Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday shared a message on his social media platforms, stressing that society must work towards protecting the dreams and aspirations of children. His remarks come amid student protests in Delhi and Mumbai over the alleged NEET paper leak.
Reflecting on a lesson from his late father, the former Indian cricketer wrote, “My father was a professor. He was a mentor and guide to many young students. One lesson that he instilled early on was, 'Failure is okay, cheating is not. Never take shortcuts.'” Tendulkar further said, “As adults in society, we have the responsibility of shaping culture. A society which prioritises outcomes over effort will seek shortcuts over meritocracy.”
HeFondly called ‘Master Blaster’, Tendulkar went on to say that it is understandable that students are disappointed that their hard work has not been rewarded. He also stressed that we must create a culture where hard work is rewarded, honesty is encouraged, and merit wins.
“Collectively, we should all work together towards ensuring they don't feel this way again. Young India is full of dreams and energy. They are the fuel to our success. As a society, all of us, including parents, teachers, friends, relatives, schools, and administrators, have a massive responsibility and different roles to play in ensuring our youth remain encouraged and energised,” he added
Shikhar Dhawan, Neeraj Chopra and other athletes voice support in students' favor
Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan appealed to students to remain patient and continue believing in the country's institutions, saying solutions emerge through dialogue and perseverance. Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra also echoed similar sentiments, urging authorities to protect the aspirations of young students.
Humare youth humare desh ka future hain. Unke sapnon ko samajhna zaroori hai par saath hi, mushkil waqt mein patience rakhna aur desh ki institutions aur sarkar par bharosa banaye rakhna bhi utna hi zaroori hai. Mera maanna hai ki har challenge ka solution patience se nikalta…
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) July 23, 2026
Every student puts in years of hard work for a better future and their families make sacrifices along the way too. No paper leak should ever be allowed to take that hope. I have full faith that our country,authorities will ensure every one of them gets a fair chance. I also hope…
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) July 23, 2026
Irfan Pathan and batter Mohammad Kaif were among the other cricketers who voiced support for the students, saying that years of hard work and family sacrifices should never be overshadowed by a paper leak. They urged the authorities to ensure every student gets a fair opportunity and that such incidents never happen again.
