You must have seen the viral video on social media where a young girl is shouting “Azadi” slogans. For many, it immediately recalls memories of the 2020 Delhi riots when JNU activists like Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid, and Sharjeel Imam raised similar slogans. While romanticisation of ‘azadi’ slogans is nothing new, the truth is quite brutal, considering the ‘azadi’ slogans originated in the Kashmir valley while the Hindus there were driven out of their homes.
But the question arises—what is so unusual about THIS girl’s slogans that makes it worth a deeper look?
The answer lies in her connections.
Sambhaavnaa Institute and Prashant Bhushan
The girl in the viral video is a student of the Sambhaavna Institute of Public Policy and Politics in Himachal Pradesh. This institute was founded by Supreme Court lawyer and so-called activist Prashant Bhushan, widely known for his “urban Naxal” ideological tilt.
This is not just an academic center. It is part of a larger ecosystem with links to:
- USAID
- BBC
- Alt News (Mohammed Zubair, Pratik Sinha)
- George Soros’ Open Society Foundation
Clearly, there is more at play than meets the eye.
‘Songs of Resistance’ instead of education
If you visit Sambhaavnaa’s Instagram profile, you’ll find multiple videos of students performing “Songs of Resistance.”
Instead of education, students are seen mocking the Indian government, glorifying controversial figures like Stalin and Periyar—both of whom are remembered for their anti-Hindu rhetoric—and raising slogans of “freedom” inspired by them.
This begs the question: Who is allowing such ideological indoctrination of students? Where does such a rigid anti-government narrative come from?
The Origins of Sambhaavnaa
The answer lies with its founder, Prashant Bhushan.
- In 2004, he established Sambhaavnaa Institute under the Kumud Bhushan Education Society, named after his late parents, Shanti Bhushan (a senior advocate) and Kumud Bhushan.
- In 2010, Bhushan purchased land and a tea estate in Kandbari village, Palampur (Himachal Pradesh) to create a permanent base for the institute and its associated “Udaan Learning Centre.”
So, deep in the quiet hills of Himachal, a political laboratory was born.
The Left-Liberal Network
The network around this institute includes some of the most prominent left-liberal activists and journalists:
- Yogendra Yadav
- Harsh Mander
- Medha Patkar
- Akash Banerjee (“Fake Deshbhakt”)
- Ravish Kumar
- Paranjoy Guha Thakurta
- Pratik Sinha (Alt News)
Together, they form a strong ideological web that extends far beyond Himachal.
The Funding Trail
In 2024, Sambhaavnaa partnered with:
- FactShala
- DataLEADS
- Internews
Internews alone received $472 million from USAID. FactShala is supported by Google News Initiative. These organizations claim to promote “fact-checking” and “media literacy”—but in practice, they control narratives.
Globally, Internews and USAID fund more than 4,200 media outlets, creating influence networks that shape journalism and activism.
Other partners like Equality Labs have been accused of spreading divisive, anti-India narratives under the guise of “social justice.”
The bigger picture
From the anti-CAA protests to the farmers’ agitation, from Delhi riots to the weaponization of “Dalit card” politics—such movements have often been amplified by this very ecosystem.
We can safely say that USAID, Internews, and FactShala networks are pumping billions into India in the name of “media education” and “fact-checking,” but their real purpose is to build a Left-liberal ecosystem that influences Indian politics and media from within.
Conclusion
So the young student shouting “Azadi” in a viral video is not just an innocent act of free expression. She is part of a larger ideological machinery.
At Sambhaavnaa Institute, students are not learning about governance or policy—they are singing “Songs of Resistance,” idolizing controversial figures like Stalin and Periyar, and pushing an anti-government agenda as if it were education.
The real question is:
- Is this truly education?
- Or is it a political laboratory manufacturing anti-India narratives?
And most importantly—will we sit silently, or will we begin to recognize and expose the hidden agenda behind this well-funded ecosystem?
