Over the past weeks, thousands of Indian youths have taken to the streets across the country, criticising the far-right Hindu-nationalist government for its alleged manipulation of elections and demanding democratic accountability. Under the banner of the “Cockroach movement”, they have taken the Modi government to task for undermining India’s democratic institutions and ethos. The government’s response has, in turn, been unusually repressive, with thousands of protestors – including opposition leaders – being detained and prevented from exercising democratic dissent.
In this discussion, we take stock of the prolonged Gen Z-led protests and ask what they mean for the future of Indian democracy.
On the panel are:
- Jorinde van der Horst, Scuola Normale Superiore, Italy
- Moumita Sen, MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society
- Vyoma Dhar Sharma, University of Oslo
- Moderator: Kenneth Bo Nielsen, University of Oslo
All are welcome!
The event is organized by the Centre for South Asian Democracy and supported by UiO:Democracy.