A letter to the prime minister

Hon’ble Prime Minister

I write to you with a deep sense of disappointment, urgency and hope. While the matter may appear trivial at first glance, the incident carries wider implications for governance, civic responsibility and the trust of our youth in Indian institutions. I therefore request your kind attention and necessary directions to concerned ministries and agencies.

Background

The Common Admission Test (CAT), conducted this year by IIM Kozhikode, is one of India’s most prestigious entrance examinations. Last Sunday, I accompanied my daughter to her designated test center in North Delhi (Indraprastha Public School, Rajeev Nagar, Begumpur – 110086). The center was located inside a narrow by-lane of a regularized unauthorized colony, with examinees—many of whom had travelled over 50 km—reporting as early as 7:30 AM for the 8:30–10:30 AM session.

More than 500 aspirants appeared, spanning diverse socio-economic backgrounds. The accompanying parents included professionals, teachers, bureaucrats, senior citizens, and women.

Routine civic failures

The approach road was broken and congested, causing a 30-minute delay for a 1 km stretch. There were no basic amenities—parking, seating, drinking water, or usable toilets. The school toilets were unhygienic and effectively unusable.

Unfortunately, such civic and administrative apathy has become normalized. Citizens have grown accustomed to these conditions and seldom complain. This, however, is not the core issue I wish to raise.

Deeper concerns: corruption, empathy deficit & opportunism

This experience exposed three distressing patterns that are eroding public trust, especially among the youth.

Blatant corruption

At the gate, security guards insisted that every candidate carry an additional passport-size photograph identical to the one uploaded during the application. This requirement appeared nowhere in the official communication from IIM Kozhikode, which sent multiple detailed emails to candidates beforehand.

Parents and students—many having travelled long distances—were rudely told they would be barred from writing the exam. Panic ensued. Conveniently, two local shops were open at 7 AM offering instant photographs at inflated prices. Once inside the hall, candidates were told that no such requirement existed. The collusion between the gate staff and shopkeepers was evident.

Lack of empathy and disrespect

The behavior of the staff was discourteous and distrustful. Every candidate was treated as a potential cheat. Girls wearing earrings had adhesive tape pasted on their ears. Examinees were asked to remove their footwear and socks despite cold weather and dirty floors. Parents were spoken to rudely and made to stand for hours along filthy, broken streets without any basic civic facilities.

Rampant opportunism

Local shopkeepers and households charged examinees and parents for basic conveniences—₹100 for storing bags or phones, ₹50 per hour just to sit. Ideally, the exam centre should offer storage facilities, and culturally, residents could extend basic courtesy. Instead, everyone seemed eager to monetise the situation.

The larger problem

This incident highlights two serious issues with long-term implications:

·         Future managers and professionals—today’s aspirants—chose not to raise their voice.

Their silence reflects resignation: a belief that enduring dysfunction is part of life here and that success lies in leaving the country. This disillusionment robs India of its brightest minds.

·         Parents, including professionals and bureaucrats, expressed a desire for their children to exit this corrupt, apathetic environment at the earliest.

This reflects a painful loss of faith—not only in institutions but in the idea of India as a place where their children can thrive.

Hon’ble Prime Minister, you once observed abroad that in the past many Indians felt unfortunate to be born in their own country. It is disheartening that such sentiments still persist among our youth and their families.

Request for intervention

India cannot afford to alienate its talent pool. Our youth must feel valued, respected, and confident in the systems that shape their future. This requires not just administrative correction, but a shift in mindset at every level—examination authorities, civic bodies, and local enforcement.

I earnestly request your intervention to ensure strict oversight; accountability for unethical practices, and basic civic standards in all public services. We also need to develop a culture of empathy, integrity, and public service in institutions that interface with our young citizens.

As the head of a nation of 1.48 billion, your leadership can set the tone for restoring trust, dignity, and aspiration among India’s youth. We must treat our talent as our most precious national asset. I cannot emphasize more that we need this talent pool more than anyone else in the world and we are competing with the developed world to retain our talent pool.

I remain hopeful that corrective action will be taken so that such experiences do not discourage or disillusion the next generation.

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