DELHI: Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Sunday urged youths protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment exams not to seek political patronage or allow their agitation to be politicised, saying dialogue, rather than batons, was the way to resolve issues.“Samvad and not ‘lathi-danda-bandook’ (dialogue, not batons), can solve all problems,” Soren said while addressing the Jharkhand Adivasi Mahotsav in Ranchi.“Weapons are meant for enemies at the border. I promise the exam protesters that justice will be delivered with full transparency,” the chief minister added.Soren further warned political parties and those with “political ambitions” against misleading the protesting youths through lies and misinformation.“The stir should not be politicised; I warn those harbouring political ambitions against misguiding youths,” he said.“I urge youths not to seek political patronage (for their stir); justice is your right,” Soren added.The chief minister said the concerns of the protesting students were also his own and assured them that those found guilty of irregularities would face strict action. “Those guilty of irregularities will face strict action. We caught theft, will deliver justice,” he said.Soren also alleged that vested interests were attempting to disrupt democracy in Jharkhand and accused rival political parties, apparently referring to the BJP, of trying to mislead the state’s youth.

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Russian deputy PM Marat Khusnullin made the suggestion Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin has called on Moscow and New Delhi to explore the feasibility of a direct rail link to the Indian Ocean, aimed at reducing transit risks associated with the Bosphorus strait and Strait of Hormuz.“A rail link to the Indian Ocean should also be explored. Risks related to the Bosphorus and the Strait of Hormuz might require alternative routes: through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Any options providing access to India are acceptable,” Khusnullin was quoted as saying by TASS.The proposal comes amid disruptions to maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz following the escalation of hostilities between the US-Israel and Iran. On February 28, the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, targeting key urban centres, including Tehran. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets and US military bases across Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesTehran subsequently announced a maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz targeting vessels linked to the US, Israel and allied countries involved in the conflict. The strategic waterway handles around 20% of global oil trade and nearly 20% of worldwide LNG shipments.Meanwhile, Türkiye briefly restricted access to the Bosphorus strait following attacks on vessels in the strait, including Turkish-owned ships.Beyond international transport links, Khusnullin also highlighted the need for sustained investment in Russia’s construction sector. He said the industry currently has the capacity to absorb an additional one trillion rubles annually.“The construction industry is already capable of handling an additional one trillion rubles annually. However, if such a volume is secured for the next five years, it would be possible to expand capacity and build even more,” he added.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Shivling Beneath Darul Uloom Deoband’: Hindu Outfit Plans Ganga Water Offering At Islamic SeminaryBaramati Airfield Runway Excursion: Training Aircraft Veers Off Runway, No Injuries ReportedIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit123PhotostoriesWeekly Tarot Horoscope From August 9 to August 15, 2026 For Your Birth DateInside Kiku Sharda’s luxurious Mumbai home: Spacious balcony, elegant living room, and moreForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? Try these 5 simple parenting shiftsVitamin C from food vs supplements: Which gives you more and when taking extra may not help10 Indian states ranked highest for civic sense and responsible public behaviour; check if your state made it to the listHiccups that keep coming back? Doctor explains when they could signal a neurological problem5 foods packed with magnesium that can help support muscles, nerves and heart healthWhy you should add salt, not oil to pasta water: 6 common mistakes to avoid with pastaTaking vitamin D every day but still running low? Doctors explain what may be stopping your levels from rising123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingNashik EarthquakeUddhav ThackerayRaja RaghuvanshiBJP MLA Fake MarriagesDevendra FadnavisSiddhivinayak Temple donation theftDelhi Wife MurderAbhijeet DipkeTarun TejpalPraveen Nettaru Murder Case

Russian deputy PM Marat Khusnullin made the suggestion Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin has called on Moscow and New Delhi to explore the feasibility of a direct rail link to the Indian Ocean, aimed at reducing transit risks associated with the Bosphorus strait and Strait of Hormuz.“A rail link to the Indian Ocean should also be explored. Risks related to the Bosphorus and the Strait of Hormuz might require alternative routes: through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Any options providing access to India are acceptable,” Khusnullin was quoted as saying by TASS.The proposal comes amid disruptions to maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz following the escalation of hostilities between the US-Israel and Iran. On February 28, the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, targeting key urban centres, including Tehran. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets and US military bases across Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesTehran subsequently announced a maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz targeting vessels linked to the US, Israel and allied countries involved in the conflict. The strategic waterway handles around 20% of global oil trade and nearly 20% of worldwide LNG shipments.Meanwhile, Türkiye briefly restricted access to the Bosphorus strait following attacks on vessels in the strait, including Turkish-owned ships.Beyond international transport links, Khusnullin also highlighted the need for sustained investment in Russia’s construction sector. He said the industry currently has the capacity to absorb an additional one trillion rubles annually.“The construction industry is already capable of handling an additional one trillion rubles annually. However, if such a volume is secured for the next five years, it would be possible to expand capacity and build even more,” he added.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Shivling Beneath Darul Uloom Deoband’: Hindu Outfit Plans Ganga Water Offering At Islamic SeminaryBaramati Airfield Runway Excursion: Training Aircraft Veers Off Runway, No Injuries ReportedIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit123PhotostoriesWeekly Tarot Horoscope From August 9 to August 15, 2026 For Your Birth DateInside Kiku Sharda’s luxurious Mumbai home: Spacious balcony, elegant living room, and moreForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? Try these 5 simple parenting shiftsVitamin C from food vs supplements: Which gives you more and when taking extra may not help10 Indian states ranked highest for civic sense and responsible public behaviour; check if your state made it to the listHiccups that keep coming back? Doctor explains when they could signal a neurological problem5 foods packed with magnesium that can help support muscles, nerves and heart healthWhy you should add salt, not oil to pasta water: 6 common mistakes to avoid with pastaTaking vitamin D every day but still running low? Doctors explain what may be stopping your levels from rising123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingNashik EarthquakeUddhav ThackerayRaja RaghuvanshiBJP MLA Fake MarriagesDevendra FadnavisSiddhivinayak Temple donation theftDelhi Wife MurderAbhijeet DipkeTarun TejpalPraveen Nettaru Murder Case

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KC Venugopal (right) urges Congress leaders to be careful while speaking amid row over Shashi Tharoor’s CJP remarks (File photo) NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Sunday urged party leaders to “exercise caution” and avoid making remarks that could “please the BJP.”Venugopal was responding to questions about Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s comments suggesting that Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron Ki Goonj” student outreach programme had failed to resonate with Gen Z as much as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led protests. Watch ‘Did We Fail To Listen’: Tharoor Admits CJP Protest Resonated More Than Congress ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’“Even if Congress members do not always strictly abide by party frameworks or discipline, we must be careful to avoid making statements that merely appease the BJP. The BJP will be delighted if someone finds fault with Rahul Gandhi or says two negative things about him—it would be the happiest thing for them,” PTI quoted the Alappuzha MP as saying.However, Venugopal clarified that he did not believe Tharoor had made the remarks deliberately.“I have only seen his (Tharoor’s) statement reported by some media channels, as far as I know. I haven’t been able to hear exactly what he said. All of us should take care, whether knowingly or unknowingly—and I don’t believe he said it knowingly, nor is he likely to have said it intentionally—to refrain from making such remarks,” the senior Congress leader added.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesTharoor, while speaking at an event in Maharashtra on Friday, had replied in the affirmative when asked whether the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” programme had failed to resonate with young people as much as the CJP agitation, despite both raising similar issues.“Correct. And that’s why we need to ask ourselves what we failed to do,” the Thiruvananthapuram MP replied. “Did we fail to listen? Did we fail to tap into the old cliché of having our finger on the pulse of the people? Was our finger missing from the pulse of Gen Z? That’s something we really need to interrogate.”A day later, however, Tharoor criticised the media for allegedly interpreting his remarks as “an attack on my own party or its leadership.”He maintained that his comments were meant to stress the need for political parties to open their doors and create pathways for the next generation to play a greater role in shaping politics.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBaramati Airfield Runway Excursion: Training Aircraft Veers Off Runway, No Injuries ReportedIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP Protests123PhotostoriesWeekly Tarot Horoscope From August 9 to August 15, 2026 For Your Birth DateInside Kiku Sharda’s luxurious Mumbai home: Spacious balcony, elegant living room, and moreForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? 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KC Venugopal (right) urges Congress leaders to be careful while speaking amid row over Shashi Tharoor’s CJP remarks (File photo) NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Sunday urged party leaders to “exercise caution” and avoid making remarks that could “please the BJP.”Venugopal was responding to questions about Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s comments suggesting that Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron Ki Goonj” student outreach programme had failed to resonate with Gen Z as much as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led protests. Watch ‘Did We Fail To Listen’: Tharoor Admits CJP Protest Resonated More Than Congress ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’“Even if Congress members do not always strictly abide by party frameworks or discipline, we must be careful to avoid making statements that merely appease the BJP. The BJP will be delighted if someone finds fault with Rahul Gandhi or says two negative things about him—it would be the happiest thing for them,” PTI quoted the Alappuzha MP as saying.However, Venugopal clarified that he did not believe Tharoor had made the remarks deliberately.“I have only seen his (Tharoor’s) statement reported by some media channels, as far as I know. I haven’t been able to hear exactly what he said. All of us should take care, whether knowingly or unknowingly—and I don’t believe he said it knowingly, nor is he likely to have said it intentionally—to refrain from making such remarks,” the senior Congress leader added.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesTharoor, while speaking at an event in Maharashtra on Friday, had replied in the affirmative when asked whether the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” programme had failed to resonate with young people as much as the CJP agitation, despite both raising similar issues.“Correct. And that’s why we need to ask ourselves what we failed to do,” the Thiruvananthapuram MP replied. “Did we fail to listen? Did we fail to tap into the old cliché of having our finger on the pulse of the people? Was our finger missing from the pulse of Gen Z? That’s something we really need to interrogate.”A day later, however, Tharoor criticised the media for allegedly interpreting his remarks as “an attack on my own party or its leadership.”He maintained that his comments were meant to stress the need for political parties to open their doors and create pathways for the next generation to play a greater role in shaping politics.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBaramati Airfield Runway Excursion: Training Aircraft Veers Off Runway, No Injuries ReportedIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP Protests123PhotostoriesWeekly Tarot Horoscope From August 9 to August 15, 2026 For Your Birth DateInside Kiku Sharda’s luxurious Mumbai home: Spacious balcony, elegant living room, and moreForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? Try these 5 simple parenting shiftsVitamin C from food vs supplements: Which gives you more and when taking extra may not help10 Indian states ranked highest for civic sense and responsible public behaviour; check if your state made it to the listHiccups that keep coming back? Doctor explains when they could signal a neurological problem5 foods packed with magnesium that can help support muscles, nerves and heart healthWhy you should add salt, not oil to pasta water: 6 common mistakes to avoid with pastaTaking vitamin D every day but still running low? Doctors explain what may be stopping your levels from rising123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingNashik EarthquakeUddhav ThackerayRaja RaghuvanshiBJP MLA Fake MarriagesDevendra FadnavisSiddhivinayak Temple donation theftDelhi Wife MurderAbhijeet DipkeTarun TejpalPraveen Nettaru Murder Case

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Inside India’s complex journey from transplant registration to surgery For a patient facing end-stage organ failure, being told that a transplant may be required is only the beginning. The journey from a hospital referral to an actual transplant involves medical evaluation, registration, documentation, waitlist management, organ matching, allocation and, eventually, surgery and long-term follow-up.In India, the process is coordinated through a network involving the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), regional and state-level bodies, registered transplant hospitals and transplant coordinators.The scale of that system has changed sharply. In a February 2026 release, the Press Information Bureau said India recorded nearly 20,000 organ transplants in 2025, compared with fewer than 5,000 in 2013. More than 1,200 families donated the organs of loved ones after death in 2025, the release said.Yet the numbers tell only part of the story. Behind every transplant is a sequence that begins long before the surgeon enters the operating theatre — and, for the recipient, often long before an organ is ever offered. Notto’s says patients are evaluated by a multidisciplinary team, registered through a transplant centre, verified by the relevant allocation body and, once cleared, placed on the appropriate waiting list.The process starts at the transplant centreA patient with advanced organ failure is first referred to a licensed transplant centre. Doctors assess the underlying disease, the extent of organ damage and whether transplantation is medically appropriate.Not every patient with end-stage organ failure will necessarily be fit for transplantation.Talking about the initial evaluation before transplantation, Dr Manoj Gupta, senior director and HOD, liver transplant, Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, said, “It typically includes a review of the patient’s medical history, physical examination, blood and tissue tests, imaging, assessment of organ function, infection screening and evaluation of any underlying conditions. Eligibility is determined by several factors, including the patient’s overall health, the extent of organ failure, surgical suitability, the likelihood of benefiting from transplantation and the ability to adhere to the post-transplant treatment regimen.”However, other factors can also determine eligibility. Dr Goutham Kumar, consultant, HPB & liver transplant services, SPARSH Hospital, added that eligibility also depends on the “absence of absolute contraindications, including active systemic infections, untreated malignancies, severe substance abuse or irreversible co-morbidities.”The hospital and transplant coordinator then compile the information required for registration.Once the application is accepted, the patient’s details enter the relevant transplant registry and waiting list. The waiting period can range from the same day to several years.What being on the waiting list actually meansBeing on a transplant waiting list is not simply being in a queue. Notto says patients are listed according to medical criteria, with regular and urgent categories, while priority varies by organ. For kidney transplants, time on regular dialysis is among the factors considered; other organs follow different criteria.Dr Kumar explains how these organ-specific criteria work in practice, “Liver allocation often uses the MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) score, while heart allocations prioritize patients on mechanical support. Pediatric patients and high-urgency acute cases frequently receive priority.”Notto’s manual also provides for urgent or “Priority One” categories for patients meeting organ-specific requirements. Such cases may be reviewed by an expert committee before priority is granted, with hospitals required to provide regular clinical updates.Registration does not freeze a patient’s status. Their medical condition continues to be monitored and records updated. Depending on their health, a patient may remain active, be made inactive or become medically unfit for transplantation.Live Kidneys lead India’s transplant numbersWhen a donor organ becomes availableThe next turn in the journey comes when an organ becomes available. It may come from a living donor, commonly a kidney or part of a liver, or from a deceased donor after certified brain-stem death. At that point, Organ India says, “the transplant coordinator of the hospital will counsel the family and give them the option of donating organs and tissues.”The next of kin must consent before retrieval. That makes a donor pledge only at the beginning of the conversation. Organ India puts it plainly: “In India it’s more important to talk to your family about your decision than it is to pledge your organs and get a donor card.”Once a donor organ is identified, a rapid, highly coordinated race against time begins. Blood group compatibility and cross-matching are verified between the donor and potential recipient, while the organ is assessed for suitability.Dr Kumar explains, “A surgical retrieval team harvests the organ and preservation solution is administered. Transport logistics—often utilising dedicated ‘green corridors’ or air transport—are activated to move the organ immediately.”The recipient is called to the hospital, re-evaluated and prepared for surgery, with the surgical team ready to proceed as soon as the donor organ arrives.From brain-stem death to retrievalA deceased donor is medically maintained while permissions and retrieval arrangements are completed, helping preserve viable organs until they can be recovered. Once retrieved, however, the clock begins to run: each organ has a limited preservation window.4–6 hours for heart and lungs, 6–10 hours for intestine, 12–15 hours for liver, 12–24 hours for pancreas and 24–48 hours for kidneysCost remains another major barrier to transplantation in India. Dr Kumar said the “initial surgical costs range from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 35 lakh depending on the organ (kidney vs. liver/heart) and hospital sector (public vs. private).” But the financial burden does not end with the operation. Lifelong immunosuppressants, anti-rejection treatment and “regular diagnostic monitoring add Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 monthly.”That narrow window makes allocation a tightly coordinated process. Organs are assessed, potential recipients identified and transport arranged.India’s transplant numbers are risingThe national system has expanded significantly over the past decade.The ministry said more than 1,200 families came forward to donate the organs of loved ones after death in 2025.”More than 4.8 lakh citizens have registered to donate organs and tissues after death through a Aadhaar based verification system, since 17th September 2023,” the PIB release said.The release also said India had developed expertise in complex heart, lung and pancreas transplants and claimed the country “leads the world in hands transplants and performs a greater number of hand transplants than any other country.”The government said the increase reflected improvements in deceased donation, transplant coordination and national organ sharing.The gap between demand and supply remainsEven after surgery, the process continues. Recipients need lifelong follow-up and immunosuppressive medication, which can also carry long-term risks.Dr Jagriti Yadav, medical director – lab operations, Cryoviva Life Sciences, said, “The major long-term risks include acute or chronic graft rejection, opportunistic infections, cardiovascular complications, kidney toxicity, and metabolic side effects related to immunosuppressive medicines.”The increase in transplant numbers has not eliminated the shortage of organs.How India’s transplant numbers have surgedA 2024 article published in the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed Central noted that India was performing around 17,000-18,000 solid organ transplants a year, making it the world’s third-largest transplant country by volume after the United States and China, while transplant rates per million population remained lower than in several high-income countries.Organ India’s data and awareness material has similarly highlighted the disparity between the number of patients requiring organs and the number of deceased donors available. The organisation has estimated that India has a large pool of potential brain-stem-death donors but a much smaller number of actual deceased donors.For a patient on a waiting list, that gap translates into uncertainty: being medically eligible and registered does not guarantee that a suitable organ will become available in time.Delhi remains one of the country’s major transplant centres.The Delhi government’s organ-donation portal provides information on registered hospitals and transplant services and operates under the Health & Family Welfare Department and the State Appropriate Authority. The department’s published information lists registered facilities for kidney, liver, heart, lung and pancreas transplantation, as well as eye and cornea services.Foreign recipients are also part of the systemIndia’s transplant system also treats foreign nationals, subject to additional safeguards. Government guidance says an Indian living donor may donate to a foreign recipient only if they are near relatives; donors must be at least 18, with medical-visa and registration requirements applicable to both parties.Data shows organ transplants for foreign recipients in IndiaIn 2023, India recorded 18,378 transplants and 18,336 individual recipients, including 1,851 foreign nationals, according to Notto data reported in 2024. Delhi recorded the highest number involving foreign recipients at 1,445, followed by Rajasthan at 116 and West Bengal at 88. Only nine involved unrelated deceased-donor organs.For a transplant recipient, perhaps the least visible part of the process is the period between registration and an organ offer.During this period, the patient’s condition can change. Tests may have to be repeated, treatment may need adjustment and the transplant centre may update the patient’s status on the registry.The patient therefore remains under the care of the transplant team while the allocation system searches for a medically suitable organ.Notto says special requests do not guarantee an immediate organ or override the established rules for matching and allocation.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe next stage is a more connected transplant systemIndia’s transplant system is becoming more digitally connected, with national coordination and data-sharing expanding alongside transplant numbers. Aadhaar-verified donation registrations crossed 4.8 lakh, while nearly 20,000 transplants were recorded in 2025.The next challenge is ensuring potential donors are identified, families counselled and organs retrieved, transported and allocated efficiently. For recipients, that means staying medically fit, updating the transplant centre and following clinical advice.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorSubhadra SrivastavaSubhadra Srivastava is a journalist with The Times of India, covering geopolitics, international and national affairs. With over three years of experience, she focuses on national and global developments, conflict, diplomacy and their impact on India. Her work combines breaking news with in-depth analysis, offering readers context and clarity on the stories shaping the world.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBaramati Airfield Runway Excursion: Training Aircraft Veers Off Runway, No Injuries ReportedIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP Protests123PhotostoriesInside Kiku Sharda’s luxurious Mumbai home: Spacious balcony, elegant living room, and moreForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? 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Inside India’s complex journey from transplant registration to surgery For a patient facing end-stage organ failure, being told that a transplant may be required is only the beginning. The journey from a hospital referral to an actual transplant involves medical evaluation, registration, documentation, waitlist management, organ matching, allocation and, eventually, surgery and long-term follow-up.In India, the process is coordinated through a network involving the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), regional and state-level bodies, registered transplant hospitals and transplant coordinators.The scale of that system has changed sharply. In a February 2026 release, the Press Information Bureau said India recorded nearly 20,000 organ transplants in 2025, compared with fewer than 5,000 in 2013. More than 1,200 families donated the organs of loved ones after death in 2025, the release said.Yet the numbers tell only part of the story. Behind every transplant is a sequence that begins long before the surgeon enters the operating theatre — and, for the recipient, often long before an organ is ever offered. Notto’s says patients are evaluated by a multidisciplinary team, registered through a transplant centre, verified by the relevant allocation body and, once cleared, placed on the appropriate waiting list.The process starts at the transplant centreA patient with advanced organ failure is first referred to a licensed transplant centre. Doctors assess the underlying disease, the extent of organ damage and whether transplantation is medically appropriate.Not every patient with end-stage organ failure will necessarily be fit for transplantation.Talking about the initial evaluation before transplantation, Dr Manoj Gupta, senior director and HOD, liver transplant, Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, said, “It typically includes a review of the patient’s medical history, physical examination, blood and tissue tests, imaging, assessment of organ function, infection screening and evaluation of any underlying conditions. Eligibility is determined by several factors, including the patient’s overall health, the extent of organ failure, surgical suitability, the likelihood of benefiting from transplantation and the ability to adhere to the post-transplant treatment regimen.”However, other factors can also determine eligibility. Dr Goutham Kumar, consultant, HPB & liver transplant services, SPARSH Hospital, added that eligibility also depends on the “absence of absolute contraindications, including active systemic infections, untreated malignancies, severe substance abuse or irreversible co-morbidities.”The hospital and transplant coordinator then compile the information required for registration.Once the application is accepted, the patient’s details enter the relevant transplant registry and waiting list. The waiting period can range from the same day to several years.What being on the waiting list actually meansBeing on a transplant waiting list is not simply being in a queue. Notto says patients are listed according to medical criteria, with regular and urgent categories, while priority varies by organ. For kidney transplants, time on regular dialysis is among the factors considered; other organs follow different criteria.Dr Kumar explains how these organ-specific criteria work in practice, “Liver allocation often uses the MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) score, while heart allocations prioritize patients on mechanical support. Pediatric patients and high-urgency acute cases frequently receive priority.”Notto’s manual also provides for urgent or “Priority One” categories for patients meeting organ-specific requirements. Such cases may be reviewed by an expert committee before priority is granted, with hospitals required to provide regular clinical updates.Registration does not freeze a patient’s status. Their medical condition continues to be monitored and records updated. Depending on their health, a patient may remain active, be made inactive or become medically unfit for transplantation.Live Kidneys lead India’s transplant numbersWhen a donor organ becomes availableThe next turn in the journey comes when an organ becomes available. It may come from a living donor, commonly a kidney or part of a liver, or from a deceased donor after certified brain-stem death. At that point, Organ India says, “the transplant coordinator of the hospital will counsel the family and give them the option of donating organs and tissues.”The next of kin must consent before retrieval. That makes a donor pledge only at the beginning of the conversation. Organ India puts it plainly: “In India it’s more important to talk to your family about your decision than it is to pledge your organs and get a donor card.”Once a donor organ is identified, a rapid, highly coordinated race against time begins. Blood group compatibility and cross-matching are verified between the donor and potential recipient, while the organ is assessed for suitability.Dr Kumar explains, “A surgical retrieval team harvests the organ and preservation solution is administered. Transport logistics—often utilising dedicated ‘green corridors’ or air transport—are activated to move the organ immediately.”The recipient is called to the hospital, re-evaluated and prepared for surgery, with the surgical team ready to proceed as soon as the donor organ arrives.From brain-stem death to retrievalA deceased donor is medically maintained while permissions and retrieval arrangements are completed, helping preserve viable organs until they can be recovered. Once retrieved, however, the clock begins to run: each organ has a limited preservation window.4–6 hours for heart and lungs, 6–10 hours for intestine, 12–15 hours for liver, 12–24 hours for pancreas and 24–48 hours for kidneysCost remains another major barrier to transplantation in India. Dr Kumar said the “initial surgical costs range from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 35 lakh depending on the organ (kidney vs. liver/heart) and hospital sector (public vs. private).” But the financial burden does not end with the operation. Lifelong immunosuppressants, anti-rejection treatment and “regular diagnostic monitoring add Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 monthly.”That narrow window makes allocation a tightly coordinated process. Organs are assessed, potential recipients identified and transport arranged.India’s transplant numbers are risingThe national system has expanded significantly over the past decade.The ministry said more than 1,200 families came forward to donate the organs of loved ones after death in 2025.”More than 4.8 lakh citizens have registered to donate organs and tissues after death through a Aadhaar based verification system, since 17th September 2023,” the PIB release said.The release also said India had developed expertise in complex heart, lung and pancreas transplants and claimed the country “leads the world in hands transplants and performs a greater number of hand transplants than any other country.”The government said the increase reflected improvements in deceased donation, transplant coordination and national organ sharing.The gap between demand and supply remainsEven after surgery, the process continues. Recipients need lifelong follow-up and immunosuppressive medication, which can also carry long-term risks.Dr Jagriti Yadav, medical director – lab operations, Cryoviva Life Sciences, said, “The major long-term risks include acute or chronic graft rejection, opportunistic infections, cardiovascular complications, kidney toxicity, and metabolic side effects related to immunosuppressive medicines.”The increase in transplant numbers has not eliminated the shortage of organs.How India’s transplant numbers have surgedA 2024 article published in the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed Central noted that India was performing around 17,000-18,000 solid organ transplants a year, making it the world’s third-largest transplant country by volume after the United States and China, while transplant rates per million population remained lower than in several high-income countries.Organ India’s data and awareness material has similarly highlighted the disparity between the number of patients requiring organs and the number of deceased donors available. The organisation has estimated that India has a large pool of potential brain-stem-death donors but a much smaller number of actual deceased donors.For a patient on a waiting list, that gap translates into uncertainty: being medically eligible and registered does not guarantee that a suitable organ will become available in time.Delhi remains one of the country’s major transplant centres.The Delhi government’s organ-donation portal provides information on registered hospitals and transplant services and operates under the Health & Family Welfare Department and the State Appropriate Authority. The department’s published information lists registered facilities for kidney, liver, heart, lung and pancreas transplantation, as well as eye and cornea services.Foreign recipients are also part of the systemIndia’s transplant system also treats foreign nationals, subject to additional safeguards. Government guidance says an Indian living donor may donate to a foreign recipient only if they are near relatives; donors must be at least 18, with medical-visa and registration requirements applicable to both parties.Data shows organ transplants for foreign recipients in IndiaIn 2023, India recorded 18,378 transplants and 18,336 individual recipients, including 1,851 foreign nationals, according to Notto data reported in 2024. Delhi recorded the highest number involving foreign recipients at 1,445, followed by Rajasthan at 116 and West Bengal at 88. Only nine involved unrelated deceased-donor organs.For a transplant recipient, perhaps the least visible part of the process is the period between registration and an organ offer.During this period, the patient’s condition can change. Tests may have to be repeated, treatment may need adjustment and the transplant centre may update the patient’s status on the registry.The patient therefore remains under the care of the transplant team while the allocation system searches for a medically suitable organ.Notto says special requests do not guarantee an immediate organ or override the established rules for matching and allocation.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe next stage is a more connected transplant systemIndia’s transplant system is becoming more digitally connected, with national coordination and data-sharing expanding alongside transplant numbers. Aadhaar-verified donation registrations crossed 4.8 lakh, while nearly 20,000 transplants were recorded in 2025.The next challenge is ensuring potential donors are identified, families counselled and organs retrieved, transported and allocated efficiently. For recipients, that means staying medically fit, updating the transplant centre and following clinical advice.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorSubhadra SrivastavaSubhadra Srivastava is a journalist with The Times of India, covering geopolitics, international and national affairs. With over three years of experience, she focuses on national and global developments, conflict, diplomacy and their impact on India. Her work combines breaking news with in-depth analysis, offering readers context and clarity on the stories shaping the world.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBaramati Airfield Runway Excursion: Training Aircraft Veers Off Runway, No Injuries ReportedIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP Protests123PhotostoriesInside Kiku Sharda’s luxurious Mumbai home: Spacious balcony, elegant living room, and moreForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? 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Doctors explain what may be stopping your levels from rising12 traditional North Indian breakfast dishes that are a must-try123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingNashik EarthquakeUddhav ThackerayRaja RaghuvanshiBJP MLA Fake MarriagesDevendra FadnavisSiddhivinayak Temple donation theftDelhi Wife MurderAbhijeet DipkeTarun TejpalPraveen Nettaru Murder Case

Vamsikrishna 0
Shoeshine boy outside schoolIn 1959, on his first day to school as a five-and-a-half-year-old in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, Kailash Satyarthi (he was Sharma then) spotted a shoeshine boy sitting quietly outside the gate. Curious and confused, he asked a teacher, “Why is a child sitting outside the school?” He was told that it is not uncommon for poor kids to work.Satyarthi was not satisfied. Every day, he would see the boy, roughly his own age, sit there with his father until one day he gathered courage and asked his father why his son was not at school. The man spoke with a deep hopelessness, recalls Satyarthi. He said, “Babu, school jaane ke liye aap log to hain. Hum to yehi kaam karne ke liye paida hote hain (There are people like you who go to school. We are born to do this kind of work).”As a child, Satyarthi felt there was something wrong in this, but he couldn’t understand what. “I was taught that God has made us all equal. Why this inequality, I wondered,” he recalls.This encounter gave him a different perspective on life at a very early age.Friend who dropped outSatyarthi was just 11 when he found that his best friend and some other students had stopped attending classes in the new session. He was told that such dropouts happened because the poor could not afford even nominal fees and textbooks.Satyarthi wanted to do something. He got an idea and shared it with a friend. “My father had given me some money to buy sweets after I had cleared the examination. We went to a vegetable vendor, gave him the money and rented his pushcart,” he says.They went around the neighbourhood, urging people to donate the used books of their children, so that the needy could use them. “Within a few hours, the cart was full and we had to take a second turn. We collected 2,300 books that day,” he remembers.Soon, another idea — a permanent book bank for needy kids — was born, in which even headmasters and bookstore owners joined in. About 10,000 books were collected.Decades later, when Satyarthi went to Vidisha after winning the Nobel in 2014, he heard someone call out his name during an open-jeep parade. “The gentleman said, ‘I am a retired headmaster. I had almost quit my studies due to lack of money. But your book bank initiative allowed me to continue’,” Satyarthi recalls.It was quite a moment for both.Wasal Khan and SaboAt 27, Satyarthi had started a journal, ‘Sangharsh Jaari Rahega’, which spoke up for the marginalised and oppressed. The office was near Mandi House in central Delhi. One day, a sickly person in a lungi knocked on his door and passed out after a few words. He was carrying a copy of the magazine.When he regained consciousness, the man started whimpering, “Babuji, please save my daughter.” His name was Wasal Khan. Over the next few minutes, he poured out his life story. His wife and he were lured away from a village in Aligarh district, taken to Punjab’s Sirhind, where they had been enslaved in a brick kiln for 17 years. They worked without pay, given just food and used clothes to wear. “He said the owners were planning to sell Sabo, his 15-year-old daughter, to brothel agents from Delhi,” says Satyarthi. Wasal had escaped on the back of a truck and reached Chandigarh, where a magazine subscriber had given him an old copy and asked to go to Delhi for help.Satyarthi was faced with a tough choice: write an article or take action. He opted for the latter. He organised a truck and, on reaching the spot, he and his friends from Punjab — one of them had a camera — boldly told the lone gun-wielding chowkidar that they were journalists from Delhi. The watchman ran away. “We were about to leave with 36 men, women, and children when a police jeep arrived with the owners. They started slapping us and forcing the labourers to get down from the truck,” Satyarthi recalls. The truck driver had run away. Satyarthi and his friends too had to flee. “Our slippers were lost, our clothes torn.”Somehow they reached Chandigarh and then Delhi. “They had taken away the camera. But two reels, which vividly captured the labourers on camera, were with us. We had good evidence,” he says. Satyarthi approached Swami Agnivesh and, through him, renowned lawyer Gobinda Mukhoty, who filed a habeas corpus petition in Delhi high court. Since nobody knew the name of the brick kiln owners, a notice was sent to Punjab Police and the state.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines Eventually, Wasal Khan, Sabo and the rest were produced in court and freed.The children, who had grown up inside the brick kiln, had no idea of life outside. “As we walked from the high court towards our office, they were jumping like frogs released from a bucket, oblivious to the traffic. That day, I realised what true freedom really meant. I could feel God in their joy. We also knew this was the field where we have to work. Over the decades, our organisation, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, has rescued over 1,40,000 men, women and children,” he says.Compassion and AI ethicsThis is the age of AI and Satyarthi believes that technology should factor in compassion (karuna), which he defines as “a force born from feeling the suffering of others and drives us to take action.” Satyarthi feels that AI technology must be governed by a sense of responsibility during its designing, development and deployment. “AI should have a moral compass. It cannot just be profit-hungry,” he says.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAvijit GhoshAvijit Ghosh is an associate editor with The Times of India. He is addicted to films, music, cricket and football—and not necessarily in that order. He is the author of Bandicoots in the Moonlight, Cinema Bhojpuri, 40 Retakes, and now, Up Campus, Down Campus, a novel set in 1980s JNU. He tweets from the handle @cinemawaleghosh. Click here to access more articles from the author.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP ProtestsKashmir Tourist Security To Get Major Upgrade With CCTV, Command Centres And Security Audits123PhotostoriesForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? 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Shoeshine boy outside schoolIn 1959, on his first day to school as a five-and-a-half-year-old in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, Kailash Satyarthi (he was Sharma then) spotted a shoeshine boy sitting quietly outside the gate. Curious and confused, he asked a teacher, “Why is a child sitting outside the school?” He was told that it is not uncommon for poor kids to work.Satyarthi was not satisfied. Every day, he would see the boy, roughly his own age, sit there with his father until one day he gathered courage and asked his father why his son was not at school. The man spoke with a deep hopelessness, recalls Satyarthi. He said, “Babu, school jaane ke liye aap log to hain. Hum to yehi kaam karne ke liye paida hote hain (There are people like you who go to school. We are born to do this kind of work).”As a child, Satyarthi felt there was something wrong in this, but he couldn’t understand what. “I was taught that God has made us all equal. Why this inequality, I wondered,” he recalls.This encounter gave him a different perspective on life at a very early age.Friend who dropped outSatyarthi was just 11 when he found that his best friend and some other students had stopped attending classes in the new session. He was told that such dropouts happened because the poor could not afford even nominal fees and textbooks.Satyarthi wanted to do something. He got an idea and shared it with a friend. “My father had given me some money to buy sweets after I had cleared the examination. We went to a vegetable vendor, gave him the money and rented his pushcart,” he says.They went around the neighbourhood, urging people to donate the used books of their children, so that the needy could use them. “Within a few hours, the cart was full and we had to take a second turn. We collected 2,300 books that day,” he remembers.Soon, another idea — a permanent book bank for needy kids — was born, in which even headmasters and bookstore owners joined in. About 10,000 books were collected.Decades later, when Satyarthi went to Vidisha after winning the Nobel in 2014, he heard someone call out his name during an open-jeep parade. “The gentleman said, ‘I am a retired headmaster. I had almost quit my studies due to lack of money. But your book bank initiative allowed me to continue’,” Satyarthi recalls.It was quite a moment for both.Wasal Khan and SaboAt 27, Satyarthi had started a journal, ‘Sangharsh Jaari Rahega’, which spoke up for the marginalised and oppressed. The office was near Mandi House in central Delhi. One day, a sickly person in a lungi knocked on his door and passed out after a few words. He was carrying a copy of the magazine.When he regained consciousness, the man started whimpering, “Babuji, please save my daughter.” His name was Wasal Khan. Over the next few minutes, he poured out his life story. His wife and he were lured away from a village in Aligarh district, taken to Punjab’s Sirhind, where they had been enslaved in a brick kiln for 17 years. They worked without pay, given just food and used clothes to wear. “He said the owners were planning to sell Sabo, his 15-year-old daughter, to brothel agents from Delhi,” says Satyarthi. Wasal had escaped on the back of a truck and reached Chandigarh, where a magazine subscriber had given him an old copy and asked to go to Delhi for help.Satyarthi was faced with a tough choice: write an article or take action. He opted for the latter. He organised a truck and, on reaching the spot, he and his friends from Punjab — one of them had a camera — boldly told the lone gun-wielding chowkidar that they were journalists from Delhi. The watchman ran away. “We were about to leave with 36 men, women, and children when a police jeep arrived with the owners. They started slapping us and forcing the labourers to get down from the truck,” Satyarthi recalls. The truck driver had run away. Satyarthi and his friends too had to flee. “Our slippers were lost, our clothes torn.”Somehow they reached Chandigarh and then Delhi. “They had taken away the camera. But two reels, which vividly captured the labourers on camera, were with us. We had good evidence,” he says. Satyarthi approached Swami Agnivesh and, through him, renowned lawyer Gobinda Mukhoty, who filed a habeas corpus petition in Delhi high court. Since nobody knew the name of the brick kiln owners, a notice was sent to Punjab Police and the state.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines Eventually, Wasal Khan, Sabo and the rest were produced in court and freed.The children, who had grown up inside the brick kiln, had no idea of life outside. “As we walked from the high court towards our office, they were jumping like frogs released from a bucket, oblivious to the traffic. That day, I realised what true freedom really meant. I could feel God in their joy. We also knew this was the field where we have to work. Over the decades, our organisation, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, has rescued over 1,40,000 men, women and children,” he says.Compassion and AI ethicsThis is the age of AI and Satyarthi believes that technology should factor in compassion (karuna), which he defines as “a force born from feeling the suffering of others and drives us to take action.” Satyarthi feels that AI technology must be governed by a sense of responsibility during its designing, development and deployment. “AI should have a moral compass. It cannot just be profit-hungry,” he says.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAvijit GhoshAvijit Ghosh is an associate editor with The Times of India. He is addicted to films, music, cricket and football—and not necessarily in that order. He is the author of Bandicoots in the Moonlight, Cinema Bhojpuri, 40 Retakes, and now, Up Campus, Down Campus, a novel set in 1980s JNU. He tweets from the handle @cinemawaleghosh. Click here to access more articles from the author.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIN-SPACe Moves To Privatise Operations Of Rs 986-Crore Kulasekarapattinam SpaceportAir India Phuket-Delhi Flight Captain Reportedly Fails Dope Test After Turbulence IncidentSavarkar Quiz Question Sparks Political Row In Kerala; Education Department Orders InquiryWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP ProtestsKashmir Tourist Security To Get Major Upgrade With CCTV, Command Centres And Security Audits123PhotostoriesForget momo: Try these traditional steamed regional delicacies from Indian statesWant your child to actually tell you about school? 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