Gen Z Activism and Youth Politics Discussed at Mumbai's Y.B. Chavan Centre
Students, political representatives, performers, and social media personalities gathered at the Y.B. Chavan Centre in Mumbai on Monday to discuss youth participation in recent protests and the expanding role of young people in Indian politics.
The event, titled “Dil Se Bol: Mumbai with Gen Z Rising,” was organised by DIL Se Bol and hosted by stand-up comedian Varun Grover. The gathering featured performances by poet Puneet Sharma, comedian Abish Mathew, and other artists who presented pieces centered on themes of freedom and public demonstrations.
A panel discussion during the event included Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) spokesperson Anish Gawande, Raghuram, and social media influencer Riya Ahir. Much of the dialogue focused on student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party. Ahir recalled her experience during a demonstration on July 20, when a photograph of her standing in front of a police van circulated widely. Ahir said the event prompted her to act, adding that she noted the vehicle lacked a mandatory High-Security Registration Plate (HSRP) and found nine other vehicles at the site without HSRP licenses.
Gawande spoke about the solidarity observed during demonstrations, noting instances where people stayed overnight at Jantar Mantar while volunteers distributed food and essentials to sustain the push for resignations. He remarked on the determination of citizens who refused to leave until their demands were met.
Actor Shabana Azmi addressed the gathering, stating that recent protests challenged long-standing assumptions about political disengagement among the youth. Azmi noted that the demonstrations she witnessed on July 19 and 20 demonstrated the significance and active involvement of young citizens.
In her closing remarks, All India Students' Association (AISA) national president Neha Bora questioned the use of tear gas against crowds at Jantar Mantar on July 20. Bora stated that the demonstrations reflected widespread anger among youth over historical injustices and criticised mainstream television news coverage of the protests. She noted that young citizens would continue to remain politically engaged and influence how political parties are received in Parliament and across social media platforms.
