The Policies That Shook the Nation

November 3, 2009 – 10:00 AM

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Mumbai

The vast, marble-floored hall of the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan was quieter than anyone had expected.

Normally, the first assembly session of a newly elected government was filled with shouting matches, opposition walkouts, and dramatic gestures. But today, there was barely any resistance.

Not because there wasn't anger—there was plenty. But because the opposition barely existed anymore.

After the Bhavishya Vikas Morcha (BVM) swept the elections, the once-dominant United Progress Front (UPF) and Maharashtra National Bloc (MNB) were left humiliated. Their numbers in the assembly were so pathetically low that any attempt to argue would be ignored outright.

Still, behind the forced smiles and blank stares of the few remaining opposition leaders, panic was brewing.

And when the first policy announcements were made, the panic turned into full-fledged desperation.

10:30 AM – The First Policy Announcements Begin

The Maharashtra CM, standing tall at the podium, didn't waste time.

"We have no interest in speeches. The people elected us for one reason: change. And we will not delay it any longer."

A brief pause—the handful of opposition members shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

Then, the first bomb dropped.

Policy 1: The Whistleblower Initiative (Anonymous Corruption Reporting App)

"As of today, we are launching an anonymous reporting system—a secure mobile application where any citizen can submit information about financial scams, bribery, or corruption."

At first, the opposition benches didn't react. But then—

"Every case will be independently investigated, and if proven true, the whistleblower will receive up to 10% of the recovered money as a reward."

A shockwave went through the hall.

Even the bureaucrats seated in the visitor's section paled slightly.

10% of scam money? That meant if a ₹500 crore scam was exposed, the whistleblower could receive ₹50 crore as a reward.

That was life-changing money.

The opposition, still silent in the assembly, was not silent elsewhere.

11:15 AM – Opposition Headquarters, Mumbai

A private boardroom inside a five-star hotel was in chaos.

The state heads of UPF and MNB sat at the massive round table, their hands clenched, their faces twisted in barely concealed rage.

"This is outrageous!" one of them shouted. "This will turn ordinary citizens into bounty hunters!"

Another leader, sweating despite the air conditioning, muttered, "No, don't you get it? This isn't just about small-time bribes. What if some of our own party members turn on us? Everyone has dirt on someone!"

A senior strategist slammed his fist on the table.

"We have to kill this policy before it gains momentum."

A younger politician scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"And how do we do that? We don't even have the numbers to block it in the assembly!"

A heavy silence settled.

For decades, corruption had been an untouchable part of governance. Now, it was open season—and anyone, from a neglected accountant to a former secretary, could bring entire political dynasties crashing down.

And then came the second blow.

11:30 AM – Education Reform: A System That Rewards Performance

The Haryana CM, a former professor, took the stage.

"For too long, education has been treated as a secondary issue. Schools are neglected, teachers are unmotivated, and students are left behind. That ends today."

He gestured toward the official documents, then read aloud.

Policy 2: The Statewide Education Overhaul

1️⃣ Statewide Annual Exams for Every Grade

All students will now take a uniform state-level exam to assess their knowledge each year.

2️⃣ Performance-Based Teacher & School Rankings

Top-performing students will be transferred to elite government schools for advanced education.Teachers of high-performing students will receive higher salaries and promotions.Underperforming teachers will face demotions or transfers.

3️⃣ Increased Budget for Government Schools

Schools producing excellent results will receive higher funding.Schools with low performance will undergo restructuring—either a new principal or a complete change in faculty.

The opposition still couldn't openly protest—but in the shadows, resistance was already forming.

12:30 PM – Secret Meeting of Education Mafias, Mumbai

In a private guest house, far from the cameras, a different kind of panic was brewing.

Sitting at the table were some of the richest private coaching owners and private school directors in the country.

These weren't politicians.

These were the men who had turned education into an industry.

"This is a direct attack on us," one of them muttered.

"If government schools actually start producing toppers, our institutions will be finished," another said darkly.

For years, the entire education mafia had profited from weak public schools.

They ensured government teachers remained unmotivated.They influenced syllabus changes to favor coaching over real learning.They kept parents dependent on expensive private tutors.

And now?

If teachers were given promotions based on merit, if students actually started learning in government schools, who would pay for their overpriced institutions anymore?

"We need to stop this."

"How?"

"We still have influence inside the education boards. If we can delay the syllabus changes, create confusion among teachers, and fund protests against 'pressure on students,' we can slow it down."

The plan was simple: Sabotage from within.

2:00 PM – The Silent War Has Begun

By afternoon, the entire country was on fire.

📺 TV debates exploded—some calling BVM's policies revolutionary, others calling them "dangerous populism."📢 Opposition leaders quietly reached out to old media allies, trying to spin the narrative.📰 Editorials started appearing, warning about "the risks of unchecked whistleblowers" and "the mental burden of yearly exams on children."💰 Education mafias started mobilizing teachers unions—preparing protests to block the school reform.

But none of it mattered yet.

Because the public reaction had already begun.

5:00 PM – The People React

Inside a small town in Haryana, a government school teacher stared at the news in shock.

"Promotions… based on student performance?"

For years, he had earned the same salary no matter what. Now?

If he didn't start producing results, he'd lose everything.

In a lower-middle-class home in Mumbai, a mother turned to her husband.

"If government schools improve… we won't need to send our son to that expensive coaching center anymore!"

For the first time, hope was rising where there had never been hope before.

And deep inside Aritra's villa in Kolkata, he watched it all unfold.

Katherine sat beside him, casually reading a book, occasionally glancing at him in curiosity.

"Why are you so interested in all of this?" she finally asked.

Aritra just smiled.

"Because this is the beginning of something much bigger."

She didn't understand.

But he did.

The war had just begun.

And for the first time in history, the old world was losing.