The framing of the recent Ladakh violence as GenZ protest is feigning innocence. Attributing all violence to GenZ led protest still won’t give it a license to kill.
All Violence are not ‘GenZ protests’
In the 1970s a new kind of movement began in the Western world. Movements that were not tied to primordial identities like culture, community, or religion, and not related to nationalism. These movements started demanding new kinds of rights. Out of these movements came environmental movements, feminist movements, other social movements. And later, through the New Right, even LGBTQ activism.
These movements came to India too. For example, environmental protests such as the Chipko movement, where protestors engaged in hugging trees so that they are not felled.
Whether we agree with the New Rights Movements or not, there was at least one merit to those movements: they were defined, dedicated, and run on a determined agenda.
But now, under a new Western influence, another attempt is being made to start a revolution. One that lacks substance on the inset but it is detrimental on the outset. This is attempted to label all violence as “Gen Z protests”. After the attempt to import regime change operation masquerading as revolution from Bangladesh and Nepal failed, any protest in India is now being called Gen Z protest. And more often than not, these protests are turning violent.
Ladakh violence had the least to do with the GenZ
The violence in Ladakh had nothing to do with Gen Z. The involvement of local Congress unit in the violence is clear as day. It is for a fact that the Ladakh violence was primarily political. The violence which led and supported by so-called activists like Sonam Wangchuk. This has also been briefed by the MHA
Yet the term “Gen Z” is being forced into the story. Not once or twice, but across the media, in majority of news reports. But this proves nothing. Gen Z are just like you and I and have no special rights or privileges that keep them above law. And surprise, surprise! Being Gen Z is not an achievement. Gen Z is not a New Rights Movement. Gen Z is not a uniform group fighting for the same rights worldwide. Gen Z is not a militia armed to uproot the structures.
Gen Z- Generation Zs are not James Bond with the license to kill.
Gen Z is just an age group. One Gen Z person’s experience differs from another’s. Their culture, customs, community, language, religion, all are different. Just as people in a state, a nation and across the world have. Gen Zs are simply humans of a particular age. Yet a small numerical fact is being presented as if Gen Z were a pressure group or an interest group.
Being Gen Z is not an earned title, it is by default
There’s an attempt to suggest that violence can be justified in the name of Gen Z. Because young people were present in that violent protest. But in this word, all movements of past has to be recalled. All movements were executed by young people not the older ones. It’s a norm, not a phenomenon.
Violent movements or violence per se is physical. Naturally, in India and worldwide, most violent protests have been carried out by the young. Today’s young are called Gen Z; in earlier times they were called Millennials. Millennials too have participated in protests; Boomers have too, as have people from generations before them.
But previously, no narrative gave youth a free pass to commit violence under a label. Even now that narrative shall succcumb in it’s shallowness. Being Gen Z is not an achievement, nor is it an excuse. Becoming Gen Z is not something works for, being GenZ is by default.
Tasking an entire generation to a wishful task is absurd
Young people protested before, they protest now, and they will protest in the future. Because protest is primarily the work of youth.
But global anarchists, and those in India who fantasize about bringing anarchy here, want to present Gen Z as untouchable rioters. They portray Gen Z as depressed, suffering, abandoned to violence and to be allowed to explode.This is the same theory once given to explain jihadi. That the Islamic terrorism exists because there once was an innocent guy; later radiclaised due to prevalent islamophobia.
But the country’s youth will not let the nation bind them to that theory. This is our conviction and our experience.
