At about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday evening, the Cockroach protest site at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi was dwelling in residual euphoria.
Hours earlier, the education minister had resigned and soon after the protest had been concluded. The instant celebration had been loud. Now, many had left, some remained and others walked in.
For some working youths, who had been banking on the weekend to show their support, the news of Pradhan’s resignation came a little too early. Robbed of their chance to be a part of the movement, they had decided to witness the last of the celebrations.
At one end of the site, volunteers dismantled the stage where activist Sonam Wangchuk had been on hunger strike for over 20 days. It was the same stage where students sat in protest when Wangchuk had been removed without his consent, where CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke broke down in tears and where he first heard word on Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
A few meters away, people formed little circles around those who still danced in celebration. On the sides, protesters with witty placards proudly posed for those taking pictures, showing their creativity once more before putting it away.
Beyond the barricades, some congratulated strangers with water, words or hugs. Others leaned over ice cream carts which had finally made their way in.
And about two hundred volunteers still worked tirelessly, either to control the celebrating crowd, to show people the way out or to sweep the roads. Once in a while their eyes met, and a smile broke out on their faces.