Egmore’s Thayagam Complex hosts artistic anti-NEET rally for 24 days

For the past 24 days, the Thayagam Complex on Rukmani Lakshmipati Road in Egmore has been the stage for a vibrant anti‑NEET protest organized by the OG Tamiza group. The daily sit‑in begins at 3 p.m. and stretches until 9 p.m., drawing students, teachers, and social workers who use music, theatrical sketches, dance performances and other cultural expressions to amplify their message.

The rally’s core chant, “Come celebrate resistance,” captures the spirit of a movement that seeks to eliminate the NEET exam entirely. Academic leader Prince Gajendra Babu and activist Maniratnam have publicly supported the demonstrators, urging the Governor, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, to withhold approval of the Assembly’s proposal that merely modifies the entrance test.

Organizers argue that the only viable solution lies in a complete ban on NEET, coupled with the restoration of medical admissions to the state’s own list, allowing Tamil Nadu to design its own criteria. They contend that the current system disadvantages students from rural areas and those who cannot afford expensive coaching.

The protest has remained peaceful yet assertive, with participants employing art as a non‑violent tool to keep public attention on the inequities perpetuated by a nationally uniform medical entrance examination.