Ram Gopal Varma chose India’s 80th Independence Day to deliver two characteristically provocative messages — one about marriage and another about education. Taking to X, the filmmaker quipped that the “greatest independence” he had experienced was freedom from marriage. The one-line remark, delivered in typical RGV style, quickly grabbed attention and added a dose of controversy to the Independence Day conversations.
Varma’s more serious argument, however, was aimed at India’s education system. He questioned the traditional formula of memorising lessons, clearing exams, earning degrees and eventually finding a job. Using medicine as an example, he argued that students spend nearly a decade becoming doctors while AI is rapidly becoming capable of analysing medical data and assisting with diagnosis. His question was provocative but relevant: if technology is changing professions this quickly, should education continue to prepare students for yesterday’s workplace?
The bigger issue raised by RGV goes beyond whether AI can replace doctors or teachers. For students and parents, the challenge is deciding what skills will actually matter in a rapidly changing job market. Degrees may continue to have value, but critical thinking, creativity, communication and the ability to work with technology could become equally important. RGV’s views may be controversial, but his Independence Day message carries a broader thought — true independence may also mean having the courage to question traditions, career paths and systems that we have accepted without asking whether they still make sense.
