Young People Worldwide Losing Faith in Political Institutions
Young people worldwide are losing faith in political institutions and the elites who run them. In India, they have so far restrained themselves, knowing the state can punish dissent brutally. But this restraint may not last.
Global Rise of Student Protests
Student-led protests around the world have seen violent confrontations, with examples including Albania, where youngsters burned down the ministries of education and economics, and Italy, where rubbish bins were set on fire and police cars were attacked. In Belgium, buses were set on fire, and even Indonesia saw street fires. France saw attacks and looting of luxury shops, with violent clashes between students and police claiming serious injuries.
These protests are not surprising, given the economic difficulties and fears faced by young people. A striking video showed a woman pushing a portable wooden guillotine through the crowd, a reference to the 1789 French Revolution. Some protestors also dressed up as the pre-revolutionary aristocracy, wearing powdered wigs, lace, and three-cornered hats, to show that they regarded the current political elite as the new privileged class.
The placards carried by the protestors were equally striking, with messages such as 'First the revolution, but also to sleep in Macron's bed' and 'If you mistreat us, we won't pay your pension'. The intent is clear: to challenge the current power structures and demand change.
India's Youth and the Global Trend
India's youth are no exception to this global trend. Despite being known for non-violence, thanks to Gandhiji and Nehru, Indian children are the best behaved in the world. However, when they protest, they are punched, kicked, and molested by the police, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's orders. Yet, they do not retaliate, instead holding high the flag and getting thrown in jail.
Examples of this include JNU scholar Umar Khalid, who has been languishing in jail for six years, and All India Students' Association president Neha Bora, who has been detained during protests. The regime's treatment of these young people is a clear indication of the state's willingness to suppress dissent.
Challenging the Status Quo
The global rise of student protests is a clear indication that young people are challenging the status quo and demanding change. They reject current politics, whether they believe in socialism or fascism, and distrust the global elite and power structures that favor oligarchs over voters. They also distrust governments that can provide neither education nor fair elections.
As Aditya Sinha, a writer living on the outskirts of Delhi, notes, 'The kids won't get fooled again.' The kids will not remain well-behaved for long; if democracy is not working for them, they too will give up on it. What comes in its place will take time to evolve, but what's clear is that it's time for humanity to develop a new political philosophy.
