Echoes of Dissent: The Modern Gumption of Youth Uprisings
The recent quip in India—labeling the youth as a 'family of arthropods,' unemployed, online, and possessing the 'gumption' to raise questions—caused quite a storm in the second half of May 2026.
Incidentally, the storm also has echoes in neighbouring nations of India i.e. Nepal and Bhutan where the administration failed to realise the strength of the brew. However, in India, it appears that the administration had done its case studies and was swift to cull any uprising.
However, it does indicate that some amount of discontent exists in the population, which for some reason doesn't dare to speak out. I would bet that with the amount of big brother tech out there now, impacting not only the individual but also their kith and kin is very easy thus enabling a greater silence.
But, it must be understood that parties in government aren’t holier than thou and can be called to question. The general question posed to me when this is discussed in my vicinity is: 'If not this leader, then who?' Fair enough—but I am amazed by the short memories of the individuals wherein the leader of the government is just first among equals and other ministers too have the fiat to express as they please, within the boundaries of constitutional limitation.
To this i have to raise a toast to the current dispensation to have been able to create a infallible image around a single persona, incidentally much like that what India’s first leader of the government had back in the day, followed by his progeny who also rose to the same mantle.
Looking back, though, it must be accepted that the latter almost went overboard in preservation of her power and thus triggered a wave of discontent and later movement by a collective of youth, who also happened to be bereft of employment and opportunities to grow and any dissent was also culled back in the day, maybe with lesser technology at disposal.
In those cases, as is in the present day, the major impetus lies with the executive to be more receptive of protests and criticism without labelling any of the same as against the interest of the nation. Making ministers and bureaucrats accountable to their responsibilities and lapses should have been a norm and not exception. And the shroud of secrecy where all action appears to be abrupt and almost caused by an executive order will probably have to be thought about again.
It it isn't that the dispensation isn't acting for the welfare of the citizenry—it's just that provocations are avoidable and issues are manageable.
Incidentally, the storm also has echoes in neighbouring nations of India i.e. Nepal and Bhutan where the administration failed to realise the strength of the brew. However, in India, it appears that the administration had done its case studies and was swift to cull any uprising.
However, it does indicate that some amount of discontent exists in the population, which for some reason doesn't dare to speak out. I would bet that with the amount of big brother tech out there now, impacting not only the individual but also their kith and kin is very easy thus enabling a greater silence.
But, it must be understood that parties in government aren’t holier than thou and can be called to question. The general question posed to me when this is discussed in my vicinity is: 'If not this leader, then who?' Fair enough—but I am amazed by the short memories of the individuals wherein the leader of the government is just first among equals and other ministers too have the fiat to express as they please, within the boundaries of constitutional limitation.
To this i have to raise a toast to the current dispensation to have been able to create a infallible image around a single persona, incidentally much like that what India’s first leader of the government had back in the day, followed by his progeny who also rose to the same mantle.
Looking back, though, it must be accepted that the latter almost went overboard in preservation of her power and thus triggered a wave of discontent and later movement by a collective of youth, who also happened to be bereft of employment and opportunities to grow and any dissent was also culled back in the day, maybe with lesser technology at disposal.
In those cases, as is in the present day, the major impetus lies with the executive to be more receptive of protests and criticism without labelling any of the same as against the interest of the nation. Making ministers and bureaucrats accountable to their responsibilities and lapses should have been a norm and not exception. And the shroud of secrecy where all action appears to be abrupt and almost caused by an executive order will probably have to be thought about again.
It it isn't that the dispensation isn't acting for the welfare of the citizenry—it's just that provocations are avoidable and issues are manageable.
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