How India’s Senior Citizens Wisely Stood by Gen Z
Senior citizens in India have joined young people on the streets to defend democracy and civil rights. A large protest rally was held recently in the heart of Delhi. Many of the elders there had long careers as teachers, journalists, lawyers and senior government officials. Now they are raising their voices to protect their own democratic rights.
On October 23, rights activists, student groups, farmers and ordinary citizens tried to march to the Election Commission of India under the banner “People Against SIR.” Police and paramilitary forces stopped the march. Still, the natural presence of the elders gave the movement a new strength. According to an article in The Wire, these seniors came out against the common trend of mocking protests and putting down the young in WhatsApp groups and family talks. They say the plot to take away voting rights is not only the young people’s fight but a fight for the survival of the whole nation.
Ms. Niraj Khanna, a former English literature teacher at Delhi University, said, “My democratic rights and my power to vote are in deep danger today. There is an attempt to strip ordinary people of their voting rights through steps like SIR. If we do not stand up now, the next generation will have to live under dictatorship. So I am standing here for myself and for future generations.” Mr. Anil Dubey, a rights activist who worked 30 years as a journalist at Navbharat Times, voiced his anger. He said, “This law is not only against the people. It is a kind of war declared by the government on its own citizens. Young people are deeply hopeless because of poor education, jobs and health care, and asking citizens to prove they exist is shameful. Our generation’s time is running out, so standing with Gen Z is the least we can do.”
The elders did more than protest. They also shared their life lessons and wisdom with young people and common citizens. Supreme Court lawyer Mr. S.S. Nehra said, “A protest is like a dialogue. No matter how much the government and the Election Commission try to run away, we must keep up our peaceful movement and talks against a fascist government.” Ms. Annie Raja, former general secretary of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), said, “Every protest is very important. Our Constitution is our lifeline. To protect the country and the Constitution, any place where we stand with the national flag in hand will become a stage of protest, not just Jantar Mantar or any fixed spot.”
Well known development economist Ms. Jayati Ghosh and a 77 year old retired government bureaucrat also showed their support. They said they still see a ray of hope despite the crackdown. Even with shaky legs, they feel that standing beside the young is a moral duty of their lives. Analysts say the wisdom and courage of these seniors, who have seen many fights for democracy, are giving the youth movement more moral strength in the current political climate.
